Classical Music
Classical Music is not just a type of music. It has a few specific time periods associated with it. One period is called the Early Music Period and the other is called the Common Practice Period. Each period has smaller time periods. The Early Music Period consisted of the Medieval Era, which lasted from 500-1400 and the Renaissance Era, which lasted from 1400-1600. The Common Practice Period consisted of the Baroque Era (1600-1750), the Classical Era (1750-1820), and the Romantic Era (1810-1910). Most common classical music people listen to today consists of a mix between the Baroque Era and the Classical Era. The difference between the two is Baroque music is heavy, complex, and has layered melodies. Classical music is lighter. It is mostly one melody all the instruments play. Classical music also has more of a variety in dynamics, tones, instruments, and tempo. The transfer of Baroque music to classical music began in 1750 when composers began to get tired of all the layered melodies. They felt like they could do so much more.
Classical Music Effects on the Brain
Classical music has many benefits. According to rd.com, classical music can lower blood pressure, make people more emotionally available, help people to sleep better, help people to relax, boost brain power, improve memory, relieve anxiety, make people more productive, bring people closer together, and even provide less pain among some cancer patients. Some of the types of music that work best for enhancement in focus and productivity are instrumental music, classical music (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Etc), and music you enjoy and prefer to listen to. Experts have revealed that listening to music can cause your brain to release dopamine (brain's pleasure chemical). It improves your mood which can allow you to be more awake. It increases your ability to work and improves efficiency on tasks that are repetitive as well as giving you more creativity.
Experts at the University of Helsinki discovered classical music can alter Gene function leading to lots of benefits including but not limited to improved brain functioning. Music you enjoy can improve the speed at which you complete a task says the study by Teresa Lesiuk. preferred music tops and do a part of your brain that controls emotions. Listening to music that brings happy memories has a positive effect on productivity. Music that evokes bad memories with a negative effect on concentration.
The Best Music for Working and Studying
There's not really a right answer to “What is the best music for studying and does it help you?”. Some people say it can help but others say it just creates obstacles and distractions. It all depends on your personality, your music preference, how you learn, Etc. Although some people have certain types of musical preferences, scientific studies show that all music has the ability to have a synchronized effect on people's brains. Some researchers believe “…music is important to human evolution in various ways, from providing babies with a playful way to learn language, 218 the memorization of knowledge or history ( passing down information to other Generations), or even helping to stay awake around a bonfire while and watch for predators,” says medicaldaily.com.if you have ever listen to repetitive music, your brain tries to figure out what's going to happen next, leading to taping toes or fingers/dancing.
Music’s Effect on the Brain-Pioneers and The Mozart Effect
The Brain Theory was designed to explain what each side of the brain is used. In 1973 Dr Gordon Shaw became interested in the brain theory. He wanted to learn about the brain's capacity for artificial intelligence which Jaws from fields of science. This artificial intelligence is also known as facial reasoning. Spatial reasoning is used for activities using thinking and logic ( math, chess, Etc). Shaw and a graduate student, Xiaodan Leng created a brain model using musical notes to represent activity in the brain and the Brain functions. After this, Shaw noticed that the musical notes sounded like music. Then shot got the idea to test classical music effects on the brain. He used ages ranging from 3 years old to college students. One of his findings was that some of the college students increase their IQ scores almost 9 whole point after listening to Mozart.
After Shaw did that experiment, similar studies came to life. Some of the other experiments / studies done, have showed little kids given piano lessons did better on spatial reasoning tests than preschoolers that didn't get piano lessons. Some recent studies have shown that in complete silence, the small sound of a pencil dropping can break someone's focus. In verbal relaxation instructions (made to lower blood pressure), talking to the test taker will make them break focus making it difficult to think. Proving that listening to music with no lyrics would allow them to become focused and able to concentrate better. This shows that classical music, (such as Mozart), can in fact help with concentration.
Great Discoveries
Many people associate classical music as the choice of music for brainiacs, sophisticated people, rich people, Etc. Classical music also has its own language consisting of symbols, letters, notes, Etc. and it had its own terms, (Symphony, Sonata, and Concerto). Because of this language, it can take years for even a trained musician to master it, proving how classical music is linked with intelligence. Many people also listen to classical music for fun, but what most people don't know is that research studies have shown that classical music (specifically Mozart) can make you smarter.
After a 1993 research study where volunteers were split into groups to perform complex origami, the scientists found out that, since each group listen to different music, the group that listen to Mozart did amazing on the task and their IQs boosted during the test. Once the study was published, “Classical music was hailed as holding the key to unlocking the untapped reserves of our mind,” (bbc.co.uk.com). The problem all the scientists were having through, was recreating the experiment. The researchers that were able to cause a similar effect, was not with Mozart music. after one study proved a British pop band triggered a great response, it was clear that almost any type of music can be used to boost IQ scores and help people complete tasks better. Although some scientists have disproved Mozart effect, it has shown that thinks too it's amazing effect on the brain, playing music is widely used.
Cutting Edge Ideas
Recently( 2015) researchers did a study using young adults and elderly people. They played classical music. Mozart's L'Allegro con spirito caused changes in brain activity linked to memory, cognition, and problem-solving. Although Mozart's bark changes, Beethoven's Fur Elise failed to spark changes. Many Studies have been done to prove that music has beneficial effects on the brain. However it is not mandatory to learn music or play instruments.
Up to Date Studies and Current Beliefs
Using 147 students in multiple Dutch schools, researchers conducted a study. They gave the students a structural musical method. The schools all followed Primary School curriculum, and some had visual arts classes and others had supplementary music classes. 2.5 years later They tested academic performance and planning in memory skills. Children with the music lessons had better cognitive skills compared to the kids in the study, whereas the students that had the visual arts classes how to improve spatial short-term memory and how to improve their vision. Currently scientists believe that classical music can enhance connectivity and they also believe that thanks to many tests and studies, listening to Mozart can make you smarter and improve cognitive skills for the duration of the study.