Right off the bat, we want to tell you that music can have profound effects on our moods and bodies. This is not up for debate, it is fact…
Music affects mental health.
Listening to music can trigger hormonal changes and the release of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin – chemicals in the body that can increase feelings of pleasures and motivation, as well as promoting feelings of peace and clarity.
Researchers at Stanford University have said that “listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication.”
Not only can music calm you when you are already feeling anxious or frustrated, probably over waiting times on the phone with the doctor, music can also reduce the chances of feeling anxiety about an upcoming event. Let’s say that you know you are going to need to sit down and go through piles of paperwork, reading complex legal documents, while sending important letters, emails and making phone calls. It is going to be a long and stressful day. Playing music before and during these events has been shown to reduce anxiety, thus promoting confidence and focus on the tasks at hand – thus making you a more efficient and happier carer.
A 2019 study found that a piece of music, ‘Weightless’ by Marconi Union, designed to be the world’s most relaxing song, was just as efficient as medication in calming patients before major surgery – with the added benefit of no side effects of drugs.
Our mind and body can be profoundly affected by the power of music. Music of different tempos has the ability to alter how our mental and physical states interact with the outside world. Faster music can increase our alertness and improve concentration, while a slower tempo can actually ease and quiet your thoughts, as well as help your muscles relax – taking away those tense feelings and the aches and pains that come with them.
So what kind of music is seen as most effective at reducing stress and giving you that quick breather? Well, it seems drums, flutes, Native American, Celtic, and Indian stringed-instruments are effective at relaxing us when played at a moderate volume. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the sounds of rain, thunder, and other nature sounds such as rivers, birdsong and wind howling, can also have positive effects on our moods and mental health. Their effectiveness can be increased when it is mixed and playing alongside music such a light jazz, easy listening, and classic musical.
Now, for some people that may sound amazing, and they love all those genres and ideas. Fantastic! Other’s however, may recoil at the idea of jazz, light or otherwise, and that’s fine! The whole point of using music as a tool for relaxation is based in the simple foundation that you do enjoy the music you are listening to. Forcing yourself to listen to music you hate will defeat the whole purpose of what we are trying to achieve.
Before we share more about how you as an unpaid carer can reap the benefits of the power of music, we’d like to share how music can also be a powerful tool to help the people you care for, especially those suffering from diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Watch the short video (3:47 mins), A Mind Roused by Music, to see how Alzheimer’s heavy door of solitary confinement can be unlocked by the power of music. Although music can’t cure the disease, it has been shown to slow it down.
Before we share more about how you as an unpaid carer can reap the benefits of the power of music, we’d like to share how music can also be a powerful tool to help the people you care for, especially those suffering from diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Watch the short video (3:47 mins), A Mind Roused by Music, to see how Alzheimer’s heavy door of solitary confinement can be unlocked by the power of music. Although music can’t cure the disease, it has been shown to slow it down.
Music on any budget
We understand that not everyone has access to all streaming services, paid or free, due to maybe not having a compatible device, such as smartphone or tablet device such as a Kindle or iPad. Some may even prefer to use cassette tapes, CDs or vinyls, and that’s fine too. Below, we will have playlists, paid for and free, as well as suggestions and ways for you to listen to physical media.
YouTube
YouTube is an online video platform that you can freely access from a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet device, and smart devices or smart devices connected to your TV. It is ad-supported, but there is a premium ad-free option. YouTube Premium costs £12.99 per month but does come with a one-month free trial, so you can see if it is worth it for you.
With YouTube being so popular and widely available, you can create an account on one device and login to it from any other device. With playlists, you can save your favourite music (and videos too), and listen to it wherever you are! So if you’re cleaning the living room you can have the TV playing your favourite music, then if you’re trying to sleep you can have your earphones in and pick up where you left off. Click here to learn how to make your own YouTube playlists.
Below, we have a selection of music for you to enjoy, no matter if you’re cooking, cleaning, sitting down and relaxing, filling in paperwork, or trying to sleep. It’s just to get you started but remember, you know what you like so go and listen to it!
"World's most relaxing song"
Tranquil piano music, and a candle visual.
Contemporary music of various instruments and humming sounds. Colourful fractal visuals.
Serene Native American drumming with other instruments. Ocean and forest visuals.
Music for Harp, Flute and Cello - classical musi with nature visuals.
Rhythmic music played on the ancient Indian stringed instrument, the veena. Nature visuals.
Piano music with accompanying instruments. Visuals of beautiful flowers.
Native American flute music, with visuals of a sunlit Grand Canyon.
Calming piano music with a virtual walk through a beautiful forest.
Instrumental and tranquil nature sounds.
Sounds of forest such as birdsong, rivers flowing and wind gushing. Visuals of walking through a forest.
Wind, birdsongs; sounds of nature. With film of sunflowers and mountains on a sunny day.
A soothing ambience. Visuals of the rain and jungle.
12 hours of serene 'out of body' type experience with piano. Visuals are nature at night.
Piano with a laid-back lounge feel.
Upbeat, soft and calming Lo-Fi beats. Visuals of springtime pastels and working timer.
A variety of instruments, inspired by and recreations of Studio Ghibli music.
Groovy beach music to boost your mood and energy. Visuals of a beach.
Uplifting beats and a mix of drums, guitar and other instruments. A pastel like drawing of a city with graphic equaliser on screen.
We hope the music above has helped inspire you to what is available. There are even channels on YouTube that play music 24/7, which you can watch and listen to at any time. For example, clicking here will take you to Good Life Radio that plays relaxing and happy music. There are loads of variety out there for you! Even playlists made by other users that you can freely enjoy, like the ones below.
Spotify
Spotify, like YouTube, can be used on a variety of device and offers free and premium versions. The free version offers ad-supported music streaming, shuffle play, and a limited listening experience. Premium offers ad-free listening, offline downloads, on-demand playback, higher audio quality, and additional features. The premium option offers a three-month trial and then is £11.99 per month.
Below, are a selection of Spotify playlists for you to try out.
Physical Media (CDs, Cassette Tapes, and Vinyl LPs)
We understand that not everyone can access the internet-based services when they want. Internet can be expensive, and smartphones and tablet devices aren’t a priority when you’re providing care. Plus, some people just prefer to have a CD, cassette tape, or vinyl record. There are still options for you, at any price range, and we are going to share them with you.
Did you know you can access thousands of music CDs at in Solihull libraries, completely free of charge? All you need is a library card and you are good to go! Check out the long and varied list available by clicking here, or by visiting your local library.
If you don’t own a CD, cassette or vinyl player, then check out your local charity shops, search on eBay, or even buy them brand new. Technology always comes around again in one way or another. Places such as Argos have brand-new CD players, in different styles – requiring headphones, built-in speakers – for relatively low prices. You could buy a small boom box that plays the radio, cassette tapes and CDs for the just little bit more than a month’s subscription to Spotify and YouTube premium. Except, once the month is over, you get to keep the boom box!
Suitcase style vinyl players, with built-in speakers, are popular nowadays and can be had for similar prices to the boombox.
Now, where do you get your CDs, tapes and vinyls if the library doesn’t have what you want? Lots of places. We can’t list them all here but eBay is a great starting point, places such as MusicMagpie have offers on all the time, but if you want new then HMV are making a comeback in the physical media industry with their vinyl and CD selections. Of course, your local charity shops are a great place to go and have an actual mooch around – you’re guaranteed to find something you like. Also, don’t forget retro entertainment shops that are getting more popular than ever. Entertainment World, just outside of Solihull, has a great choice of all music media, as well as videotapes and so much more. Might be worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Make Music!
Some time ago, we wrote about Music & Memories events for carers, held at Eastcote Park Luxury Care, in Solihull. They are bi-weekly events, designed with carers in mind to allow them to gather and sit together, to reminisce over their favourite songs and relax in a calming environment. Check out our blog about Music & Memories by clicking here to learn more.
If you’re a young carer, then Solihull Music might be what you’re looking for if you want to get into making music. Solihull Music provides opportunities for children and young people to learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together. You can hire instruments for just £25 per school term, as well as get a great deals on music lessons, to help you learn and hone your skills with your chosen instrument!
We hope you can see, by now, just how important music is for our mental health – our peace, our drive and focus, a spark of happiness and constant release from the pressures of the world.
Music is everywhere, it’s all around you and can help you find whatever mindset it is you’re looking for. You just need to know where to look and when to listen.
Read More about the Power of Music
- https://www.harmonyandhealing.org/how-music-can-reduce-stress/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1108402/full
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10765015/
- https://www.unr.edu/counseling/virtual-relaxation-room/releasing-stress-through-the-power-of-music
- https://rapm.bmj.com/content/44/8/796
Header Image used: Image by freepik
