With many “normal” parts of our life having been erased - commuting, social obligations, and outings - some of us have had more time to pursue hobbies, including creative pursuits. You only have to scroll Instagram for a minute to see sourdough bread or a post-run selfie. This is not a new phenomenon either, the story goes that Shakespeare wrote King Lear in plague quarantine.
You may not be as ambitious as The Bard, but if you are looking to unload some of your creative energy, you have come to the right place. Music is a perfect companion for creative times. We have multiple channels dedicated to creativity, focus, and concentration, including meditation music to center yourself and refresh your creative energy.
Can Music Boost Your Focus, Concentration, and Creativity?
Previous articles on have explored the power of music to help us relax, sleep, and focus at work and for study, but music also has the power to boost our creative energy.
Our brains are hardwired to respond to music. Research has found that listening to music increases dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in sending reward signals to our brains. As music increases the brain’s level of dopamine, we feel happier, which provides us with a positive, motivated attitude.
Research in France, published in Learning and Individual Differences, found that students who listened to a one-hour lecture where classical music was played in the background, scored significantly higher on a multiple-choice questionnaire related to the content of the lecture than those who heard the same lecture without classical music. The music did not make them smarter, but by creating a positive mood and energy level, the classical music indirectly boosted memory formation.
So music will boost your focus and concentration, putting you in a positive space to create. But, what kind of music should we listen to?
Happy Music For Creativity
A recent study provides more scientific evidence for the connection between creativity and music. It found that happy music, in particular, had an impact on creativity. Researchers found that “creativity was higher for participants who listened to ‘happy music’ (i.e., classical music high on arousal and positive mood) while performing the divergent creativity task, than for participants who performed the task in silence.”
Divergent thinking is a “thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, "non-linear" manner.” It is exemplified by persistence and flexibility. This thinking style is important for multiple creative endeavours, including artistic, verbal, and scientific creativity. Music makes you feel good, putting you in place where you are more persistent, focused, and motivated.
Focus Music on Calm Radio To Boost Your Creative Energy
Nature Sounds
Nature has inspired many works of art, including some of the most essential pieces of classical music. Both Mozart and Tchaikovsky wrote about how they would "hear" compositions as they took long walks or rides in the countryside.
You may not be able to be in nature, but the sound of flowing water or a peaceful forest can soothe and relax you, putting you in a positive space to create. A study that involved playing nature sounds in an open-concept office found that the sounds enhanced cognitive functioning, optimized the ability to concentrate, and increased overall worker satisfaction.
Classical Music
As we have seen in the scientific studies mentioned above, classical music tends to inspire us more than other genres. Classical music that makes you feel happy will keep you motivated and promote focus. Mozart is often associated with a boost in cognitive function, but the study that linked happy music and creativity used Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269, “Spring”: I. Allegro. So, put on some Vivaldi and feel inspired to create!
Instrumental Music
If you are like me, music with lyrics can be very distracting, particularly when you really need to focus. Our Brain Focus channel is a cerebral mix of engaging electronic music to wire the brain into a solid stream of productivity. Tune in for perfect focus.
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Listen to 1000 channels of relaxing music for work and focus, meditation music and classical music on Calm Radio. Download the Calm Radio music app and join the Calm Radio family to unlock the world's largest collection of relaxing music. Enjoy inspiring articles on making plans and listen to devotional Christian music here.
