By Xavier Garay

Music isn’t just used for entertainment or pastime, it’s used by people to express themselves and shape their feelings. Music may change one’s mindset, influencing their moods, thoughts, and behaviors through the tone and lyrics used by the artist. Many use music to help them study while athletes also use music to ease their mind before a big game or practice.

According to Psychology Today, “People can use music to express their identity and values to others. Music helps us to show that we belong to a given social group. Music is part of who we are.” Many people use music to find their true identity and fit in with others who may enjoy the same type of genre as them, creating a certain bond that nothing else but music can create between them. As Hartley Higgins, a sophomore at Ponte Vedra high school (PVHS), states, “I listen to music every single hour of every day, mainly when I’m walking, because it helps me search my thoughts and it changes my emotions depending on what I’m listening to. Like if I’m listening to a fast-paced song, I’m gonna feel happy or joyous, but if I’m listening to a slow song or it has dreary tone, it makes me feel more sad. I feel like many people use music to help find who they are deep down, as do I. I also love listening to daft punk which is very upbeat and Michael Jackson.”

Many people use music to help them when studying as it may improve their focus and relieve stress, like Patrick Oertli, a Junior at PVHS. He says, “I listen to music when studying as it helps me accumulate the information more easily and sticks with me until test day.” Aside from providing a deep connection, music also positively affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which influence concentration, memory, focus, motivation, anxiety, and pain. As Florida National University proclaims, “Music is a way to process emotions and strengthen their resolve while being overwhelmed. People often turn to the music they can relate to as it helps them deal with stress in this way. So, if university life has got you feeling a bit down, dazed or distracted then it might be a good idea to put some music on while you study. Not only will it help you concentrate on your studies, it will also help keep stress at bay and put you in the learning mood.”

Many athletes listen to music as it helps them control their body movements and keeps them calm under pressure. As PBS News says, “The motor cortex, which is located in the parietal lobe, regulates our body’s motor function, which helps determine how straight we throw a football or how well we coordinate our limbs when running, and allows us to fall into our own ‘rhythm’ as we work.” Motor function is really important in sports as it drastically affects how you perform, so being able to increase or regulate it through music is really beneficial. As Evan MacDonald, a Sophomore at PVHS, says, “I listen to music to really focus and when I’m hitting or throwing, I use it to get me into a rhythm or flow state.” Apart from regulating motor function, music also helps cool down nerves. As Arjun Rauniyar, a Sophomore at PVHS, explains, “For me I think music definitely helps me perform better in basketball because it soothes my nerves and helps me lock in and focus on the game.”

Let’s put it like this, music is proven to help people find who they are deep down, creates a certain type of bond nothing else can create, helps people study, improves athlete’s motor function and calms them down, and is the universal medicine to any emotion whether it’s sad or happy.

Graphic by Philip Berkwit