Every day, millions of people in the US listen to music in the car, at school, at home, or by themselves on their chosen music providers. Students at BVH are among the demographic of people who enjoy listening to music 24/7. Although it may be seen as a distraction to teachers and parents, many students argue that listening to music at school strengthens their mental health.
A significant number of people also appreciate music by playing an instrument. Many students share the sentiment that music can help them process complex emotions and playing music in a band can contribute to creating a strong community through shared interests. When BVH band members were asked about how being involved in music programs has impacted their lives, most agree that being in band has had a positive impact on their social lives. A band member from BVHS’ band program, Annette Defiori, shared her own experience with how band improved their life.
“My life has changed so much for the better. When I went into the [BVH band] program, I was at a low point in my life and as these two years have progressed, I’ve gotten so much better [mentally]” said Defiori.
With the wide range of instruments available for students to play, band members are not estranged from switching instruments to explore new horizons. Even as students come and go from the band program, they are still able to attest to how playing an instrument can help them express themselves. Band member Esperanza Donnelly expressed how despite leaving the band program, she felt that playing made her feel freer and helped her challenge herself.
“[Playing an instrument has] given me more freedom to express myself and it’s given me more ability to test my [clarinet] skills,” Donnelly said.
Both Defiori and Donnelly express that being involved in a rigorous and exclusive program such as band can also have some downsides. Defiori explains how band’s impact on her is dependent on her emotions.
“Let us say if I am really sad then [performing] my music will have a negative impact on me; That is what I am [participating in]. [Positive impact also works] vice versa with positive feelings,” Defiori elaborated.
As Defiori talked about how her mood affects the way she plays her instrument, it is easy to see why members would find comfort in sharing the same struggles with fellow members. Donnelly shares that a common social downside of being in band was the members’ reluctance to venture outside of the comfort of their band community. According to Donnelly, this made it harder for them to interact socially outside of their usual group.
“Band does change people both in good ways and in not so good ways, but overall it is very good for [students,]” Donnelly said, “Sometimes [band members] just stay in the band community and they do not go out and do things beyond band [activities].”
However, performing music is not the only way in which music can help people with their mental health. Listening to music can also help to alleviate mental anguish. Senior and Club Blue band member, Elijah Alarcon, explains how listening to music has made a difference in his life. He elaborates that listening to music helps them better process his emotions.
“It seems counterproductive to listen to sad music but it gives me more time to reflect on how I [emotionally] feel. If I am angry, angry songs [play], I put on whatever I am feeling,” Alarcon said. “[Listening to music has] helped me deal with things…when it comes to emotions I don’t understand or something that I don’t want to talk about.”
Another mental health benefit from listening to music is attributed to how the soft, gentle sounds of the instruments can help relax students. Esperanza describes listening to different types of music that she likes can help her after a stressful day.
“I get to listen to rhythms and [sounds] that I like and [listening to music is] soothing,” Donnelly said, “[Listening to soothing music] has positively impacted my mental health.”
Each band member agrees that listening to music has had a positive impact on their lives. Many of them also feel that with the countless students who listen to music at BVH, most of them enjoy putting on a pair of headphones or earbuds while they work. Annette said that the general opinion about music is that nearly everyone likes it, even though it can mean something opposite from person to person.
“Music means something different to everyone. But it is a general consensus that everyone enjoys it,” Defiori said.
Because of the general public opinion about music, it is easy to see how communities can form around the celebration of instruments and vocals. The enjoyment of music is often shared amongst large groups which, in turn, can bring people together. Alarcon described the view from his English classroom during independent writing time as their fellow students found unintentional unity by listening to music. It seems that most students agree that their love for music can calm them during school.
“In English, whenever [students] have writing sessions for 15 or 20 minutes, I do not see anyone that does not have headphones or earbuds in. I would say it brings a definite improvement for mental health and focusing in general.” Alarcon said.
Many students in BVH understand that any type of musical involvement can have positive effects on the mind. Although music can result in students noticing it negatively affects them, they believe the benefits of music outweighs them by a long shot. In the midst of a mental health epidemic, students find it useful to know that music can be a way to self medicate.
