• The emotional center of the brain is critical in processing music as well as experiencing pleasure and pain.
• Listening to music decreases stress hormone (cortisol) levels. But engaging in music creation has been shown to be even more effective – reducing depression, anxiety and fatigue, and increasing energy.
• Music activates parts of the brain important in empathy; playing music as a group can facilitate empathy and social bonding.
• Music therapy decreases reported pain intensity, reducing dependence on pain medications, and lowering measured heart rate and blood pressure.
• Listening to ‘sad’ music can actually cause positive feelings, shedding some light on the cathartic nature of playing and listening to sad songs and indicating that engaging in music can create a safe space within which to experience emotions.

For more information on research, please see the American Music Therapy Association or other journals.