I just listened to an interesting CD set called ‘The Profound Effects of Music on Life’ by Andrew Pudewa. I bought it from Sarah Cooper at SingNLearn.
Andrew quotes a number of scientific studies involving young children, college students, mice and plants.
One of the studies was by David Merrell, he won the Virginia State Science Fair in the late 1990’s. He used 72 mice split into 3 groups. He used a standard maze and tested each group before introducing them to music. They all took around 10 minutes to get through the maze.
One group heard Mozart for 12 hours a day, another silence and the third heard a Heavy Metal group for 12 hours a day. After a few weeks the Classical group got through the maze in 1 1/2 minutes, the no music group took around 5 minutes and the Heavy Metal group took half an hour. They, the heavy metal group, also became very aggressive and started killing each other.
Other studies show how music actually effects the way brain cells grow. Conclusion…. good music is good for you!
After listening to these CD’s it makes me wonder if Christian Heavy Metal music is such a good idea. Plants and mice cannot understand words, but the ‘sound’ of this type of music is detrimental to their health. What does it do to us?
In college, I remember learning in a music history classes that even in the time of the Greeks, philosophers said that a whole group of people can be dramatically influenced by the type of music they listened to. Apparently one of the music modes in that time made people ‘lazy.’
Sarah Cooper send an interesting article to me today about how music is healing. You can read it here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5194884.stm
It does make a difference what we listen to, and yes it makes a huge difference in our lives when we actively produce music, like using our guitars to play worship songs!
I agree wholeheartedly. Christian heavy metal isn’t a good idea. Can you imagine the words “Glory to God in the Highest, and Peace to His people on earth!” set to that raucous, God-awful heavy metal music? I think not! Especially given the mice’s reaction to it. I would rather have uplifting healing music played at church.
In one study, several years ago, they actually dissected the mouse brains, and the group listening to real heavy metal music had a brain that was a mess compared to the other mice.
I’ve always wanted to be open to all music styles, but studies are in in now that some music is actually harmful, especially for developing brains.
God is a healer and I know He can reverse damage done in this fallen world.
There is an argument that Christian Heavy Metal concerts can reach those already into that music. Paul said he became all things for all people.
I’m not so sure that’s good if this music is really detrimental to brain cells as the evidence is showing.