Taking a casual stroll means that we will come across at least one person with headphones or airpods in. With a vast variety of personalities among the global population of 8 billion people, it is never certain what any one person could be listening to. Some of these people might be listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or the news, but the vast majority of people will be listening to music. Whether it be classical, rap, pop, bollywood, jazz, or other types, thousands of studies proved that the music that we listen to positively impacts the brain. To most, it makes sense that classical music helps brain activity but music in genres such as pop or rap are assumed to be “distracting” and negate brain functionality. This assumption is primarily made by parents of kids who listen to rap or individuals who regard the rapid wording of the lyrics as a disturbance. The truth is, no matter what music you listen to, all music promotes positive effects on the brain.

The brain works in the same way a household machine would. We can make an example of a lawn mower. If we have a use for a lawn mower and use one routinely, we upgrade it as technology advances. However, if we leave it in the garage for long enough, it will stop working. Likewise, if we don’t engage all parts of the brain over some time, some of the parts will slow down in functionality. Listening to music, playing an instrument, or dancing to the rhythm of any musical composition activates all parts of the brain. As Budson, a Harvard researcher, said in his article “Why is music good for the brain?”, the human brain is composed of parts that involve emotion, memory, motor system, and the auditory input. These sections are strengthened when they are used and listening to music is one of the few activities that activates all parts of the brain.

How does music do this? “Listening to any kind of music helps build music-related pathways in the brain” (Bales 2006). Since music can affect emotion, mood, and anxiety, according to Suzanne Boothby, a researcher and writer, these music-related pathways play a fundamental part in stabilizing the mental health of any person. These pathways are strengthened through the process of learning to play an instrument. 

Music does not only enhance the betterness of your mental health but also your intelligence. As most people know, Albert Einstein is considered to be one of the greatest minds in history and his intelligence quotient (IQ) is estimated to be around 160 by scientists. This varies from the average range of 85-115. IQ is accurate when it comes to academic intelligence but not intelligence as a broader whole. Having a high IQ is seen in many musical composers, rappers and singers as well. Mozart’s IQ was estimated to be around 150 to 155. The composer Bach is claimed to have an IQ of 165. Snoop Dog’s IQ is estimated to be around 147 while Ariana Grande’s is said to match Einstein’s at a level 160. 

Albert Einstein (Left) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Right)

Now the question is on how we can incorporate all of this information into our daily lives to build stronger neurological pathways. Since there are various ways to go about this, the answer can be found in many activities. The best activity of which is to learn a classical instrument! It is never too late to start learning something new, especially when that something new can help strengthen a part of yourself for years to come. Other ways to cycle music into your daily schedule include dancing or even just listening to it while performing typical tasks. Something as simple as playing music in the background while doing dishes can have an amazing positive impact on your mood, performance, and ability to think, all of which strengthen the deep interconnected webs of one of our most complex organs.

Works Cited

Bales, Diane  W. “The Role of Music in Brain Development.” University of Georgia Extension, 1 Oct. 2006, extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1053-06&title=the-role-of-music-in-brain-development#:~:text=Music%20seems%20to%20prime%20our,we%20use%20for%20spatial%20reasoning.  

Barton, Adriana. “The ‘Mozart effect’ is bunk. But your brain on music is still a wondrous thing.” BostonGlobe.Com, 21 Dec. 2022, www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/21/opinion/mozart-effect-is-bunk-your-brain-music-is-still-wondrous-thing/. 

Boothby, Suzanne. “How Does Music Affect Your Mood and Emotions.” Healthline, 13 Apr. 2017, www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-listening-to-music-lifts-or-reinforces-mood-051713#:~:text=New%20research%20shows%20that%20even,boost%20happiness%20and%20reduce%20anxiety. 

Budson, Andrew E. “Why Is Music Good for the Brain?” Harvard Health, 7 Oct. 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062. 

Gillette, Hope. “What Is the Average IQ?” Psych Central, 24 Oct. 2022, psychcentral.com/health/average-iq#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20an%20IQ%20score,IQ%20between%2085%20and%20115. 

Kaku, Michio. “Albert Einstein.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 8 June 2023, www.britannica.com/biography/Albert-Einstein. 

“Looking Back: Creative Genius in Classical Music.” BPS, 3 Dec. 2009, www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/looking-back-creative-genius-classical-music. 

Rizzi, Sofia. “What Was Bach’s IQ and Was He Really a Genius?” Classic FM, 8 Nov. 2018, www.classicfm.com/composers/bach/bach-iq-genius-music/#:~:text=165.,accepted%20amongst%20studies%20is%20165. 

Vucic, Marija. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Life of Mastery, Spirituality, and Freemasonry.” TheCollector, 27 July 2021, stein /.