The Strength & Power Of Music
Music is an incredible medium, not only for the enjoyment it can bring in a huge variety of different forms, or the showcasing of the talent of musicians, but also the way that audio cues, particularly, can help us recall and associate in the clearest way with our memories.
My mum is very much an alternative soul. Growing up, and still, her favourite artist is Neil Young, who definitely reflects her as a person. People say dogs look like their owners, I think that people definitely end up being reflections of their favourite musicians too. I can still remember the first time I heard Heart Of Gold, and being transported back to the kitchen of the house where I grew up hearing the needle crackle on the vinyl, and listening to my mum sing that song whilst making a cup of tea. I’ll always have that memory of my mum associated with that song, and I’ll always treasure that.
I have always been a music lover from a young age. The emotion, catharsis and pure pleasure of music is undeniable, certainly for me anyway. Just look at The Beatles and how they, quite literally, changed the landscape of music, and subsequently culture, forever. Of course, music has had some incredible pioneers and leaders, but I think The Beatles definitively made the world a different place, and that really shows how powerful music can be.
The other thing I love about music is its inclusivity and sheer breadth. I always look at training in the same way, with so much variety there is definitely something for each and every person, regardless of circumstance or background. I’m a huge fan of everything from Hip-Hop to Speed Metal to 80’s ballads to Funk & Soul.
Music, as I mentioned before, has a powerful effect with memory resonance. This psychological affiliation helps us, when training, as we can push ourselves that little bit further. The beat, message of the lyrics or even a separation from any other external factors can help push us beyond our normal limits, in any form of training. We all have differing reactions to different stimuli in different environments too. The right music really can help bring a group together in a group session, for example. It really does help to build a sense of comradery and belonging.
For me, I use hip-hop during my resistance and free weight training sessions as the BPM helps me keep my repetitions even and my tempo controlled. I listen to metal music during faster circuits to keep timings fast and my focus as close to maximum for that workout, as needed.
Training is how I meditate. My training sessions are a mental escape, and recharge, as well as a physical one. Music helps me to keep that focus and mental clarity as, when I have my headphones or speakers on, nothing else exists outside of that. I can dedicate my full focus and energy on the next exercise, the next rep or the next movement. I can also use music I enjoy listening to to be affiliated with my training. This principal is one I use with my clients too, as it helps foster adherence to exercise programmes or workouts. I always encourage my clients to see their training as a bit of a reset and escape, just to promote taking the time to do something for themselves, and to feel good about it! I will be discussing training psychology in more detail in an upcoming article, as it is a fascinating subject to cover in depth.
Several studies have been performed on the subject of the effectiveness of music on training parameters, whether training output, mood, or endurance and I will list a couple of those at the bottom of this article for you to look at at your leisure. The basic finding across these articles suggests that training performance, and enjoyment, is improved by the use of music. Also the studies suggest that any rates of perceived exertion are lessened by music, which means fatigue will generally set in later, meaning that the full psychological effect of music on training is far greater that just being something to have in your ears in the gym.
I will be releasing more of the Raise The Game workout playlists here on the website and on the mailing list soon, so do make sure you’re following Raise The Game on social media or sign up to our mailing list
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Also if you have any questions about the content of this article, head over to the contact page and send me a message. I’d love to have a chat with you about it, or give you any further advice. Let me know what you guys have on your workout playlists!
I hope this article will help you Raise Your Game.
Articles to look at on the effect of music in training