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Home › Blog › How Does Music Affect Society?
November 3, 2021
How Does Music Affect Society?
By Lia Peralta
Music has shaped cultures and societies around the world, passed down from generation to generation. It has the power to alter one’s mood, change perceptions, and inspire change. While everyone has a personal relationship with music, its effects on the culture around us may not be immediately apparent. So, how does music affect society ? The impact of music on society is broad and deeply ingrained in our history. To demonstrate how deeply our lives are affected by music, let’s delve into the sociological effects of music and how it affects culture.
How Does Music Affect Society
Music is an essential aspect of all human civilizations and has the power to emotionally, morally, and culturally affect society. When people from one culture exchange music with each other, they gain valuable insight into another way of life. Learning how music and social bonding are tied is especially crucial in times of conflict when other lines of communication prove to be challenging. Music, as a cultural right, may aid in the promotion and protection of other human rights. It can help in the healing process, dismantling walls and boundaries, reconciliation, and education. Around the world, music is being used as a vehicle for social change and bringing communities together.
At the core of our everyday experience with music, we use it to relax, express ourselves, come to terms with our emotions, and generally improve our well-being. It has evolved into a tool for healing and self-expression, often dictating how we, as individuals, take steps to impact society.
Why is Music Beneficial to Society?
Music has the power to connect with and influence people in a way that feels fundamentally different from other forms of communication. Humans often feel that “no one understands them” or knows how they “truly feel.” Many resort to music to find connections with others to express themselves or find a sense of understanding among peers.
How does music affect our lives? Music has the ability to deeply affect our mental states and raise our mood. When we need it, music gives us energy and motivation. When we’re worried, it can soothe us; when we’re weary, it can encourage us; and when we’re feeling deflated, it can re-inspire us. It even functions to improve our physical health, as it’s been proven that high-tempo music results in better workouts . We connect with others via music, especially those who produce or perform it — we recite their lyrics, dance to their melodies, and form a sense of connection through their self-expression.
Songs and melodies have the power to inspire people, guide their actions, and aid in the formation of identities. Music can unite people – even if absorbed in solitude, capture your imagination and boost creativity. A person who has been affected by music is not alone. They are among the masses trying to find their role in society and form connections with others. Thankfully, while it can help us “find ourselves,” music influence on society can also be seen in:
– Providing a platform for the underrepresented to speak out
– Affecting mood and inspiration
– Helping us cope by encouraging us to express ourselves through movement and dancing
– Bridging a divide in communication
– Creating a venue for education and idea-sharing
Music’s Effect on Our Thoughts and Actions
Music’s effect on the self is far-reaching, tapping into our memories, subconscious thoughts, emotions, and interests. Thanks to the music artists who have put their heart and soul into creating, we feel connected with other people and their difficulties, challenges, and emotions. So much about our brains is still being discovered but through neurology, we are learning more and more about how music affects us.
We all know that being exposed to music’s beauty, rhythm, and harmony significantly influences how we feel. We also know that music emotionally impacts us, reaching into forgotten memories and connecting us to ourselves. Music therapy is often used to improve attention and memory, and can have a positive effect on those suffering from dementia or Alzheimers. Music has the potential to be a powerful healing tool in a variety of ways and pervades every aspect of our existence. Songs are used to define spiritual ceremonies, toddlers learn the alphabet via rhyme and verse, and malls and restaurants, where we choose to spend our free time, are rarely silent.
But how much can this ever-present object influence our behavior and emotions? According to research , music has a significant impact on humans. It can potentially affect disease, depression, expenditure, productivity, and our outlook on life. The impact of music on our brain is being better understood thanks to advances in neuroscience and the examination of music’s impact on the brain. It has been shown via brain scans that when we listen to or perform music, nearly all brain regions are active simultaneously. Listening to and making music may actually changes the way your brain works .
According to studies, music impacts how we view the world around us. In a 2011 research paper , 43 students were given the job of recognizing happy and sad faces while listening to happy or sad music in the background by researchers from the University of Groningen. Participants noticed more cheerful faces when upbeat music was played, while the opposite was true when sad music was played. According to the researchers, music’s effect might be because our perceptual decisions on sensory stimuli, such as facial expressions in this experiment, are directly impacted by our mental state. Music triggers physical responses in the brain and puts in motion a series of chemical reactions.
In the book, Classical Music: Expected the Unexpected , author and conductor Kent Nagano spoke with neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin on how music interacts with the brain. The sociological effects of music can include the improvement of people’s well-being due to chemical reactions in the brain, such as an increase in oxytocin. Oxytocin, or the “love hormone,” makes us more inclined to engage in social interactions or build trust between individuals. Music also boosts the synthesis of the immunoglobulin A antibody, which is crucial for human health. Studies have also shown that melatonin, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels increase after only a few weeks of music therapy. The hormones noradrenaline and adrenaline cause us to become more alert, experience excitement, and cause the brain’s “reward” regions to fire.
The Cultural Impact of Music
Today’s popular music reflects the culture of the day. But, how does music affect society over time? How has music changed over the past century? In the lyrics and sound of each era, we can discern the imprints of a particular generation and see history in the making. And, in this day and age, culture is changing faster than ever before, mirroring musical forms that are evolving and emerging at the same rate.
For decades, the effects of music on society have been a source of contention, and it seems that with each generation, a new musical trend emerges that has the previous generations saying, “Well back in my day, we had…”. Music and social movements are intrinsically linked together. Almost every popular kind of music was considered scandalous back in the day, and the dancing that accompanied jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and hip-hop drew protests and boycotts from all around. Just look at The Beatles, who were considered scandalous by the older generation when they first arrived on the music scene.
While we may not like a new music trend or a particular genre of music, we must also take a step back and appreciate how lucky we are to be exposed to it at all. Music in some parts of the world is not as easily accessible. While music has always been a means of pushing the boundaries of expression, it’s clear that the world isn’t expressing itself in the same way. The various musical trends we’ve seen in just this lifetime provide an insightful look into what is and isn’t being discussed in some cultures.
Music as an Agent for Change
Another essential factor to consider is how strongly music influences society and, thus, human behavior. Music’s impact on human rights movements and its role as an agent for change is clear in the history books. One example is the impact of the “freedom songs” of the Civil Rights movement, such as “We Shall Overcome” and “Strange Fruit.” These songs broke down barriers, educated people, built empathy across the divide, and had a hand in ending segregation. Music today continues to shed light on the inequalities experienced by people worldwide, and it’s clear that music will never stop acting as an agent for change.
Because of how strong of an influence melodies and lyrics have on society, we must be acutely aware of our current culture. Still, more importantly, we must be conscious of the cultures we wish to build and develop via our music. Songs have the power to change the world in unexpected ways, challenging preconceived notions and shedding light on issues that have historically been ignored.
Music’s Impact on Youth
How does having music education impact youth? We know from our experience that music in schools improves student, teacher and community outcomes – and in turn, society, specifically the future generation. In a case study about our work in Newark, NJ , 68% of teachers reported improved academic performance. 94% of teachers also saw improvement in social-emotional skills. Schools saw better attendance and ELA (English Language Arts) scores.
Another example of this is our work in Metro Nashville Public Schools , which has been a partner district of Save The Music since 1999. Students who participated in music programs for up to one year had significantly better attendance and graduation rates, higher GPAs and test scores, and lower discipline reports than their non-music peers. Students with more than one year of music participation performed significantly better than their peers with less on each of these indicators.
We Invest in Music in Schools
Whether you’re a music buff or not, anyone can appreciate the impact music has on society. A great way to show this appreciation is by being part of music’s impact on the world and learning how you can help facilitate change. Save The Music is a music foundation that collaborates with public school districts to provide grants for music education instructors and school administrators in the form of new instruments, technology, and online music education . Our initiative helps schools get their music programs off the ground and keep students inspired.
Contact us today to learn how you can save the music through our music education advocacy programs .
Advocacy , Blog
Culture And Music Essay
People have always used music as a way to express themselves. Music can be a reflection of a person’s culture and the things that are important to them. Different cultures have their own unique styles of music, and often the lyrics of songs reflect the culture’s values and beliefs.
In many cases, music is also used to communicate messages about social issues or politics. Some songs become popular because they express the feelings of a large number of people, and can help to unite a community around a common cause. Music can also be used to spread awareness about important issues and to inspire people to take action.
Ultimately, music is a powerful tool that can be used to express any range of emotions and ideas. It can help us to better understand ourselves and the world around us, and can even bring people together to make positive change.
Culture is an idea or way of life that we live by, and it affects us all, regardless of where we reside or what we do. We constantly exist in various cultures and don’t even realize it. The impact of music on how we are influenced by our culture is obvious. As a result, the fact that music is present in every culture, whether you listen to ballads or rap music
Music is a reflection of our culture because it has the ability to express what we are feeling and going through in life. Music helps us identify with our culture and is a way for us to share our experiences with others who may have gone through similar things.
Music can also be used as a form of communication between people from different cultures. It can help break down barriers and bring people together. Music is a powerful tool that can be used to reflect our culture and the way we live. It can also be used to bring people together and help us understand each other better. Music is an important part of our culture and should be appreciated for all it does for us.
Music is one of the most important parts of culture; it’s a way for people to express their beliefs and ideas. Music has been a significant force throughout history, influencing all aspects of human life. The influence of music on society may be seen in its influence on all areas of people’s lives, from thoughts and attitudes to emotions and behaviors. Every feeling imaginable, from sad to joyful to mellow to angry to peaceful, and so on
Music has been used as a form of entertainment, a way to pass the time and as a source of inspiration. Music can be traced back to prehistoric times. The first music was probably made with natural objects such as rocks, sticks and leaves. Percussion instruments were the first type of instruments developed. These instruments make noise by being hit or shaken. The oldest percussion instrument is the drum. Drums were probably invented because they imitated the sound of thunder or other natural sounds.
The first melodies were probably sung by cavemen and women using their voices. cavemen and women banging two rocks together may have also made music. Music has always been an important part of human life. Music is created for many reasons. Some music is created to praise God, some to tell a story and some just for fun. Music is a part of every culture in the world. Each culture has its own way of making music.
In today’s world, music, in particular, contributes to certain lifestyles and attitudes. I’m constantly curious about what the next generation has in store for the wonderful world of music. It was do-wop and swing music in the Fifties, when America experienced its first encounter with Rock & Roll. Peoples’ lives were secure and happy, which is reflected by this do-wop bebop music. In the Sixties, Rock & Roll collided with American culture as a whole, paving the road for a major cultural bridge created by people like The Beetles and Elvis Presley.
Music in the Sixties was more then just a reflection of peoples attitudes, it was a way of life. People rebelled against what their parents and society had to offer, they wanted something new and fresh and music gave them that opportunity. Music is always changing and evolving and each generation has its own unique sound that is a reflection of the time period in which they live.
Music is the soundtrack to our lives, it reflects who we are as people and tells the story of our culture. Music will always be a part of our lives, it is ingrained in who we are as human beings. It is a language that we all understand, no matter what country we come from or what culture we identify with. Music brings us all together and is a reflection of the human experience. Music is a powerful tool that can change the world, one song at a time.
The sixties were a time of peace, love, and happiness, and so music once again reflected this mentality. The Beetles and Elvis were the first real musicians to break into the mainstream and gain a sizable following. That rebel rock ‘n’ roll, grow my hair long, and shake my hips seed was planted in our culture. This caused a snowball effect that carried into the 1970s and 1980s when America’s youth embraced drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll. It gets better; music acquired fresh significance in people’s lives worldwide.
Music became the voice of a generation. Music has always been a reflection of culture and it will continue to be so into the future. The different forms of music have always represented the ideologies and values of the time period it was created in. Music is not only a form of entertainment, but also a reflection of the cultural norms and values of the society in which it is created.
It can be used to communicate messages about important issues and topics, as well as to capture the feelings and attitudes of the people living during that time period. In some cases, music can even be used to inspire social change. For example, “We Shall Overcome” was a song that was popularized during the Civil Rights Movement in order to promote the idea of equality and unity amongst all people.
The history of American music is a great example of how music can be used to reflect the cultural values of a society. In the early 20th century, jazz music became popular in America. This type of music was considered rebellious and “bad” by many people because it challenged the traditional values of that time period. Jazz music was often associated with speakeasies and nightclubs, which were considered to be places where immoral activities took place. However, jazz music also represented freedom and creativity, and many people saw it as a way to express themselves freely.
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Influence of Music on Culture and the Individual
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- Duke, Selwyn.c The New American Covers News on Politics Economy Culture and More Based on the U.S. Constitution so That Freedom Shall Not Perish. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
- Huang, Belinda. “What Kind of Impact Does Our Music Really Make on Society?”Sonicbids Blog – Music Career Advice and Gigs. Sonic Birds Corporation, 24 Aug. 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
- Landau, Eliza. “This Is Your Brain on Music.” CNN . Cable News Network, 2 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
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Music’s Role in Culture Essay
Preliminary thesis.
Music is inseparably connected with human society during the whole course of its history. Music is a complex system of transferring feelings, thoughts, and emotions that is changing according to the demands of human society. Being a type of art that expresses feelings, ideas, and emotions, music plays a vital role in the development of human culture and cultural components.
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Statement of Interest and Progress Report
Music is an element of culture that is inseparably connected with the existence of human society. We listen to music in our everyday life and attend musical performances if it is a sphere of our special interest. As a means of expressing feelings and conveying information, music is a transparent system that can be investigated through the analysis of numerous examples (pieces of music). The importance of music, it’s wide-spreading, and the availability of examples do research on “Music in Culture” appealing to me. Every research begins with an analysis of the literature on the subject. Nowadays, due to the development of information technology, a lot of reliable sources are available online. The online search for information helps to achieve a general understanding of the subject. Locating information online is also helpful for finding books and articles in periodicals. Unfortunately, those books and articles are not available in full, but when writing a thesis, you are ready to go to your university library. My next step was visiting the University online library for the complete versions of books that I have searched. I have found most of the books, articles, and article reviews that I wanted and looked through the multimedia files. Perhaps I can use some music files for conducting a short survey on how different music is perceived. It can also be interesting to investigate what kind of music people prefer to listen at different times of the day, or how people react to music on different days of the week. To undertake this research, I’ll have to learn more about different types of music and different cultures that reveal their customs and traditions via music. I fail to find all the books for my Bibliography, so the search for information is not complete.
Annotated Bibliography
Emmerson, Simon, ed. Music, Electronic Media, and Culture . Routledge, 2016. Music, Electronic Media, and Culture edited by Simon Emmerson is a collection of nine essays devoted to three aspects of the modern music: perception of music, a relationship between electronic music and contemporary culture, and the prospects for electronic music. The author points out that there are many ways to listen to music, but the means of creating music are rather limited. That is why the creative process in the sphere of music is has relied on modern technology. Laughery, Dan. Music and Youth Culture . 2006. Music and Youth Culture by Dan Laughey is a book entirely dedicated to the role and functions of music in the youth culture. The author thoroughly investigates “youth” as a concept firmly established in modern society. Laughey views the youth culture historically, structurally, and systematically. Having set the foundation for the research, the author turns to music as an essential part of the youth subculture. The author unveils the processes on production and consumption of music, as well as the role of music in the everyday life of the youth. The book provides useful information on methods and approaches that can be applied to analyzing music. Belle, Nicky. “Recording Culture: Powwow Music and the Aboriginal Recording Industry.” ARSC Journal 44.2 (2013): 263-265. Cole, Malcolm. “Context and culture in music education: lessons from the last century.” Australian Journal of Music Education 3 (2015): 59. GÜVEN, Uğur Zeynep. “How Would You Like Your Alternative Music? New Media and Cultural Capital in Transition.” Global Media Journal: Turkish Edition 6.12 (2016). Harris, Jo Anne. “The Popular Music and Entertainment Culture of Barbados: Pathways to Digital Culture by Curwen Best.” Caribbean Studies 42.1 (2014): 269-272. Njoora, Timothy K. “More than just good feelings: advocacy for music among mainstream subjects.” Muziki 12.1 (2015): 23-40. Saffle, Michael. Music and Culture in America , 1861-1918 . Routledge, 2014. Wang, Juan. “Classical Music: a Norm of” Common” Culture Embedded in Cultural Consumption and Cultural Diversity.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music (2016): 195-205. Yoon, Sunny. “Tuning in Sacred: Youth Culture and Contemporary Christian Music.” International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music (2016): 315-342.
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COMMENTS
Music is inextricably linked with the context in which it is produced, consumed and taught and the inter-relationship between music, society and culture has been researched for many decades....
Music, as a cultural right, may aid in the promotion and protection of other human rights. It can help in the healing process, dismantling walls and boundaries, reconciliation, and education. Around the world, music is being used as a vehicle for social change and bringing communities together.
Music is a reflection of our culture because it has the ability to express what we are feeling and going through in life. Music helps us identify with our culture and is a way for us to share our experiences with others who may have gone through similar things.
Music has become a cultural divide between generations which is why this is. Another component behind this is the fact that, in the past, music was a lot more unifying among any given generation. An article created by The American Academy of Pediatrics explains why this is.