*This story was originally published on teensinprint.com. Teens in Print is an inclusive WriteBoston program created to amplify the marginalized voices of eighth to twelfth grade Boston students.
I’m lying down on my bed with my cat and my headphones in, listening to “PRBLMS” by 6LACK, and I ask myself, “What is better than music?” Nothing. Music can come with different sounds and different voices. Some songs don’t even have people singing — they’re just beats and can have all different types of tempos. The majority of people listen to music but there are some that don’t. Music has the power to make you happy, sad, angry, and even confused. There are many different genres of music: Rock and Roll, Rap, Trap, Merengue, Dembow, and many others. Music can come from cultures or just be silly noises that objects and people make.
People listen to music when they’re cooking, showering, cleaning the house, and even when they’re trying to do homework. Music is good for you. It activates your brain and brings joy into your heart, and makes you start dancing. Music is good for you mentally and physically; it can make you dance and it makes you creative. Let’s say you’re trying to sleep but you hear someone blasting music in their car and because the music is activating your brain, you start vibing to the song even though you’re mad tired.
It has been scientifically proven that music can reduce stress, and relieve symptoms of depression. According to an article called “9 Health Benefits of Music” by NorthShore University Health System, “listening to music can relieve stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers. It relieves symptoms of depression. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, music can help pick you up – much like exercise…” music can bring back memories. When I’m on the train and I’m listening to “D.T.B” by A Boogie, I always think about how many times my ex did me dirty and how I should have never trusted him, lol.
Something that people say is, “Music makes your brain dirty.” By “dirty” I’m talking about explicit lyrics or exotic music videos, including aggression, cuss words, and lyrics that speak about explicit encounters. However, these people are wrong: music helps you mentally instead of making your brain “dirty.” It helps you relieve stress: you could be having the worst anxiety because you’re trying to do your homework but you don’t know how to do it, and then you listen to music and instantly feel ten times better. Music helps your depression; it gives you the energy to go do something good for yourself. Even when you’re listening to sad music you feel a little bit better.
Music is like a console remote. In order to use a console, you need to turn your controller on, and music, by activating your brain, is that controller. According to an article called “Why is music good for the brain?” written by Andrew E. Budson, MD, “ Music …activates a variety of memory regions….[including] the motor system. In fact, it has been theorized that it is the activation of the brain’s motor system that allows us to pick out the beat of the music even before we start tapping our foot to it!”
Something that people say to make other people hate music is that, “music damages your eardrum.” The only way that music can hurt your eardrums is if you’re wearing headphones blasting music, which actually will really hurt your eardrums and, little by little, make you deaf. However, when listened to in a responsible way, music is not dangerous for your health as it helps you be more active and energetic. The beat of a song can make your heart race just by bopping your head to it.
Music, no matter what you’re listening to, is good for you mentally and physically. Listening has many benefits and can help you with depression and anxiety. Music is not for everybody – some people find it annoying but I recommend that everyone give it a try! Listen to any type of music – jazz, electronic music, merengue, salsa, or another kind – and activate your brain, decrease your stress and start dancing.
