Olympic and other athletes are using a performance enhancing ‘drug’ and it’s available to everyone! We all know that music can help us to relax or alternately, motivate us to get ‘up’ and feel energized. Olympic and other sports trainers have learned to effectively use music to improve performance, and even to aid in visualization.
As I’ve grimly noted while riding with my M-I-L, the higher the BPM (beats per minute) the faster one tends to run, or in this instance drive. Soon, you’re hurtling along passing logging trucks at 85 MPH ! Coaches wisely use BPM to speed up and improve performance. As the video shows, there are major and diverse training benefits, and also improved self-esteem which can be attributed to music. We very nearly have a cure all .
We’ve long heard of the Mozart Effect on babies, who are proven have higher IQ’s when parents play the music of the great composer for their young, and often unborn children.
Researches also noted enhanced performance on a measure of verbal intelligence and high level cognitive skill, when a group of very young children were exposed to music by Mozart.
Even surgeons can benefit from the Mozart Effect! A study in which volunteers performed laparoscopic surgery on a simulator showed the music could induce temporary enhancement in “spatial temporal reasoning.” No trials using ‘Screamo’ Rap or Heavy Metal were conducted
It has also been shown that exposure to playing an instrument in childhood has far-reaching effects far into adulthood. If you hated your piano lessons, thank your lucky stars you’re just a bit more wonderful now thanks to ’em!
What a bargain. Music is a physical and mental performance enhancer, a mood lifter, mood setter and emotional conduit all rolled into one. Besides, wouldn’t driving be a drag without your favorite songs to accompany you and set the soundtrack of your life? So…When is your favorite time to ‘use’ music; is it part of your daily routine, an adjunct to relaxation or an inducement to get up, get out and to move?