Written by Regan Campbell
I am exhausted.
Actually, that may be an understatement. With all of the changes each and every one of us has had to endure, I feel like we all are catatonic zombies just wandering through our cages of quarantine, dreaming of our previous human lives. However, I am a different kind of exhausted. I am tired of feeling like I am in a slump, like I am Phoebe from Friends who feels as though she doesn’t have a plan, let alone a “pla-”.
My brain needs some vitamins. It needs a four course meal with an extra helping of stimulation. It needs an electric charge so that it can finally function at the rate it was before. We are still in school and still need to write everyday! But how can we do so if our brains are on empty stomachs? How do we feed the beast that is our own minds?
For me, as I feel for many others, I crave music. All forms, kinds, tempos, and drives! It’s a necessity, something I cannot go a day without having and this is when I realized something. We tend to do our best with something in our ears and upon further research, this theory holds water.
Dr. Valorie Salimpoor of the Rotman Research Institute determined that our brains actually produce dopamine (that “feel good” chemical) while we listen to music (Bushak). We are addicted to the feeling and actually become more creative, dedicated, and focused as we listen.
What kind of music should we “feed” our brains for the best results of focused creativity? It actually depends on the person. Neurologist Oliver Sacks tested his own brain on the effects of listening to two different composers: Bach and Beethoven. Though both are classical music composers, Sacks’ brain reacted more to the music of Bach rather than Beethoven. However, this was not a result of which composer’s music was better, rather it had to do with Sacks’ own preferences. Since he preferred Bach, his brain responded in kind (Bushak).
So, what music should I listen to then? Now is the time (and we certainly do have a lot of it) to run your own experiment. While working on relatively low stake assignments, test out a bunch of different kinds of music. Find which genre you gain a better rhythm to, and then discover specific artists and composers.
For me, I love jazz music. While I am working on this post, I am listening to Dave Brubeck and his infamous song “Take Five.” It is fast paced, full of instrumentation, and extremely entertaining, which works well for my brain because I do my best work during chaotic situations. This may not be your cup of tea though! To help find your muse, start listening. Here are some recommendations:
Movie Score Artists: Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Alexandre Desplat.
Folk/Alternative Musicians: Sufjan Stevens, Morningsiders, Jack Johnson
Inspiring Pianists: Mario Vinuela, Ludovico Einaudi, Agnes Obel
Immersive Classical Composers: Erik Satie, Camille Saint-Saens, Claude Debussy
Laid Back Rockers: Dan Auerbauch, Chris Isaak, Fleetwood Mac, Hozier
Good luck and feed your brain!
Works Cited
Bushak, Lecia. “This Is Your Brain On Music: How Our Brains Process Melodies That Pull On Our Heart Strings.” Medical Daily. March 11, 2014. https://www.medicaldaily.com/your-brain-music-how-our-brains-process-melodies-pull-our-heartstrings-271007
Images Cited
Figure One: “Do You Love Music? Here Is What Happens to Your Brain When You Listen To Your Favorite Song.” Health Awareness Community. May 16, 2016. http://healthawarenesscommunity.com/9-amazing-effects-music-health/
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