Music And Depression

How does one define music? Sound comprises of sound waves. The way these sound waves vibrate and reduce from loud to soft is what differentiates music from normal sounds. Consider banging a metal pan on something. The erratic vibrations you get are very different from playing a chord on the piano, which gives you a smooth, soothing and soft sound. A musical note is hence much more pleasing to listen to.

"Music soothes the savage beast". This old saying is true and relevant in today's world. We have all experienced being swayed away and being affected deeply by some songs. When I hear "A Summer Place" it transports me back to the summer of the fifties. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face, the delicious smell of hot dogs being cooked in an open fire and the banter of family and friends.

Have you heard of the theory which states that some chords and notes resonate in such a way that their vibrations are harmonious and in synch with some people? Some songs tend to give us goose bumps. This is nothing but a profound affect of the music on our subconscious mind. If you get emotionally attached to this sound, that particular sound will then give you a powerful and everlasting blueprint of the sound on your subconscious which will remain there forever.

For example, if you get the news of a loved one when a particular song or piece of music is being played on the radio, then this music is bound to leave an impression on your subconscious mind. So, if you listen to that song some years down the line, you will be reminded of that particular moment and become depressed because of it (assuming it was bad news.) This is not only a connection with negative feelings, but with positive feelings too.

The effect of music is evident everywhere. One fine day, you might find yourself humming something vaguely familiar, and then you'll discover that it is just the new commercial you saw on the television. Advertising companies use this effect of music on the subconscious mind for sale and advertisement of products. The advertising industry spends a large amount on the music of any commercial and to conduct a research on the ways in which the music affects our subconscious mind. This is why many times you will find that famous and great classics performed onstage originally by famous artists are recomposed and modified and used by big companies to launch their product or advertise their product through commercials.

So the next time you find yourself humming away to glory, try and recall the exact situation and environment of the time you first heard it. You know, think about where, when and visualize the moment when you heard it first. This will give you a practical explanation of how music affects the subconscious mind. For example whenever you hear "Summer Place" now, you will think about this article!

So, have fun listening!