Ever wondered how music and creativity connect, and whether the right playlist could actually unlock your imagination?
Making music a regular part of your daily life is creatively beneficial.
Key points
- Listening to music regularly can enhance our creative powers.
- Music often triggers divergent thinking, a key element of creativity.
- There are several (musical) practices we can use to foster more creative thinking.
It’s been a long day. You had a thousand things on your to-do list, and you got most of them checked off. It’s time to “chill.” You lean back in your easy chair and select your favorite playlist (for me, it’s classical rock and roll) or a comforting station. You slip on a pair of headphones, close your eyes, and within minutes, you notice a decided loosening of tension and a significant reduction of stress. You’re in a different world. There must be some truth to the familiar quote that “music soothes the savage beast.” And indeed there is. But there’s another advantage to a life filled with music. It can have a most positive effect on your creative output. Let’s take a look. What the Research Says About Music and Creativity We often turn to music as a way to relax and recharge. However, a 2017 study out of the Netherlands demonstrated that listening to music also had a significant effect on participants’ ability to solve divergent thinking problems—a core element of creativity. The examiners defined divergent thinking as “making unexpected combinations, recognizing links among remote associates, or transforming information into unexpected forms.” In the study, participants tried several different creativity exercises that measured divergent and convergent thinking while being exposed to either silence or different forms of music. The selected music was designed to evoke emotional states such as anxiety, happiness, sadness, or calm. What the researchers discovered was that those who listened to “happy music” achieved higher scores on measures of divergent thinking than did those participants who worked in silence. As the authors stated, “The increase in divergent, but not convergent thinking, after listening to happy music may be explained by the fact that the convergent tasks rely less on fluency and flexibility [key elements of creativity], but on finding one correct answer.” Their conclusion was that comfortable music, when made a regular part of our daily activities, has the power to energize our creative instincts. A 2024 paper opined that “listening to music releases dopamine in the brain, which makes one feel joy and pleasure. The secretion of dopamine is considered to be one of the factors that stimulate creativity.” The authors went on to state that, “It is also known that music activates a wide range of areas in the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is closely related to creativity and problem-solving ability, and listening to music activates this area, helping generate richer ideas. What Other Experts Say About Music and the Brain Dr. Susannah Richards is a curriculum and teaching expert, specializing in music education. Her book, A Work of Heart: Connecting with Kids in a Chaotic World, demonstrates how creative learning strategies can be used to effectively mentor young children. When asked about the importance of music in our lives, she pointed out that “Experts theorize that music has consistently been a vital part of the human condition. For instance, it is asserted that a song-like means of communication either predated or evolved in tandem with language." Richards went on to say that, “Like other artistic mediums, music has not been a stagnant art form. Instead, for the last 1,500 years, it has progressed through various eras, beginning with the Medieval period to the present day. Each era introduced creative changes.” As Richards inferred, creative expression is part and parcel of any musical expression, and that creativity is also a significant element in human evolution. In short, music and creativity go hand in hand. In their book The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain, authors John Kounios and Mark Beeman state, “For breakthrough moments of creativity, positive mood is generally helpful.” That positive mood, they infer, can be enhanced by listening to music. It’s music that creates a mild diversion that relaxes the brain’s focus, allowing an incubation of random and diverse ideas. Instead of focusing too hard on a problem or challenge, music gives us the opportunity to shift our thinking into a more relaxed frame of mind—one that, quite often, generates more creative ideas. Practical Strategies to Harness the Power of Music When working on a complex task, occasionally weave “happy” music into your routine. Regular musical interludes can lower anxiety and improve mood—two elements that negatively affect creative expression. Intersperse your work day with music that is familiar and pleasant; music that calms rather than music that excites. Several researchers note that certain musical genres, such as classical and ambient music, can be positive stimulants for deeper thinking. Meditation music may also be effective in stimulating a creative mindset. Make listening to music a daily habit. For example, listening to relaxing music on your way to work can help you begin your day creatively. By the same token, use music to end your day—prepping your mind for any creative challenges the next day.
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