Sound Science: How Music Therapy Can Boost Your Mood

First, consider the clinical version of music therapy—think physical therapy with melodies and lyrics instead of gym benches and ice packs. A music therapist will work with a patient, assess their needs, determine music preferences, and tailor sessions to help them achieve specific goals.

And just like music itself, music therapy isn’t new. The Ancient Greeks practiced it, and by the 19th century, it started appearing in medical researchers’ dissertations—forming a new industry. Today, music therapy is practiced in 40-plus countries.^[3] And yes, Germany is definitely on that list because David Hasselhoff was basically a real-life music doctor before he became a TV lifeguard.

Pop culture references aside, clinical music therapy today is performed in hospitals or outpatient settings. Sessions can involve listening to music, songwriting, dancing (or simply moving to music), and even singing or playing an instrument. This therapy can be used to treat dementia, strokes, brain injuries, learning and developmental disabilities, among other conditions.

Music therapy administered in a clinical environment is scientifically proven to be effective—but so is DIY music therapy, which you can practice on your own almost anywhere to improve your mood and foster mental and emotional wellness.^[4] What’s more, it doesn’t take high doses to see results: one study found that college students who simply listened to classical music daily for two months experienced a significant drop in anxiety levels.^[5]

But you don’t have to commit to a daily practice to experience mood-lifting benefits. Here are a couple of ways to tap into music and lyrics when you need a pick-me-up—or some other shift in your mood:

• Lyrical exchange.^[6] Find a friend who’s up for discussing song lyrics that have impacted their life. You don’t need to love the same artists or even the same music genres. In fact, having different tastes can make for a more interesting and rewarding conversation.
• Pick up the trombone. Or marimba. Or guitar. Whether you borrow an instrument from a friend, rent one and take a lesson, or dust off that forgotten middle-school flute, the benefits of learning or relearning an instrument are well documented.
• Mix it up! We’ve been talking about your mood as if it’s a single setting you can just crank. But the truth is that moods vary—and so do the tunes that help you channel your best self. The easy fix? Curate playlists for different moods. Whether you need some smooth jazz to relax, or some AC/DC or ABBA to get pumped up, you’ll be ready to roll.