Since 1934, the Oscars have given the award for Best Original Song. Previous winners include 1939’s “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, 1986’s “Take my Breath Away” from Top Gun, and 1997’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic. The importance of music in motion pictures is immeasurable. Music not only dictates the mood of a movie, but it also captivates viewers, magnifying their emotional interest.
But music not only has an impact on movies. It also affects our daily lives, be it at home or outside of it. Music can make us happy and motivate us. It can also make us feel powerful and strong. The importance lies in having the right kind of music at the right time.
At the workplace, music plays a vital role, one often overlooked. It creates an appropriate working atmosphere and promotes creativity and innovation. Let us look at some reasons why.
Music and the Work Atmosphere
The best way for a child to learn how to play an instrument is by taking lessons. Ideally, these lessons would take place in an environment suitable for music acquisition. An example would be The Music Connection conservatory of music, a place where children can both learn from teachers and classmates and increase their own motivation and interest levels.
The same can be said for employees. A happy, positive workplace is just as valuable to an employee as a great school is to a kid. But what is the role of music at work? The answer is twofold. First, music relaxes people, thus improving their moods. And when people are in a good mood they are more driven to do something.
On the other hand, grumpy and dissatisfied employees will probably not give it their best. Second, studies show music also has a beneficial impact on a physical level. It can therefore influence the overall well-being of employees by providing them with an environment ideal for both mental and physical work.
Creativity and Innovation
Many scientists and historians have spoken about the “Mozart Effect.” The Mozart Effect states that those who listen to Mozart’s music somehow become more intelligent by doing this. Listening to a genius can make you a genius as well. Whether this is true or not is debatable. While some children might benefit from listening to classical composers such as Mozart and others, no studies verify these claims.
What isn’t debatable though is that music promotes divergent thinking, the ability to think in a more innovative, creative way. Music helps the brain function in a “non-linear” fashion which results in different solutions and different methodologies to solve various issues. Hence, it plays an essential role in the office.
The Right Kind of Music
When it comes to music in the workplace, another important factor to consider is the music itself, the genre. Everybody likes different kinds of music including rock, heavy metal, classical music, and folk. Therefore, employers can’t find a “one size fits all” solution. However, here are some tips companies could put in place:
- Survey company staff to determine what music genres are liked by most.
- If there are too many to choose from, choose different days or times during the day for specific types. For example, you could play rock music on Tuesday morning, rap and hip-hop on Wednesday afternoon, and classical music on Friday evening.
- Employees should also have the choice to listen to their favorite music on their private headsets as long as productivity is not affected.
As we have seen, music plays a vital role in the office. It creates a suitable, happier, more enjoyable atmosphere. It also fosters creativity and innovation. However, having the right kind of music is key as it will motivate employees in subtle, efficient ways. As a result, companies will be able to maximize their overall performance.
