Music is kind of magical. It can comfort. It can excite. It can transport. And it can literally affect brain chemistry. Music bonds people. Where language fails, music often succeeds.
Music has been part of the human experience for thousands of years. We sang songs to tell stories and share information. Music helped us remember the words.
Think about it. You can probably sing the lyrics to a song more than recite some prose you read.
And what’s extraordinary is that we’re more than human beings. We’re musical beings. Lead an audience up a musical scale, and they will collectively know the next note to sing when asked, as musician Bobby McFerrin illustrated during the 2009 World Science Festival.
Why, though? How do we know which notes to inherently sing? What is it about music that helps us retain information, brings people together, and offers joy?
Creates Lasting Bonds
Let’s start with the brain. Studies have shown that music can increase oxytocin levels in people. Oxytocin is sometimes called the “love hormone” because it promotes warm feelings. It’s been shown to decrease anxiety levels and have positive impacts on relaxation and trust.
When there’s music involved, that trust is increased between people. Performing or listening to music in a group can synchronize the movements and heart rates of those in the room. It’s why when people sing together, they feel a strong sense of community. And it’s why music is a perfect way to engage people in social situations or corporate environments.
For example, SongDivision uses the science of music to create lasting bonds between people. Knowing that writing and singing songs together leads to stronger, happier, and more engaged teams, the company’s world-class musicians offer organizations a fun experience that brings people together, resulting in a positive long-term effect on company culture, learning, and development.
“Music is a powerful tool to strengthen an organization’s culture,” SongDivison Founder Andy Sharpe told The Meeting Professional in 2023. “From team-building events for 30 people to arena-filled general sessions for 20,000, it brings people together, it communicates the big ideas, it creates memories.”
Evokes Memories
Similar to how smelling bacon may make you think of your grandmother cooking it for you for breakfast, or seeing a snow globe may transport you back to a favorite vacation, music is a memory maker.
You may hear a song and think of a road trip you and your friends took during college. Or maybe a song reminds you of your spouse. Or there’s a lyric that sums up exactly how you’re feeling at the moment.
Like smell, music can evoke vivid memories. It lights up almost every brain area when it’s heard. It’s emotional, too, bringing forth feelings of longing, passion, and happiness. Performing and listening to music is an experience, and these types of emotional experiences leave grooves in our brains. Hearing a certain song is like a needle dropping on a record, spinning forth memories.
Promotes Inclusion
Another benefit of using music for team engagement is that it promotes inclusion. As mentioned, humans are musical beings. Even if you don’t sing well or know how to play an instrument, you inherently know what a song is. Even if you don’t know how to write music, you naturally know what notes come next. Music puts everyone on the same level.
Studies show that when people listen to or perform music together, they have more positive associations with their group members. In other words, they feel like they belong to a team. No one is excluded or made to feel differently. They retain information, cooperate better, and act more generously toward one another.
All this from simple sound waves hitting your ears. Music, it appears, is definitely magical.
Discover how our music-powered team building and culture-building experiences can help your organization create more engaged and cohesive teams. Whether delivered virtually or in-person, our programs harness the proven power of music to build trust, strengthen bonds, and create unforgettable moments. Connect with us to learn more!