By Ma Li Ke
Classical music is something that has been almost abandoned by our generation. While there are still people appreciating classical music, the demographic tends to lean on to the older generation.
Most people will say that they dont listen or have never listened to classical music. However, it’s not surprising that they will probably recognise the tunes to ˜Ode to Joy in the 5th Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, or Symphony No. 41 composed by Mozart.
Classical music, in its own way, is very expressive. Unlike modern music, with its emotions bound by lyrics, forcing you to align your feelings to that specific song. I dont think anyone would be listening to ˜Ship in the Sand by Marble Sounds if they are looking for something happy.
On the other hand, classical music is very flexible when it comes to emotional expression; the same piece of music can be interpreted in so many ways and with so many emotions. Take Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto for example, the cadenza can be construed as intriguing, mysterious, happy and forceful, or it can be sadness, sorrow, despair and hopelessness.
So why is classical music beneficial? Just because its expressive? I can write a lot on the benefits of classical music, but as a university student, let’s only focus on how it can benefit us academically.
Proper sleep is crucial for university students. Without adequate sleep, students cannot function properly, dozing off during important classes and not paying enough attention to what the lecturer has to say. Studies show that classical music can improve your sleep quality significantly, by putting on a relaxing piece forty-five minutes to an hour before you sleep.
It is a known fact that music affects us mentally and physically. Our heart beats faster when we listen to fast-tempo music and vice-versa. To have a steady heartbeat and a calm mind before sleep is essential for a good night’s sleep.
Struggling to finish that essay or any assignment that requires creativity? Researchers from Australia and The Netherlands found that students listening to classical music while completing a creativity-related task have scored higher compared to students who attended to other genres.
When your brain is relaxed, thats when the moment of creativity appears. Since most of the classical music pieces are composed in happy major scales rather than depressing minor scales, that really helps with invoking positive mental attitude and destress oneself.
Stress is not unfamiliar for us university students, continually meeting deadlines, submissions and tests. If that happens to you, try listen to music composed by Tchaikovsky, Handel or Sibelius. Classical music is relaxing, and that is not a myth. I’m not saying every single piece of music written is relaxing, there are some pieces where it hypes you up instead of calming you down. But the ability of music to reduce stress is scientifically proven.
Most of the parts are composed in a timestamp (tempo) that matches our resting heart rate. Pieces like ˜Meditation de Thais by French composer Jules Massenet, or ˜Le Cygne by Camille Saint-Saëns can slow down our heartbeat and reduce blood pressure, thus putting us in a relaxed state.
As music can also absorb our attention, it can distract us momentarily and help us to explore our emotions. When people are stressed, they tend to avoid listening to music and overthink the situation. When this happens, productivity decreases and stress increases.
There are many other benefits of classical music, ranging from social perks to health benefits.
In my humble opinion, music is under-appreciated and underrated in the current situation. Remember that no only is music beneficial for us, but it is also clean, relaxing and elegant.***