Imagine a world without music. No upbeat songs to revive your morning commute, no slow melodies to help unwind after a long day, and no celebratory dances to illuminate life’s big accomplishments. Music is so much more than background noise—it’s a universal language that connects us to our emotions, each other, and even our health.

Have you ever listened to music to improve your mood? Although many people know that your favorite song will help you get out of an emotional knot, research has shown that listening to your favorite tunes can increase dopamine levels, the chemical in your brain that helps you feel good, making you feel happier and more energized. According to Laura Ferreri, et al., “the recruitment of dopaminergic circuits by music—through communication with sensory and cognitive areas involved in the processing of musical information—would result in changes in emotional intensity, leading to pleasurable and rewarding feelings.” Music has the power to turn a bad day into a good one with just a few notes.

Music can be similar to a mini-vacation for your mind. Typical calming genres like acoustic or classical can reduce cortisol levels, which help to lower stress and anxiety. For some, though, it’s not always calming music that helps, it can just be a favorite song. For one of my coworkers, she listens to rock music to help her get out of a hunch. She said, “It helps my mind quiet down, which seems like the opposite of what it would do. It distracts me from my stressful tasks and helps me mellow out.” Even just a few minutes of the right song can bring you to a more peaceful state.

Music isn’t only good for your mood; it’s also a brain booster. Familiar tunes can spark memories, while instrumental lofi music can improve focus and productivity. According to Dr. Anne Fabiny, Editor in Chief for Harvard Women’s Health Watch, “Two recent studies—one in the United States and the other in Japan—found that music doesn’t just help us retrieve stored memories, it also helps us lay down new ones.” It’s almost like having a personal cheerleader in your headphones, quietly rooting for your success.

Music has an uncanny ability to bring people together. Whether it’s dancing with your parents or sitting in the car listening to music with your folks, music creates connections. For Ellie Martin, a former Mount Vernon High School student, her fondest memory with music was dancing to the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack with her father. “Belle is my favorite princess; I would play Belle and he would play the Beast. It’s one of my first memories of falling in love with music.” It’s a reminder that no matter how different we are, we are all connected to the rhythm of life.

So, next time you hit play, remember: you’re not just listening to music—you’re embracing a powerful force that brightens your day, calms your mind, and strengthens your connections. As Colton Churches, a current Mount Vernon High School student, said, “Music can be anything. It is a product of the imagination; anything you can think of, music can become it.” Music doesn’t make life better; it is what makes life sing.