How Does Music Affect Your Mood and Emotions

To be born into a music-loving, music-playing, songwriting family is a glorious gift that keeps on giving on down through the generations. Although my father was not in my life until I was a parent myself, his talent for playing instruments was handed down to me via genetics.

My mom was a beautiful singer and poet. Between the two parents, one being nurture and both being nature, I have the gifts from each of them – I can play many different instruments, I can sing, and I enjoy songwriting. From what I have been told, I am talented in all aspects of my musical gifts.

For me, music is everything. It can transport me to better days, help me release a good cry when I’m struggling to process my feelings, boost my spirits, or hype me up as I head out on a road trip. In my home, you will rarely see the television on. However, music is always playing in the background, no matter what I am doing.

When I entered my teenage years, I developed a unique taste in music from artists whose songs helped me navigate the anguish of being a teenager and contributed to the soundtrack of the good times as well. Because we wanted to travel in style, I remember my friends and I pooling our money together to go to concerts in Detroit via limousine to see our favorite artists on tour (as seen in the cringy photo above). Some of the shows we saw were:

Prince
Depeche Mode
Madonna
Metallica
Ozzy
Alice in Chains
Tesla
Blues Traveler
Aerosmith
Foreigner
Eagles
Gloria Estefan
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mary J. Blige
Janet Jackson
Pat Benatar
Van Halen
Sammy Hagar
Audioslave

According to the non-profit organization, Harmony and Healing, music affects our moods and emotions, as, “Music has long been used as a source of comfort and solace in times of distress. Of course, holistic therapy for depression can provide direct relief, but music can provide a regular sense of connection, support, and understanding during difficult moments. The history of music in healthcare has shown that music can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and even chronic physical pain. Listening to calming music can help people relax and focus on the present moment.

Studies by scientists have also found that listening to music helps release endorphins – hormones associated with pleasure (and reducing pain) – which further reduces stress levels and may even aid in the healing process.

Music is often used in therapy sessions for this reason; it helps create an atmosphere and an emotion conducive to stress relief and healing emotional wounds. In addition to reducing stress levels, music can also be used as a form of self-expression or communication when words fail us.

Listening to uplifting songs or singing along with them can help boost our moods by increasing serotonin levels in the brain – the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating our emotions and feelings of happiness or sadness,”.

How does music affect your personality

In addition to my parents’ effect on my life, there was also my grandparents’ (Nana and Papa) influence, whose love of music and musical abilities contributed to the musical aspect of my character and personality. I have fond memories of going to dinner clubs with my Nana and learning how to dance to Big Band and Italian polka music. Of course, since we are Sicilian, she loved to sing the tunes those guys from the Rat Pack produced, including but not limited to the following:

Frank Sinatra
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dean Martin
Joey Bishop

There were also those days I spent with my Papa tinkering around in his garage, listening to jazz. Whenever I need to “calm the savage beast” within, I often find that playing jazz, and more recently Gospel jazz, eases my anxiety.

Whenever I cook those old family recipes, I put on my Nana’s albums and sing those classic Italian songs that take me back to my childhood, where I instantly feel the nearness of my Nana’s spirit.

Furthermore, since my mom has passed on from this world, whenever I am missing her, I will play her favorites to feel the nearness of her spirit. Some of the music my mother loved best was by the following artists (which by no means is complete):

The Beatles
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Bob Dillon
The Rolling Stones
The Byrds
Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder
Sonny and Cher
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Sam Cooke

Rock and roll Civil Rights movement

The music of my mother’s generation was very indicative of the hippie culture of the anti-war, pro-civil rights movement. They sang of peace, love, and coming together, as well as spreading awareness of the extreme injustice happening in the United States. Psychologically, this movement of music brought together diverse groups of young people who were hungry for better opportunities and a more just society.

From The Beatles’ “Let it Be” to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” and many more, these artists brought awareness to a diverse group of young people.

From the Digital Public Library of America, “Rock ’n’ roll emerged as a new musical genre in the 1950s, blending African American traditions such as blues and gospel with white American country music and Western swing. It made an important impact on America and the world by inspiring and contributing to social and cultural change. Rock signified rebellion and young people’s rejection of their parents’ music, attitudes, and expectations. It also offered a bridge between races, classes, religions, and cultures. Before rock ’n’ roll, record companies, radio stations, concerts, and popular television variety shows were segregated, officially or unofficially. Rock ’n’ roll brought black artists and musical traditions to white artists and listeners, both in the US and overseas,”.

The shared passion for change and equality fostered a sense of unity and collective identity among the youth, empowering them to challenge the status quo and advocate for a brighter future. Music not only served as a form of expression but also as a powerful tool for social change, which has left a lasting impact on generations like mine and my children’s.

My mom and I would often have conversations about how rock and roll and the music of Motown brought together our generations (Boomers and Gen X), which did not happen with the prior generations that came before us.

In fact, initially, my Nana would not allow my mom to have rock and roll albums. So, my Papa (my mom’s dad) would sneak The Beatles and Bob Dillon records into the house for her. Eventually, my Nana acquiesced and learned to love the new music of that time too. Later, my Nana even loved to listen to Prince with me! On the other hand, my mom didn’t care for his music until her older years, when she realized what a talented artist he truly was.

In conclusion, music is quite literally the fabric of my life – spanning generations and styles of music to influence every mood or emotion felt from today, to tomorrow, into eternity, and beyond.