Why You Should Listen To (And Play!) Music For Maximum Potential

Successful people thrive on the power of rituals. We find rituals which compliment our lifestyle and employ them to maintain focus, keep us on task, and to replace the need for motivation. Rituals become life-altering habits which impact every area of our life.

For me, the first ritual I developed as an adult was music. Over the past several years, music has formed a cornerstone of my abundance. It reduces stress, stimulates creativity, and opens the heart to joy.

I'm not going to cop out of this and say "Everybody's different. Your mileage may vary." Music is proven to reduce stress. You can be like I used to be and fight it, but at the end of the day, music has the capacity to heal.

If you want to get ANYTHING out of life and don't already incorporate music into your life, change that. Today. Do it right now if you can. Tune your Pandora or Youtube to something classical if you can. It will reduce stress and has the power to change your mood. 

Music changes the way that your brain functions, which is why I suggest that if you're here because you want to create a change in your life and in your world, you need to turn on the radio or pick up the guitar.

Actually, that's what I'm here to talk to you about today. Most of us LISTEN to music (though some more deeply than others), but how many of us PLAY music?

Listening to music lights the brain up in ways most other hobbies do not. It stimulates mental activity which helps boost creativity and productivity. While some believe music is a distraction from focused activities, research has found that ambient noise from instrumental music stimulates the brain and helps students and workers to focus. 

Here are some things to think about if you want to make listening to  music part of your daily focus and productivity rituals.

• Upbeat music can help you to stay focused on physical tasks. If you're working on a physical task (such as cleaning the house or working out), up-beat music can help keep you motivated to keep working on the project. It can also provide a rhythm to work to.
• Lyrics can be a distraction from tasks involving reading or writing. Lyrics tend to pull our focus from what we're doing and cause us to think about the lyrics. This is distracting when attempting to read or write, due to the mixture of varying words.
• Choose music which promotes alpha-waves. The alpha-waves promote relaxation at a level where the brain is still alert and active, but relaxed enough to be receptive. In this state the ability to learn is enhanced. Classical or ambient music is best for this, and promotes learning and increased productivity.
• Avoid stations with commercials. Not everyone wants to pay for upgraded services, but if possible, it's better to have a playlist of music which will play without disruption. Because they are verbal, commercial or advertising breaks disrupt the flow of your productivity and it may take time to return to the previous alpha state. 

The purpose of this post, however, isn't about listening to music: It's about how playing music can help to stimulate your brain and promote productivity and creativity. 

No activity in which you might engage will promote brain activity at the level of playing music. Here's a video from TED-Ed (on Youtube) which reinforced my desire to continue to play music.

If you've never played an instrument in your life, that's what I'm here for! Many people took music lessons during elementary school, but few follow that up with adult musical experience. For those who already play, that's wonderful! Use this as an excuse to dust off your guitar or keyboard and get playing. 

For those of you who are new to playing music, I have an instrument for you. It's my primary instrument (but not the only one I know how to play). It's easy to learn, easy to play, but difficult to master -- making it an ideal solution for anyone who wants to give their brain a workout to promote productivity!

Music as part of the daily ritual helps improve mental clarity and mental health, and can boost productivity!
Shown here is the Night by Noble, which is available on Amazon.
(Source CC BY-SA)

This is an ocarina, and it is the instrument I play. You can find various models on Amazon or eBay or you can shoppe Etsy and well-known ocarina makers. I'll offer my recommendations at the end of this post. Please continue to the bottom if you're interested in buying!

A few years ago, I was in a mental-health crisis. I'd purchased my first ocarina (the Aria, from STL Ocarina) a handful of years prior. At the time it was a huge purchase for me, but I didn't connect with it or the music as readily as I had hoped to. I gave up too quickly, and only picked it up again when I felt inspired.

That ocarina and the music I played on it saved my life in the literal sense.

I learned, from playing, that I deserved better than what I had allowed myself to receive prior to those moments. It taught me about the value of having a hobby and the value that I put in myself. Early on, I played hours every day (and got quite good at playing, too!). As time went on, I played less, but the lessons stuck with me: Music activates parts of the brain that contribute to the ability to remain focused and to handle life crises.

Music also taught me the value of perseverance. Because I played to learn, I learned the dedication necessary to master songs as well as the instrument. I trained my ear to hear the notes more completely, and I discovered that I have what it takes to master something that takes determination. 

In short, I learned a lot about my own value by playing an instrument. I also conquered anxiety and overcame depression. 

I learned perseverance through my love of a musical instrument, and playing daily as part of my rituals helps to keep me focused and on track.

Interested in buying an ocarina and learning to play? You'll find a number of models of ocarina on Amazon or on eBay, or you could shop Etsy for ocarina makers and sellers. However, many of these models are cheaply made and/or out of tune. You are (of course) free to make your own choices, but if you purchase anything which is NOT recommended below, you do so at your own risk and I take no responsibility for your choices. 

These are my recommendations available for purchase on Amazon*.

• Night by Noble - One of my personal favorites. This is the ocarina I play the most often for practice. It is made of durable plastic and I have had no problems with scratches, tearing, or cracking with this ocarina. The price point is outstanding and the sound quality is remarkable. If you are looking for an inexpensive instrument you can play right out of the box, then the Night by Noble is an excellent choice.
  
  This is a twelve-hole transverse ocarina in the key of Alto C.
• Focalink - I support anything by Focalink/Stein. I own one and bought one for Dinky for Christmas. The sound quality is excellent and resonates well in the plastic "practice" ocarinas, and I have enjoyed learning to play my clay Double Soprano G sweet potato ocarina as well. If you prefer, you can also purchase directly from the Focalink site (but expect higher shipping costs). The link is below.
  
  This is a twelve-hole transverse ocarina, and comes in a variety of keys.

These are the items I would recommend if you prefer to shop on Amazon. I would go so far as to say I do not recommend purchasing any other items on Amazon. Many are cheaply made and play out of tune. "Cheap Zelda Ocarinas from China" are one of the biggest problems that most players face. Do yourself a favor and buy one of those recommended above or check out these sites:

• Songbird Ocarina - My favorite site to purchase from. I love many of their products and enjoy the novelty of my Dragontooth Ocarina. The quality of the instruments is spectacular and they do play in tune. I've had a few problems with my Dragontooth being breathy and tough to play on the high notes, however. (This is a common problem -- most play either the high or the low well).
• STL Ocarina - St. Louis Ocarina gets a bad rap on some counts (and on some counts it's deserved) but they sold me my first -- and favorite -- ocarina. My Aria is the ocarina that I play the most often and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning to play this instrument. It comes in a Tenor and Alto version (though the Tenor plays at Alto pitch and the Alto at Soprano pitch). 
• Focalink/Stein - Shipping from Focalink is expensive, and I've never ordered direct from them (since many of their products are available from Songbird Ocarina), but they are among the best in the big business of ocarinas. If you want a dependable instrument and you're not afraid of the shipping costs, consider Focalink your go-to!

This blog post includes affiliate links. When you make an Amazon purchase through these links, I receive a small compensation from Amazon. I do not receive commission from Focalink, STL Ocarina, or Songbird Ocarina. Thank you for your consideration!