Jazz Things Up

Jazz music has been popular since the nineteenth century, with roots in blues that extend even further back in time. Despite the fact that jazz predates rock and pop, it is considered a more niche and complex genre and has fewer listeners globally. But though it may not be a chart-topper, it really should be. Jazz has been shown to have incredible benefits for listeners’ focus, memory, and general well-being. 

Music is such an important part of cultural identity, and it can be an excellent tool to introduce listeners to stories and perspectives they might not otherwise be exposed to. In addition, music is a passive accompaniment to so many moments in our lives. It is not uncommon to find gyms full of customers with headphones and earbuds on as they exercise, or for students to use classical music or other playlists to keep them company during long study sessions. Jazz, however, is usually played in restaurants and elevators, where its benefits go unnoticed. 

All music stimulates many regions of the brain, but jazz, with its syncopated rhythms and improvisational nature, has been shown to improve listeners’ focus and mood. It should come as no surprise then that listening to jazz when we are working or studying can open our minds to improvisational activity. Across a series of studies, jazz was also shown to increase theta brain waves (4-8 hertz), which are linked to creativity. 

All of these factors combine to foster an ideal environment for our brains to create salient memories. When we are not under stress, our minds can more easily save these memories, and having a musical connection makes them easier for us to access.

Genres like rock, pop, and EDM are also capable of elevating our mood, but they typically energize us and raise our heart rates. These effects are useful during exercise and at house parties, but they don’t boost wellness in the same way jazz does. Jazz and classical music have been shown to lower blood pressure by expanding the blood vessels, which can help with chronic pain and hypertension and can help reduce depression and anxiety, offering listeners a reprieve from their symptoms. 

For more information about the history and impact of jazz, listen to the latest Tripod episode, “The Song of Your Scene: Music and Meaning,” anywhere you find podcasts. 

By Lily Brennan