04 Sep Savoring the Sounds of Summer
By Barbara K. Stump, MA
What’s a summer season without a summer concert, or two, or three? Ok, I went to a few, and I hope you did as well! Did you know that listening to live music is good for your health? Dr. Daniel J. Konick, M.D., from the Maryland Primary Care Physicians, states that research from the Centre of Performance Science in London backs this claim. Dr. Konick says, “For the first time, a study has demonstrated that live music can produce beneficial physical effects in listeners – it reduces the level of the hormone that causes stress.” Were you able to squeeze in a concert into your summer plans this year? If not, there may be a few left for you to catch this September, or plan to schedule for some next summer! It can be fun to see some of the bands that are no longer touring regularly, and reminisce about old times with friends while attending.
If you knew going to a concert was good for you, would you consider going? Or, would it not take too much to twist your arm? Either way, in the October 26, 2016 US News Health article they cited 6 reasons why attending live concerts are good for your health. Below are the ways they shared that enjoying live music is beneficial for you.
- Music is good for your mind.
- Attending a musical performance decreases the release of cortisol and other stress hormones.
- Music can provide pain relief. Dr. Steven Eisenberg, an oncologist, hematologist, and internal medicine specialist based near San Diego, confirms studies stating, “When you’re looking forward to a concert, your brain releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that block pain.”
- Listening to live music provides a sense of connection and community, which is good for your mental outlook and longevity.
- Live music provides an opportunity to reflect on your life. Listening to specific tunes takes you back to a period in your life when you first heard those lyrics. This helps you to relive those moments of joy, maybe even sadness, and think about where you are with those emotions today.
- Live concerts can provide a workout, from standing to dancing to singing. You will be getting a short workout in, whether you realize it or not. What an enjoyable way to exercise!
All of the above seem to justify putting a concert on your calendar, if you haven’t already! I usually try to attend a few summer concerts every year. To me, live music in the summer is magical, especially when held at great outdoor venues. It coalesces a quick community of people who enjoy the same songs that you do, and I honestly have never seen anyone in a bad mood at a concert. We live fairly close to the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan, and it’s a great summer venue. Other summer venues I enjoy in Michigan are Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, and Pine Knob in Clarkston. Whether you live in Michigan or out of state, there are numerous ways you can catch an outdoor live performance. Look to see what county fairs and area festivals near your home town offer for live entertainment. Just remember to wear ear protection if the music is being played at really loud decibel levels.
Besides live music, what other summer sounds will you miss once the weather turns cold? For me it’s the sounds from nature: birds chirping, lake waves hitting the shore, rain, crickets, bonfires crackling, and especially the loons on our lake. If you have never heard what a loon sounds like, I recommend googling it. They seem to have their own language, and it can be haunting and endearing at the same time. I am currently obsessed with a cute loon family on our lake, and it never gets old seeing them float by our house.
I’m sure it’s not surprising to know that bird calls and wave crashing sounds are good for our well being. In the August 28, 2023 issue of Psychology Today, Barbara Koltuska-Haskin, Ph.D, shared how listening to sounds in nature can have healing effects. “Some studies suggest that water sounds have the most effect on health and positive affective outcomes, while bird sounds have the most effect on alleviating stress. Nature sounds may change the connections in our brain and help diminish the body’s response to stress (fight-or-flight response).” Another benefit is they are free—just get outside to enjoy them!
Once the weather turns cold, I’ll miss seeing and hearing the loons’ daily calls to each other. Henry David Thoreau once said, “Each summer sound. Is a summer round.” So, this winter, I’ll eagerly wait in anticipation for next summer’s sounds, and to follow a new baby loon growing up on our lake. If you also enjoy sounds from nature, and would like to continue to listen to them throughout the year you can download Apps to your phone. Here are a few Apps that offer sounds and meditation from nature:
- Calm
- Naturespace
- Noisli
- Free Relaxing Nature Sounds and SPA
- Built-in Features & Platforms such as Apple Background Sounds; YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify
Savoring the sounds from summer, whether it’s a live concert or nature’s symphony, can be comforting and helpful. Do you find certain music helps you to concentrate, be creative, exercise, and just improve your overall mood? I sure do! The next time you need to begin a task, or feel the need to uplift your mood, consider playing music from a concert you attended, or trying one of the nature Apps. Maybe create a piece of artwork while listening to the playlist. I’m sure it will remind you of good memories from the experience, and if you’re moved to do so, sing along! As the upbeat lyrics go, “Sing A Song (it’ll make your day) yeah, yeah.” -Earth, Wind & Fire.
Barbara is an art education consultant and G3 contributing writer.
