Why You Should Listen to Classical Music!

As ya'll know I was classically trained in piano since the age of 6 and went through all the grueling cycles of harmony, theory, history, counterpoint etc etc. It appears though that only the kids (most likely Asian kids) who study the piano, violin/viola, cello and other instruments through The Royal Conservatory of Music are familiar with classical music because that's what the music education and repertoire centres around. But classical music is not cool nowadays - it's rap, hip-hop, pop, indie, folk, country music that kids are listening to today. Classical music is only for old people - it's boring!

In this blog, I will attempt to persuade you otherwise from personal experience and also from studies! Yes, I will admit that there were a lot of times that I disliked going through piano lessons but only now (so listen to your mothers!) do I truly see the benefits of classical music!

1) The "Mozart Effect"

You may have heard that listening to classical music makes you smarter - not literally though. Studies have shown that those who listen to Mozart depict greater brain wave activity that improves mental tasks such as improving one's memory, improving organizational skills (because classical music is extremely structured, organized and intelligently ordered) and problem solving skills. Although I didn't listen to classical music all the time, but when I needed to study for my exams, I would put on Pachelbel's Canon in D and it helped me focus! I'm NOT kidding!

2) Inspiration = Creativity

My last music blog was about inspiration and classical music is that genre that will inspire and spark creativity. Just listening to classical music won't teach you how to design a new product but speaking from personal experience, revisiting and playing classical pieces that I learned over the course of my piano studies helps me think outside the box - although it may not seem like it because I only use 7th and 9th chords in my music, I use some of the theory that I learned and apply it to the songs I write. It's a weird juxtaposition for me - the reason why I like R&B and Neosoul is because there's no real structure/rules but classical music is the extreme opposite! Classical music is all about organization, rules and structure. But somehow it helps me think greater, unconventional and louder. Classical music helps me experiment by fusing classical and R&B/neo soul chords together (that's super hard to do - still trying to figure that one out!) and overall become more creative!

Example: Alicia Keys "Like the Sea" samples at the very beginning Claude Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1! Check it out on Youtube!

3) Helps reduce stress levels and in turn your blood pressure!

Stress and blood pressure are so multi-factorial and intertwined that this makes sense as a pharmacist. A Taiwanese study found that pregnant women who listened to classical music showed signs of reduced anxiety and depression and a notable decrease in stress levels when compared to the control group. When stress levels are down, blood pressure follows although the direct mechanism remains unknown but classical music has shown to have relaxing properties and also reduces anxiety and depression.

4) Enriches Emotional Experiences

Although there is a music genre for each emotional time frame and by that I mean for example hip-hop and rap music usually depicts an emotional time when one feels life's hardships and barriers vs. the blues that depicts heartache after a break up. Classical music is extremely diverse and expresses many different emotions. I remember DISTINCTLY from history class this term: WORD PAINTING is the musical technique of writing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song. For example, ascending scales would accompany lyrics about going up; slow, dark music would accompany lyrics about death/sadness. "In a Southern Methodist University study, playing classical music in the background made people more comfortable to disclose personal experiences and promoted cognitive expression for an overall relaxed state of mind."

5) Improves SLEEP

If you have time to check this study out, you should especially when it seems that 1/3 people have issues with sleeping. (As a pharmacist I see this way too often given the amount of prescriptions I dispense to help with sleep or the amount of questions I receive from customers about sleep aids). A research team from Tianjin, China found that music could be used to improve sleep quality in various population demographics across many different age brackets and cultural backgrounds. Most studies used classical music from different regions around the world and concluded that music therapy considerably improved the quality of sleep for people with both acute and chronic sleep disorders. (Huh! I should perhaps start recommending this instead of the usual Zzzquil, Unisom or Sleep-eze products)

Appreciation for classical music is lost in our generations today and I personally think it's actually pretty sad. Diversifying oneself in many different music has benefits all on its own but I truly believe, having gone through 10 plus years of classical training that this genre of music is the root and building block for other music genres. So if you're ever feeling adventurous or curious, maybe start introducing a couple classical pieces into your playlist. Below are some of my personal favourites that I studied, played and still listen to! What are some of your favourite classical music you listen to?

1) Chopin - Nocturne op.9 No.2

2) Franz Liszt - La campanella(the little bell), Grand Paganini Études, S. 141

3) Wolfgang AmadeusMozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: II. Romanze - Andante

4) Johann Sebastian Bach - Air

5) Ludwig Van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata: Piano Sonata No. 14

6) Claude Debussy - Arabesque No.1

7) George Frederic Handel - Sarabande in D Minor

8) Felix Mendelssohn - Songs Without Words

9) Franz Schubert - Ave Maria Ellen's Third Song, D. 839, Op. 52, No. 6.

10) Clara Schumann - Piano Concerto Op. 7 in A minor