INFORMATIVE SPEECH PORTFOLIO

FACULTY OF SPORT SCIENCE AND RECREATION
BACHELOR OF SPORTS SCIENCE (HONS.)

ELC 590 – ENGLISH FOR ORAL PRESENTATION
INFORMATIVE SPEECH PORTFOLIO:
MUSIC: IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

PREPARED BY:
MUHAMMAD IRFAN BIN ABDUL HALIM (2022748437)

CLASS:
NSR243 3B

PREPARED FOR:
PROFESOR MADYA DR ALICE SHANTHI KASAWI @ KRISNAN

DATE OF SUBMISSION:
10th JULY 2022

PREPARATION OUTLINE OF INFORMATIVE SPEECH

Name: Muhammad Irfan bin Abdul Halim

Matric Number: 2022748437

Title: The Positive Impacts of Music on Our Mental Health

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience how music can give impact our mental health

The kind of attention-getting device I plan to use: Rhetorical questions, statistics, quotations

INTRODUCTION

Debasish Mridha said,
“Music can heal the wounds which medicine cannot touch.”

How many of you love music? When was the last time you switched on the radio and
smiled as you heard your favourite songs over the speakers? When was the last time you felt
any emotion that seemed to be inspired by music? The average person listens to 4 hours of
music every day. It is split between radio streaming services like Spotify or Pandora and
personal music like CDs, Vinyl, downloads, podcasts, and other platforms. The studies show
that roughly 276 million Americans alone listen to the broadcasting radio every day. Another
study in the United Kingdom founded by a learning audio company discovered that the average
person would spend roughly 13 years of their life simply listening to music.

Music is the language of the soul. For centuries, humans have been creating songs and
symphonies which enthrall, inspire, and hypnotize. Our history and culture are closely
entwined with musical notes. Listening to music can be entertaining, and some research
suggests that it might even make you healthier. Music can be a source of pleasure and
contentment, but there are many other psychological benefits as well. Music can relax the mind,
energize the body, and even help people better manage pain. The notion that music can
influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours probably does not come as much of a
surprise. If you've ever felt pumped up while listening to your favourite fast-paced rock anthem
or been moved to tears by a tender live performance, then you easily understand the power of
music to impact moods and even inspire action.

It should come as no surprise that music has a profound effect on the human mind. Researchers
from McGill University in Montreal found that music releases dopamine, the feel-good
chemical in your brain. It also found that dopamine was up to 9% higher when volunteers
listened to music that they enjoyed. It may be obvious to us, but it is strong evidence of the link
between music and mental well-being. So, my name is Muhammad Irfan bin Abdul Halim and
today I am going to talk about 2 positive impacts of music on our mental health.

BODY
1)Improve focus and concentration on work.

The first positive impact of music on our mental health is music can improve focus and
concentration on work. Concentration can appear to be an elusive mental stunt. Some days
you feel extremely focused while performing your tasks, while on others, you feel sluggish.
Just like you are hoping for the day to end quickly. It is where the music can help you
concentrate more effectively and consistently.

According to a study conducted by some researchers over 200 students from the
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programs at Manipal University in Karnataka,
India, 120 students (60%) admitted to listening to music while studying, whereas the
remaining 80 students (40%) did not.

From the responses on the reason for listening to music while studying, the majority of
(56 out of 120) students (47%) believe that music helps them to pay attention while studying.
35 students (29%) said that it keeps their mind calm, 20 students (17%) stated that it prevents
sleepiness, and the remaining 9 (7%) students believed that listening to music would block
any external interference.

How does music help your concentration? Music helps concentration by blocking out
distracting noise. It acts as a stimulus to the brain, modifying your mood and providing a
rhythm that keeps you alert. Music is thought to be a positive mood changer as it exerts a
positive perception of the work done. The elevation of positive mood by music inevitably
improves the concentration of students while studying. It makes the task at hand more
attractive, less dull, and easier to concentrate on the work.

Some people will ask, "Is not music a distraction?". The answer is it depends on the
type of music. Many of us have found music to be distracting at work anecdotally, and
research studies have proven that this mental distraction does occur when certain music is
playing. Many different types of music can help you concentrate depending on the situation,
including classical music, epic music, blues & jazz music, electronic dance music, and pop
music.

A recent study found that while popular music was detrimental to reading ability,
classical music was not distracting at all. Classical music is an excellent aid to concentration.
Music with a tempo of 60 bpm (beats per minute) increases the brain's efficiency in processing
information. The best way to use it is to play it softly in the background while doing your
work. Other studies also suggest that listening to EDM (electronic dance music) while
working can help you focus.

However, it is still impossible to define a specific music genre that is suitable for
everyone. Your musical taste determines your music preference. You might want to
experiment with different types of music to find one that suits you. Listen to the YouTube
videos provided above for each type of music. Choose music that you listen to frequently as
a good starting point for a quick start. It should work in most cases because the music you're
familiar with should be enjoyable and capable of keeping you focused. So again, distraction
is dependent on the type of music, which seems likely related to the presence of lyrics,
rhythm, and other factors.

2)Music can reduce our stress
Next, music can reduce our stress. Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension.

It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress
is your body's reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such
as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. But when stress lasts for a long time,
it may harm your health.

The bar chart shows the most popular media activities for managing stressful situations
in the United States as of September 2020. A total of 3453 respondents aged 14 years and
above participated in this survey.

As a result, the majority of 57% of respondents believe that listening to music is an
activity that can reduce stress. 48% of respondents coped with stressful situations by watching
more videos online, streaming, or on TV. 40% of respondents stated that exercise is a suitable
activity for stress relief. 34% of respondents use social media to release their stress, and the
remaining 33% of respondents believed that playing video games can manage stressful
situations.

So, how can listening to music reduce stress? Music connects with the automatic
nervous system, including brain function, blood pressure, and heartbeat. It also connects the
limbic system, where your feelings and emotions live.

When we are highly stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure can increase, and our
adrenal gland begins producing cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Listening to music
can switch the stress response to “off” by decreasing your blood pressure, lowering your
levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and reducing your heart rate.

The use of music, especially classical music, can reduce stress by decreasing blood
pressure and stress hormone secretion. This slow and quiet genre influences physiological
functions as the pulse and heart rate will slow down. It is a relaxing experience and a great
way to deal with the daily stresses in our lives. Scientists say that classical music may help
reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body. In one study, pregnant women reported
that listening to classical music every week relieved their stress and anxiety. It was not only
benefits expectant mothers but also hospital patients who noticed a reduction in anxiety pre-
and post-surgery.

Music is also known to have a powerful emotional impact on us. Slower tempos can
help silence the mind and relax muscles, making music an effective stress management tool.
Music can be the most valuable tool for a wide range of audiences for stress relief since it is
free or low-cost and readily available through a vast array of digital outlets. Any activity we
engage in can be mindful, and music provides the ultimate outlet to get lost or immerse
oneself in something other than the thoughts in one’s head.

CONCLUSIONS
In a nutshell, music can inspire and entertain, but it also has powerful psychological
effects that can enhance your health and well-being. Instead of just thinking about it as pure
entertainment, you should consider some positive impacts on the mental health of
incorporating music into your daily life, like reducing stress and improving focus and
concentration on work. Music can be a recurring positive presence in our lives, but it can also
have negative consequences for both yourself and others. You must avoid listening to loud
music with your earphones or headphones for a long time. Take some sensible breaks or keep
the volume down. Then, don't play unreasonably loud music anytime, especially at night. It
will disturb the peace of your neighborhood and family. Keep these in mind to ensure that
you can enjoy music as much as possible while also having a positive impact on your own
and others' lives. That’s all from me and thank you for your attention.

ARTICLES 1



7/11/22, 2:01 AM EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

Divya Bhatia

EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

Divya Bhatia + Follow

Psychologist and Operation Head at Heart It Out
Published Sep 4, 2021

- Saevitha M

 Marilyn Manson once said, "Music is the strongest form of magic". He captured the
essence of music in one word. Magic. Music has great power and can reach a new
depth of imagination which some consider a haven. 

The music we listen to affects our mood, and our moods affect the music we
choose.  

How does our mood affect the music we listen to? 1/8

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7/11/22, 2:01 AM EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

Based on how we feel at a particular moment, our taste or the genre of music we
choose toDliivsytaenBhtaotiwa ould differ. For example, when we are feeling low, we listen to

slow songs to feel those blues. We groove to those pop songs to get ourselves

pumped or when we need motivation. We turn to songs which are packed with

memories when we feel nostalgic and want to remember a good time we once had.

All these emotions can affect the types of music we listen to. 

How does music affect our mood? 

When we have a bad day, we instantly turn to a feel-good song to distract ourselves.
This makes us joyous. We forget about the long day we just had and immerse
ourselves in the music. Listening to music triggers dopamine, which is the happy
chemical, making us feel good instantly. The emotional connection we have with the
music, the memories we associate with them, and the relatability of the music is
positively correlated with how it affects our mood. 

The emotional connection we form with music can make us feel nostalgic when we
listen to them. Since our brains are developing during 12-22 years, we create strong
neurological connections with the music; therefore, listening to those songs is a trip
down memory lane. 

Sometimes, when we listen to sad songs, it can tend to amplify our sadness. It could
be because the song's lyrics are something we could relate to, or the music is
something we are comfortable or familiar with. So, we turn to music to feel the
emotions we are currently feeling. In addition, when we listen to music, our brains
elicit specific feelings, memories, and thoughts, which can positively impact our
mental health.

How can music help improve our mental health? 2/8

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7/11/22, 2:01 AM EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

1. Music can help reduce stress

Divya Bhatia

Music has long been seen to aid in the reduction or management of stress. Consider
the current craze for contemplative music, which is designed to calm the mind and
induce relaxation. This is one trend; fortunately, that is backed up by research
(https://pplprs.co.uk/music-reduce-stress/). The study's findings revealed that music
influenced the human stress response, particularly the autonomic nervous system.
Following a stressful event, those who had listened to music recovered more rapidly.
The human stress hormone is cortisol, and the higher it is, the more stressed we are.
Regardless of the listener's musical preferences, symphonic music has lower cortisol
levels in studies.

2. Music can help improve your memory

According to researchers from the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behavior, and
Development (https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-music#takeaway ),
music improves memory and recall and learning capacity. Some people believe that
listening to music while studying helps memory, while others believe it simply serves
as a pleasant distraction. It may be beneficial but is dependent on several things,
including the style of music, the listener's enjoyment of the music, and even the
listener's musical ability. According to one study, musically naïve individuals learnt
better when they listened to happy music, probably because these songs produced
more good feelings without interfering with memory formation.

3. It can help reduce pain and anxiety

Music has various effects on the body, and listening to music daily could be
beneficial to your general health and well-being. It helps reduce pain through
triggering emotional responses, engaging cognitive attention, and activating sensory
pathways that compete with pain pathways in the brain. Because the music competes
with the brain's pain pathways, it appears to assist shift attention away from the pain.
In a study conducted, researchers evaluated the potential benefits of music for

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7/11/22, 2:01 AM EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

diverting psychological responses to experimental pain stimuli. The finding revealed
that the mDuivsyiac Bhhealtpiaed study subjects with high anxiety levels about pain more so than

subjects who were not as concerned about the pain. 

4. Music can build your motivation

Because there is a relationship between auditory neurons and motor neurons, music
can boost activation. As a result, music frequently makes us more mobile and
inspires us to move. Physical exercise stimulates brain activity as music increases
productivity and motivation. According to a review published in 2020, working out
to music enhances your mood, helps your body workout more efficiently, and
reduces your perception of exertion. It also allows you to work out for more extended
periods. Athletes who listened to high-intensity, quick music during warmups were
inspired to perform better competitively in clinical situations.

5. Music can improve your mood

As mentioned above, music affects our mood. Music can influence people's moods
and help them digest their emotions, according to a study. According to research,
listening to music that you appreciate increases the release of pleasure-inducing
chemicals like norepinephrine and melatonin in the brain. It may also reduce the
synthesis of stress-inducing hormones in the body.

6. It helps reduce the symptoms of depression

According to research, listening to music that you appreciate increases the release of
pleasure-inducing chemicals like norepinephrine and melatonin in the brain. It may
also reduce the synthesis of stress-inducing hormones in the body. Studies show that
listening to nostalgic melancholy music might exacerbate depressive symptoms,
especially if you tend to ruminate or withdraw socially. Music therapy is an
evidence-based treatment for several illnesses, including heart disease, depression,

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autism, substance misuse, and Alzheimer's. It can aid with memory, blood pressure,
coping, sDtrievsysa rBehdautication, and self-esteem, among other things.

Music Therapy

Music therapy uses music to address a group's or individual's physical, emotional,
cognitive, and social needs. Some of the activities used are listening to melodies,
playing an instrument, drumming, writing songs, and guided imagery. Music therapy
is suitable for people of all ages, whether virtuosos or tone-deaf, suffering from
ailments or in perfect health. Music therapy affects the mind, body, brain, and
behavior in many ways. For example, music can divert the mind, slow the body's
rhythms, and change our mood, all of which can influence behavior.

Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, mental health centers, and
houses for people with developmental disabilities are the most typical locations that
use Music therapy. In addition, music therapists work in various settings, including
juvenile detention centers, schools, and private offices.

During Music therapy, the therapist does more than one thing. First, they create
music where they compose music, write lyrics, sing together, listen to music together,
discuss the lyrics, and play an instrument.

It is beneficial in many ways. It can help:

1. Express and bring to light the bottled-up emotions

2. Music can make you feel less alone

3. Improve your mood

4. Helps reduce depression

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