Benefits of Live Music
Over on my Facebook business page, I frequently share local music events and encourage folks to attend. Recently one of my page followers asked why I did that since it’s not music therapy. And she’s right– a live music concert is *not* music therapy. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good for you! And it doesn’t mean you can’t attend a concert and *still* go to music therapy. One doesn’t displace, or replace, the other. That’s good news!
But what’s so great about a live music concert?
New research shows that attending live music events can increase:
- feelings of well-being
- happiness
- closeness to others
- feelings of self-worth
- productivity
- mental stimulation
Can’t I get the same results from listening to my favorite music at home?
Actually, no. While listening on your own can certainly have some benefits, the research found that 67% of the people in the study said they felt happier after a live music event compared to listening at home.
The other great part about this is that the study showed these benefits after only 20 minutes of live music every 2 weeks! So sit down and enjoy your coffee in the shop with the guitar player in the corner. Or take your lunch break in the park where noontime concerts happen. Or pick the restaurant that has happy hour entertainment for your after work gathering. It’s easy to fit live music into your schedule! And pretty soon, you’ll be seeing those benefits!
As always, if you have any questions about how music therapy could help you, I’m happy to answer! Or you can watch my video on this topic here.
