Blog Posts
What Makes up the Elements of Music Taste?
Music has always been a fundamental element of healing for people no matter where they live. I have always found it interesting how individuals perceive music differently. Why do some people love country music but others hate it? Why is house music enjoyable for some, but overwhelming for others? This constant desire to dive deeper and find out why some genres are more likable than others, to certain people, has nagged me for quite some time.
Culture plays a huge role in deciding what music your brain prefers. One’s emotional state also plays a role in music choice. Older generations tend to favor the music they listened to as a teenager due to the nostalgia it gives them. Musical nostalgia is not just a cultural phenomenon, but also a blockage in our brain that consistently tells us to indulge in music similar to our nostalgic moments. These are the moments that allow us to reminisce about warmth, joy, and happiness, or even sadness, grief, and sorrow. Musical nostalgia assists us in making choices regarding what music we listen to, when we listen, and where. We gravitate towards genres that let us express our emotions and feel good.
Essentially the answer to our question of what makes up the elements of music taste is based on what life experiences one has had. Personality traits align with music taste and, depending on your type of person, your music personality correlates with that. Extroverts are inclined to listen to upbeat, rhythmic tunes, while individuals who are high in openness favor jazz and novel musical styles. That’s a wrap on today’s big question, stay tuned for more!
Sources
https://slate.com/technology/2014/08/musical-nostalgia-the-psychology-and-neuroscience-for-song-preference-and-the-reminiscence-bump.html
https://mdlbeast.com/xp-feed/music-industry/music-and-memory-how-songs-trigger-nostalgia
https://www.verywellmind.com/music-and-personality-2795424
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_music_preference#:~:text=and%20borderline%20personalities.-,Culture,more%20than%20culturally%20atypical%20music.
02.02.2025
Piano’s Role in Music Therapy
The piano and many other instruments play a large role in music therapy. The piano is one of the most significant due to its ability to enhance cognitive skills. As a piano player of 13 years, I have experienced the positive outcomes of playing.
Now what is music therapy? Music therapy draws on the power of music from a therapeutic viewpoint. This type of therapy can control various conditions, while also improving concentration, memory, and quality of life. Music therapy can also reduce stress by using elements such as rhythm and harmony. People of all ages can benefit from this by singing, listening, or playing an instrument. Many benefits come with music therapy; brain function, motor skills, social skills, and coordination.
Music can help people process their emotions, so the more they listen, the more emotions they will diffuse. Different types of music can help individuals cope with their feelings and consciously process their thoughts. Dopamine is released in the brain when music is played, which directly gives rewarding results through mental and physical improvements. Dopamine is a hormone released in the brain that provides a person with feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. This hormone assists in improving sleep, mood, concentration, and many other cognitive abilities.
Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8817-music-therapy
https://www.savethemusic.org/blog/music-therapy-and-mental-health
02.05.2025
Healing Through Hip Hop
Hip Hop began as a cultural movement that integrated dance, art, and philosophy into one. It was built as an urban stress relief, taking place in streets, alleys, theaters, and shared environments where the art could evolve. It developed in the Bronx area of New York in the 1970s. As the city’s wealth disappeared, so did the resources. The dance reflects the resilience of Black immigrants who developed a way to showcase protest and adaptability.
The hip-hop culture is designed to allow individuals to grow, heal, and express themselves through an artistic fashion. The dance and art form allows cultural building by giving the community a sense of belonging and identity. Hip hop has influenced many aspects of culture including languages, dances, arts, social issues, and fashion. The rhythmic beats have inspired activism while globally bringing people together. It developed through a combination of breakdancing and DJing while catching the public’s attention through its graffiti and movement.
Personally, I have experienced the benefits of dance through my 6 years of dedication. I have tried out forms such as jazz, hip-hop, Folklorico, Irish tap, ballet, and many more. Hip-hop stood out to me because of its healing ability to let your mind run free and take a break from the real world. I was able to express myself in ways beyond imagination, and having my friends there with me created a safe community.
Overall, hip-hop isn’t the only art and dance form created by the community. Many other dances, including variations, have created close networks and positive growth. The factor that stands out about hip hop is its massive evolution. It began as a street dance run by DJs, and evolved into one that many individuals are winning Grammys for.
Seasonal Sound Medicine: How Different Cultures Use Music to Mark Time and Heal
As the seasons shift outside my window, I’ve noticed how my playlists naturally change too – lighter, brighter tunes in spring and summer, more introspective melodies as leaves fall. This got me wondering: how do different cultures use seasonal music as medicine?
In Japan, the tradition of seasonal songs runs deep. “Warabe Uta” (children’s songs) mark seasonal transitions with specific melodies believed to prepare the body and spirit for weather changes. During winter, traditional Japanese households might play the koto (a stringed instrument with specific tunings thought to warm the spirit during cold months.
Contrast this with North African cultures, where percussion-heavy music intensifies during hot seasons. Moroccan Gnawa healing ceremonies use specific rhythms that change with the seasons – faster, more energetic patterns in spring to awaken the body from winter and slower, hypnotic beats during the intense summer heat to promote calm and prevent heat-related stress.
Modern research supports these ancient practices. Studies show seasonal affective disorder (SAD) responds positively to specific sound frequencies (Linnemann et al., 2023). Bright, major-key music can stimulate the production of serotonin during darker months, while nature-based soundscapes help regulate our internal seasonal clocks.
In my own practice at the piano, I’ve noticed how winter draws me to minor keys and slower tempos – something I initially thought was just me feeling “winter blues.” But learning about traditional winter sound practices from Scandinavian cultures revealed something fascinating: these slower, more introspective sounds aren’t necessarily about sadness but about matching our natural energy conservation during colder, darker months.
What seasonal sounds heal you? Next time you create a playlist, consider how the tempo and tone might work with (or against) your body’s seasonal needs. Our ancestors understood that aligning our soundscapes with nature’s rhythms creates harmony within ourselves – wisdom we’re only beginning to rediscover through modern research.
References
Kapchan, D. (2018). Healing Trance: The Gnawa and the Global Imagination. Wesleyan University Press.
Kojima, T. (2010). Traditional Japanese Children’s Songs: Cultural Messaging in Warabe Uta. Journal of Music and Culture, 15(3), 78-92.
Johnson, R. (2019). The Healing Sounds of Japan: Traditional Instruments in Modern Medical Contexts. Asian Music Therapy Journal, 8(2), 45-61.
Linnemann, A., Wenzel, M., Grammes, J., & Nater, U. M. (2023). Seasonal Music Interventions and Mood Regulation: A Longitudinal Study. Psychology of Music, 51(1), 24-38.
Nilsson, E. (2021). Winter Songs of the North: Sound as Cultural Adaptation. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 30(4), 312-325.
Williams, K., & Chesterton, L. (2022). Nature Sounds and Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Seasonal Mood Disorders. Journal of Music Therapy, 59(2), 181-203.
02.24.2025