How music can help your mental health
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This story is brought to you by the Idaho Falls Symphony, which has been bringing joyful music to our community for 75 years. Information about the Idaho Falls Symphony Youth Orchestra programs, LinkUp and Ambassador education programs, and tickets for Sapphire Season 75 can be found at ifsymphony.org.
The exercise started simply. Describe joy. The composer gave a few suggestions of words describing what joy might mean to her and asked us to think about what it means to us. As I pondered my response, I immediately thought of the powerful, glorious joy expressed in Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” or the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel’s “Messiah.” I also reflected on the deep peaceful stillness of joy that I feel when I listen to Arvo Pärt’s masterpiece, “Spiegel im Spiegel.” These thoughts occurred while I was sitting in a workshop with composer Jessica Meyer where we were working on creating word poems that she could turn into musical phrases.
As I listened to the responses from other audience members and heard the various musical interpretations of joy, I was reminded just how important joy has been in my mental health journey. How fleeting it can be, and how different joy feels to each of us. In my journey, joy has often centered around the cultural arts, and in particular, music.
Classical music has long been associated with mental health and well-being, both in terms of its therapeutic potential and its ability to enhance mood, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. The relationship between music and mental health is complex, as music can influence emotions, cognition, and behavior in profound ways. Classical music, with its structure, harmonies, and emotional depth, is often used in therapeutic settings to help individuals manage mental health conditions, or to simply improve their emotional and psychological well-being.
One of the most powerful advocates for the therapeutic benefits of music, particularly in relation to mental health, is the renowned soprano Renée Fleming. As a celebrated opera singer, Fleming has dedicated much of her career not only to performing but also to raising awareness about the healing potential of music in medical and therapeutic contexts. Fleming’s work on music and mental health focuses on how music, especially classical forms, can help individuals cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She has been particularly vocal about the transformative power of music to alleviate mental health issues, especially in hospital settings, military institutions, and among vulnerable populations. Fleming has advocated for the integration of music into healthcare, drawing attention to how listening to or performing music can help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and provide emotional comfort.
One of the key benefits of music in mental health is its ability to regulate emotions and reduce anxiety. The structured rhythms and harmonies in music can evoke deep emotional responses that help individuals confront their feelings in a non-verbal way. Music can give voice to emotions that are difficult to articulate, offering a safe outlet for emotional release. This is particularly important in therapeutic settings, where music can serve as both a tool for communication and a means of emotional expression for those unable to express themselves verbally.
In an important study published in 2013, “The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response,” the authors examined how listening to music can reduce stress, lower cortisol levels, and promote relaxation. Classical music was part of the music studied and was shown to have a significant impact on reducing physiological stress markers. Several other studies, and Fleming’s own work, have significantly contributed to the understanding of music’s role in mental health.
In 2019, Fleming partnered with the Johns Hopkins University NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, where she has participated in conversations about the therapeutic use of music in reducing stress and promoting emotional recovery. This collaboration has highlighted how music can have a profound effect on emotional regulation, helping patients manage the mental health challenges that often accompany physical illness.
Other important initiatives, like Mindful Music Moments, a program aimed at using music to reduce stress and promote mindfulness in students, have been developed and supported by orchestras across the country. The goal is to use classical music, through its soothing rhythms and evocative melodies, to guide individuals toward emotional balance and a sense of calm. Whether through meditation, relaxation, or simple enjoyment, music can be a powerful tool for fostering mental well-being.
By the end of the composer workshop, I had heard joy. The emotions shared were different for each participant as it meant something different to each of us. But joy was something that I felt deep in my soul. Something that I still feel I can draw on as I am mindful in my mental health journey.
Carrie Athay is the executive director of the Idaho Falls Symphony. The Symphony has been bringing joyful music to our community for 75 years. Information about the Idaho Falls Symphony Youth Orchestra programs, LinkUp and Ambassador education programs, and tickets for Sapphire Messiah on December 21, 2024 and other concerts during the 75th Sapphire Season can be found at ifsymphony.org.