For this week’s blog I want to return to exploring how ‘pure’ musicking (outside of the industry) can help our mental health as musicians.
My research has always been interested in the music industry alongside music engagement itself. This concept was put to the test during the COVID period. I feel so glad to be able to refer to this period in hindsight! Sends shivers down my spine! It was a horrendous time for many but a recent study has caught my attention and reminded me of this period.
The academic paper titled 'Music engagement for stress and anxiety in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review' published in the journal ‘Psychology of Music’, provides an in depth look at how music had been used to alleviate stress and anxiety during this unprecedented time. The research paper examines a wide range of studies focusing on music engagement and its psychological impacts on adults during the pandemic. Their research findings amalgamated various sources and aimed to understand the efficacy (how much it helps) of different forms of music engagement, such as listening to music, playing instruments, and participating in virtual concerts.
The report illustrated the many different ways that people coped with stress and anxiety. This included passive listening to music, active music-making, and attending live-streamed concerts. Each form of music engagement offered unique benefits, with passive listening to music being the most commonly reported method. Alongside this, the study also highlighted how music engagement was consistently associated with reductions in stress and anxiety levels. The soothing effects of music, its ability to distract from negative thoughts, and its role in providing a sense of normalcy were significant factors contributing to these outcomes.
The paper also discusses several other psychological mechanisms through which music exerts this calming and soothing effects such as the activation of reward pathways in the brain, the regulation of emotional responses, and the promotion of relaxation and mindfulness. Music's ability to evoke positive memories and associations also played a crucial role (I will discuss this in more depth in a later blog). Music engagement (particularly through virtual concerts and online music communities) also helped maintain social connections during the different lockdowns, so vital in mitigating feelings of isolation and loneliness.
The researchers concluded with a need for more rigorous, longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of music engagement on mental health. Additionally, they advocate for incorporating music-based interventions into public health strategies, especially during times of crisis. Of course, Tonic music started in the arena of community musicking so this comes to no surprise to those of us that music!
Adam Ficek hosts a monthly show 'Tonic Music' on Totally Wired Radio, where he talks to various guests about music and mental health. You can listen again to any of the previous show on the Tonic Music Mixcloud page.
