Written by Dr. Eric Perry
“Music is the universal language of mankind” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Around my house, I am known as the music man. I have the habit of walking around playing music out loud from my phone. I have my own personal soundtrack to my life, continuously playing. Music for me is like a dose of happiness. I love all types of music. It makes me feel joyful and optimistic. When I write I love to listen to classical music. I feel it helps me focus and research appears to validate what I have noticed. Studies have been done on the effects of classical music and it appears that it is exceptionally beneficial for our brains and overall health. These positive effects are universal regardless of gender, class or nationality. Here are some ways that classical music has been shown to be beneficial:
1. Improves focus
Numerous studies have shown that listening to classical music such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven can improve focus. It appears that the complex and continuously changing melodies of classical music help the mind stay focused by keeping it engaged. When your brain is expecting to hear a certain note but is surprised by an unexpected chord or harmony, a cognitive stumble occurs. This disruption will cause the part of your brain that is responsible for attention to become engaged. In a sense, it wakes up the brain.
2. Lowers blood pressure
Classical music helps maintain the heart healthy. Research from the University of San Diego compared changes in blood pressure among individuals listening to classical, jazz, pop or no music. The study showed that individuals listening to classical music had significantly lower systolic blood pressure compared to those listening to other types of music. Other research indicates that classical music can help improve cardiocirculatory function and a further study on the effects of specifically listening to Mozart showed that it lowers both blood pressure and heart rate.
3. Improves immune system
Research shows that listening to classical music can help boost your immune system. When we listen to music that touches us on a deep emotional level our bodies produce certain immunity boosting hormones that help ward off illnesses. One can say that music that touches your soul will literally give you more life.
4. Improves Memory
Classical music makes your brain dance. In one study, EEG machines were used to record electrical brain activity of participants as they listened to classical music. People who listened to Mozart showed increased brain activity in areas linked directly to memory, understanding, and problem-solving.
5. Relieves Pain
Studies have shown that patients who listen to classical music post-operation used significantly less pain medication than those who listened to no music. There are other studies that reveal it may alleviate chronic non-malignant pain. A study done on individuals who suffered chronic headaches showed that when music was paired with their normal medical treatment they were better able to cope with pain. Of course, classical music should not replace medication, but a little classical music does no harm and might help alleviate some pain.
One Last Note! 🎼
The Mozart Effect states that listening to Mozart’s music will make you more intelligent. Many parents accepted this theory and consequently had their children exclusively listen to Mozart even while in the womb. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case as recent studies have shown that there is nothing uniquely beneficial about Mozart’s music. Current studies suggest that taking any music lessons at an early age will enhance brain function and structure. Research shows that children with musical training do better in language, reading and math than children who have not had similar training. The good news is you don’t need to become a virtuoso. Just half an hour a day will benefit your brain.
Thank you for reading and I would love to hear how music impacts your life.
The thoughts expressed in this blog post are my own and are not meant to create a professional relationship with the reader. This blog does not replace or substitute the help of a medical professional. Please note, I am unable to answer your specific questions as I am not fully aware of all of the circumstances.
Kindly,
Dr. Perry
“I help ambitious and high achieving individuals manifest a life of success and fulfillment in order to achieve the life they truly desire.”
Dr. Eric Perry | drericperry.com
© 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Oh I agree!
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🎼🎼🎼🎼❤
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Couldn’t agree more! Great post! Thank you!
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Thank you Decker !
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You’re welcome! Well written, informative and just a wonderful post!
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Just a few more reason to keep listening to classical music! Thanks for the share!
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Thank you I don’t think I can live without it 🎼🎼🎼🎼
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Great post, totally agree! My son listened to classical music all the time when he was revising last year and did really well in his exams :)x
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Hi Samantha! I’m glad to hear it was helpful for him🌟 I listened to it all throughout writing my dissertation and it was huge difference maker ✨ thank you for sharing!
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Great post! I have to say, though, that I’m not musically gifted but have taught myself to play ukulele and other strings and receive all the benefits you mention. It makes me so happy to plunk, thunk and strum that I find myself laughing. 😀
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Agreed! I have the classical radio channel set for just those moments when I need to reset!
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Hi Marie, I listen to it almost everyday before I head to the office. It seems to wake up my brain 🙂
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Agreed! It’s not my “thing” but I”m always happy when I tune in…
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Wonderful and much needed information here. Thank you!
My adult son has listened to classical music since he was a kid. He has always said it is the best music to listen to, regardless of what his friends thought.
ren
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Hi Ren, he sounds like an intelligent young man with great taste in music 🙂 have a wonderful day and thank you for commenting !
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I am quite proud of him and thank you and you are welcome and enjoy the rest of your week.
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🎵Magic in music, and everything that surrounds it🎶 since time immemorial
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Love classical music and its great that it has all these benefits!!
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I love this. It’s so true. Classical music has helped me for many years and really calms me. This actually inspired me to write about it in my own way. Thank you so much.
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Thank you so much and I look forward to reading your post 🙂
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Reblogged this on The ramblings of a smitten soul.
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Thank you !
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Thank you for reaffirming what I have known in my heart all along. Blessings
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Wow great insight !! Didn’t know classical music had such a major impact . Thanks for sharing!
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Love the post amazing work dude. I play trombone and it does wonders for my creativity and overall well being. It’s like meditation in a way!
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Thank you ! I think you are right , all music is just right for our brains and soul 👍🏼
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Definitely speaking of which I’m going to practice my trombone tomorrow! Woohoo! 🙂
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Enjoy !🎼🎼🎼
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Blog of a Mad Black Woman and commented:
I have to agree! I listen to classical music and find it soothing. I’ve also noticed they play it in some of London’s underground/tune stations, which I think is a nice touch to the start/end of one’s travels.
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Many thanks!
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Thank you !
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This is really interesting. I play music in my classroom. The children are all 4 and 5 and I often put some classical music on or something relaxing when I want them to concentrate and not rush their work. Last year I used to talk with my class about the types of music I enjoy and the children had their favorites too. As well as the current popular music , I often got requests for Beatles songs during art activities:)
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Hi Carly , hope you are well. Music has always been a big part of my life. I love all types of music and like the children in your classroom I respond accordingly to what is playing. I definitely go for a crazier beat when I work out ! Have a great weekend ✨
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Thank you !
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Ah! What impeccable timing: this past Monday I had a brain MRI. The staff asked what kind of music, and I told them the exact public radio station to tune. It helped me focus and meditate during the next 70 minutes.
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Reblogged this on My Rants, Dreams, and Thoughts on Everything and commented:
My three kids have been involved in music all their lives. Two were/are bank geeks. All three were choir geeks. One is studying to be a music teacher. One played clarinet starting in 5th grade, sax by 15, and several other instruments. Two were in dance young. One played the violin since 4 and then drum line and now flute. They have all been super bright. One was valedictorian and majored in math. The other two are extremely smart . I truly believe in the correlation between music and intelligence. My youngest listens to opera in his car and sings along. Music bonds the four of us.
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I hear you on this one! If I get off my base, all I need is my piano and a piece I have not yet mastered….and then one I have…bingo! I am good as new!
Great post!
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Thank you !
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Thank you for the post. I can personally testify to the truth of the statement about music, and its benefits. I find all music beneficial for the above named reasons, but I particularly enjoy classical. Delighted you shared this post.
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This made me so happy, as I really love listening to classical music. Thanks for this nice post!
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I love classical music!! Great post!
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Music is another good teraphy for us.
Great your five tips froum music !
and thank you !
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froum music ! = I mean from music
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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Oh how I love those. It calms me down a lot.
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Great I am so happy you liked the post!
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I knew there was a good reason for my liking classical music! 🙂 Great post, I agree, music has an effect on our emotional health and well being. I never knew that it improved memory, though! Good to know. I’ll try to listen to it more often, I have a terrible memory. Will definitely do that. . . if I don’t forget! lol
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Haha! Thank you for comment and have a great day!✨
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You’re welcome!
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It is interesting to note scientific studies have demonstrated a steady diet of contemporary pop music sustains deleterious effects upon the human nervous system.
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Loved your post!!!
Music does give words where we fail to speak
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Thank you for your comment!
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Some many benefits and easy to do, Thanks, Claudia
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Reblogged this on Music Lessons California.
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I enjoy classical music. Thank you for sharing.
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My pleasure and thank you for commenting! ✨
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As a practicing classical musician; the part that caught me most was ‘When your brain is expecting to hear a certain note but is surprised by an unexpected chord or harmony, a cognitive stumble occurs, which makes the part of your brain that is responsible for attention to become engaged.’… I agree totally with this. Well put!
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Thank you for the article. music has a lot of healing properties for sure!
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I am so glad you enjoyed this. Thank you for commenting! ✨
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Awesome post😄
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Thank you!
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Hi dear. I love these benefits. I was just glad because I like to listen to classical music. I really love the benefit of boosts immunity. Great blog. Thanks again.
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Thank you so much for you comment!🎶🎶🎶
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Great post
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Oh Eric, I completely love this! Classical music is dear to me. In fact, my Dad, brother and I went to a classical concert at a renovated old mansion on West Adams nearby where I work in LA. It was relaxing and put me in a meditative space. The aspect of helping our focus is quite interesting (I didn’t know that).
Lovely to connect with you Eric. Many blessings to your weekend, Debbie
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ps – gorgeous photo. Fits the essence.
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Reblogged this on 2 Shades of Grey.
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Great information, I think I’ll start listening more often. One thing I remember is the experiment on plants and the effect of classical music vs rock and roll. You can guess which plants thrived and which nearly died. My son was exposed to Mozart in the womb and was taking college calculaus in the 11th grade. Strangely he chose to pursue a Master’s in research psychology, go figure.
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This is the truth. When my son was an infant, we would put classical music on for him to fall asleep to every night. Not sure why that habit fell off…
Here lately, I’ve been coming into my office and blasting hip hop every morning for a few minutes. I love hip hop, but as a result, I’ve been kind of aggressive lately. Thank you for the reminder, I just booted up some Beethoven to work to.
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Ah you’ve convinced me! Maybe it will help my chronic pain?! And my brain fog??!! Worth a go and I do actually really enjoy classical music ❤️ 🎶
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Good to know! Thanks for sharing!
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Mozart, Bach and Yani(New Age) got me through college!! 🙂
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I can relate! Mozart helped me through my dissertation ✨
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Excellent 🙂
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Great post. I must listen to more 🙂
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What a great post. If I’m in the mood, classical music is lovely and calms me down. I know teachers who play it at school.😁
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The middle string bit (I don’t know the technical term) of Holst’s Jupiter is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. It’s majestic and has been used as a hymn tune. It always improves my mood.
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Reblogged this on MIU Hacks.
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You don’t have to twist my arm. Looks like it’s time for “Autumn” from the Four Seasons of Vivaldi!
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I “married into classical music” when I met my wife in 1989, a university professor in musicology. One of the most important events in my life. The marriage also! Great blog!
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I’ve had a classical music playlist from the age of 17, I’m not a fancy listener but it does have a soothing effect that I love. And it definitely improves my focus at work, got to love a bit of background music
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Nice! A true Novice here but a fan of anything that encourages a sound mind and body. I am definitely gonna spend some time listening. Sounds like Mozart will be a good start.🙂
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Wish Classic music especially live music would be more cost lower to anyone can enjoy ..!! Your post will be spread .. and many people will be aware again .. also wish more people enjoy classic music 🙂
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I love classical music, there is such a variety that there is something for everyone and every mood. Of course there are some types of classical music I’m less keen on, like heavy opera or something without much of a tune, but overall I’m a huge fan. In fact you’ve inspired me to do a post about my favourite pieces of classical music. 🙂
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I grew up playing violin. I wished this had helped improve my math skills but alas, I am now an English major who really sucks at math.
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Great, next time i need to focus I will try some classical music. I could have guessed 4 out of 5 benefits, however the benefit to the immune system is quite interesting.
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Reblogged this on Wag 'n Bietjie and commented:
Great Post! 🙂
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So true! You will enjoy my daughter, EllaHarp, and her rich musical heritage :)) Dawn
https://ellaharp.com/bio/
https://ellaharp.com/video/
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I love the Beecher quote in connection with lowered blood pressure. Brilliant!
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You’re one smart cookie! I love me some classical music but I wish more that I could play some. Thanks for this
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These are all wonderful! Another neat fact: Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major has been shown to promote the recovery of cognitive damage due to seizure activities, providing an intervention strategy to diminish cognitive deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy patients.
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If I’m driving through an unfamiliar city or heavy traffic, classical music, especially Mozart, is the only type of music that doesn’t cause stress, even though I love most styles. In fact, the classical actually soothes my nerves.
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As a music teacher, I can agree with some of these statements about classical music. Here’s one they don’t take into account: If you learn How to Listen…TO ANY MUSIC, your brain starts to look for patterns. Melodic/harmonic patterns emerge. Then you listen to the orchestration, the instruments they use. Why do people like VanHalen’s guitar solos? Why do they like Queen’s harmony? What are the rhythmic oddities that catch our attention. Listen to how Michael Jackson and Prince layer their music. Because the classical pieces are longer, they force you to think for a longer period of time. It’s like the difference between reading a picture book and reading a Clancy Novel. Yes, get lessons, but make sure you practice so your physical skills can keep up with the mental abilities and you don’t get frustrated.
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Like Angela, if I’m listening to any kind of music while driving in city traffic, it would be classical! However, when it comes to focusing on a task like e.g. writing, I prefer silence. I have a flow of my own, and outer sounds usually interfere with that flow. My kids used to listen to music all the time, even when doing school homework, but that doesn’t work very well for me. I do use music though to change my mood, to energize or relax, or to access certain feelings. That was especially helpful when I was mourning my husband’s death, and I would every now and then end up feeling totally numb.
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How I wish medical establishments would discard the reality TV and sensational news and play Mozart instead. Think of how much healthier our society would be!
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Brilliant!!! ❤
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Thank you Flor✨
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I re-posted it!. ☺ ♥ ❤ I also do this things Doc.
This is more effective..<3 ❤
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Great thank you Flor✨
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Music stays when no one else does… a companion of my soul 🎼
This post is an ode to the soulful!!
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Music is good for the soul! It’s always been a huge part of my life since I was a child. Thanks for this post. I didn’t know it was good for the immune system 🌹
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You’re most welcome✨
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I listen to all sorts of music, depending on my mood – it may be Mozart, but it may be the Rolling Stones or folk. I especially love the harp and the flute. The saying “music calms the savage beast” springs to mind. I find that when I am cast adrift in troublesome times music calms my spirit and is so uplifting. It renews me on every level.
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I have some classical music on my iPod. Thanks for the reminder. I never thought of all the benefits before. Keep sharing the good stuff!
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You’re welcome! Thank you for reading and leaving a comment✨
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Now I’m going to have to test this on myself since I find writing with modern music helps me a lot. Maybe classical will step that up for me! Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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I love classical music so much! ❤ ❤ ❤ Piano and cello are my favorites. ❤
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Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
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Classical music inspires and touches the heart, it is really symphony of Love, our universal language 🙂
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Indeed. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Music reaches deep into the soul to give us the capacity for empathy and kindness, and for joy. I can attest to that as I introduce all kinds of music to my preschoolers. It is a wonderful thing!
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Indeed! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts✨
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You are welcome. I knew you would understand and feel the same way. We both do the same thing, for a different audience.
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I’m going to have to give this a try. I need something to help focus. I am working on a difficult project at work, so I’m going to try to listen to some Mozart and see if that helps with the problem solving I need to do!
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Yes music is a wonderful accompaniment in life. It can give pure bliss ❤
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There’s no doubt that Music takes in its flow, our existence to ecstatic heights.
The flow of sounds washes our mortal bondages, washes away our stressful thoughts..
But only that music has power, to which our brain aligns..
So what is music to one school of thought might be Noise to the other..
To the same person, music may mean differently at different times…
Whatever the various scales of music in various cultures, MUSIC IS DIVINE.
Thanks for posting a very inspiring post on Music.
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Music is always playing in my ears, too.
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Hi ) ai m glad you mentioned the pseudo-science of the Mozart effect – and the other tidbits in this post were really good. And just yesterday we were listing to a delightful classical music selection on the radio and chatted about how not all classical music is the same. It depends on the person’s preference and mood – but some classical music can pull from focus and annoy whereas other selections can soothe and calm
🙂
~Prior
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Always love listening to classical music while I’m working 😊
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Great stuff as always Dr. Perry. I have been listening to classical and jazz the past year. It works.
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