Ordinarily, reading news on CNN doesn't lift my spirits, but I read an article yesterday which I'd like to share both as a musician and as a Jpop enthusiast. Get ready for a windfall: listening to music is healthy for your heart and "may slow down the aging process." And I thought I was just severely damaging my hearing.
Some of the more interesting points: listening to music you enjoy is a stress-reliever and it causes blood vessels to expand, lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It "gives [you] an overall feeling of good, well-being -- a sense of euphoria in some cases." Music has been shown to improve self-esteem and mood. Thanks, Ms. Kayo...
Another interesting thing is that listening to music you *don't* like has the opposite effect on the body.
Lastly, it's important to have variety in your listening. "Listening repeatedly to the same tune diminished the music's effects on the body. 'You just don't get that boost if you listen to the same song over and over again," says the doctor who conducted this study. 'You need to vary your songs, so when you hear the song fresh, it brings back the sense of joy and opens up the system.'"
All the more reason to live it up with your favorite music from all genres, and put on that Rammstein album when the Berryz Kobo album finishes.
Read the full article here