Something Different- Music and Mental Health

    Instead of talking about my own experience or feelings towards specific songs, for this post I wanted to focus on the sort of history of emotions evoked by music through drums. Their rhythmic low-beating affects the body and mind in ways you may have felt and yet never understood. The sounds of drums have been known to release emotional blockage, as many teenagers understand in the aughts of angst, escaping to music. Regardless of the lyrical content, it's effects can be cathartic and soothing! In some cases, they are joyous outburst and expressional, while some are more of a call-and-response. 

    Drumming is a non-verbal and almost universal form of communication that is understood regardless of tongue or country of origin. The sound of a mourning drum is unmistakable, catholic dirges even emulate their tempo. A cry to war- like the reveille of a campsite- it shocks and calls all to action. Beyond a horn instruments' staccato, it builds and grows momentum due to the rhythmic nature of drumming. The vibrations themselves influence our physiological body and subconsciously infiltrate our mental states. This can reduce tension, anxiety and trauma- sometimes even relieve pain. 

    I I hope focusing on this aspect of music for a moment brought insight and interest to your daily enjoyment of music.