Mind, Body & Jazz

Jazz music is varied, but just in the same way that it is varied, it can bring relief to our mind and body in varied ways. The best thing about it all, is that we can research on the jazz music that we would like to listen to online, and even purchase and download it online. The alternative option is to listen to it on YouTube or other online platforms. The internet has brought everything to our fingertips. In this article, we are going to talk about the importance of jazz music to our minds, bodies and souls. Other genres of music can also work, but in this article, we would like to put our focus on jazz.

Mind

The type of brain waves that a person has can actually be affected by listening to jazz music, and this can bring about relaxation and also stimulate the person.

Focus and Energy

Listening to upbeat jazz music can have the following effects on a person:

• Help a person to focus and raise their heart rate.
• Motivate and reduce fatigue during a workout.
• During workouts, the target beats per minute (BPM) and the heart rate should match:

1. Walking -115 to 118 BPM
2. Power walking – 137 to 139 BPM
3. Running – 147 to 160 BPM

• Boost work productivity

THETA brain waves (4-8 hertz): theta brain waves can be brought about by listening to certain genres of jazz music. The theta wave is the most highly creative brain wave, the one that bring about insights and solutions, those “Eureka” moments.

Stress Relief

Relaxing music is just as effective as going for a massage. For the alpha brain waves (8 to 14 hertz), listening to music at 60 BPM can synchronize the brain with the music, bringing out the alpha waves. These are waves that make a person relaxed but conscious.

For the delta brain waves (under 4 hertz) calm jazz in a relaxed position for almost an hour can bring about delta brainwaves, which can induce sleep. Jazz, before bedtime results in better and longer night-time sleep as well as less dysfunction during the day. Listening to jazz music for an hour every day reduces depression.

Body

Stress is the cause of most body problems, but that can be eased by listening to jazz music. It physically changes your body by lowering your heart and respiratory rate.

Stroke Recovery

When one has had a stroke, listening to jazz and other music genres improves verbal memory, focus and mood. In just 3 months after a stroke:

• Music Listeners’ verbal memory increased 60% and focused attention increased 17%.
• Non-Listeners’ verbal memory increased 29% and focused attention increased 0%.
• Audio Book Listeners’ verbal memory increased 18% and focused attention increased 0%.

Pain Relief

Listening to jazz has been shown to reduce time and intensity of both general and migraine headaches. Music therapy is being used in hospitals to relieve pain in the following ways:

• Reducing the need for medication during childbirth
• Reduce postoperative pain
• Complement the use of anesthesia during surgery

Blood Pressure

Jazz music as well as other genres of music are known to cause the expansion of blood vessels by 30%, and this lowers blood pressure.

Immunity

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels are boosted when one listens to jazz music. IgA resides in mucous linings of the body and acts as an antibody. It prevents viruses, bacteria and infection.

Green Chimneys

Green Chimneys is a jazz album by Kenny Barron, a pianist, and recorded in Holland in 1983. In the 1980’s, Kenny Barron was a recognized jazz pianist who is still on point decades later. The Kenny Barron trio consisted of Kenny Barron, Buster Williams and Ben Riley. Listening to their jazz tunes in the Green Chimneys album, which consists of 10 albums, is bound to have a positive effect on your mind, body and soul.