In one moment, I will play for you thirty-five-second clips, of five distinct genres of music. As I play through each clip of music, I would like for my audience to be aware of any thoughts or emotions, that may happen to drift by. It would also be great if you guys could manage to keep in mind the emotions that you felt and recall upon them at any time throughout the duration of my presentation. In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that everyone be involved with at least one form of music. Whether or not that form of music is through physically playing an instrument, or participating in various forms of recreational or organized
singing. Research suggests that simply listening to music, can immensely benefit the portions of your brain that regulate higher-order functions, such as reasoning and logic. This important research is coupled with the fact that many colleges and universities take notice in the undergraduate application of a student, that has been associated with organized music either in or outside of high school. According to Margaret Liu from The Daily Cardinal, “Music is a universal language. It can make you laugh or cry. It can soothe you after a stressful day, or get your blood pumping for a competition.” I seem to find that Liu’s words can so easily be
compared to the monotony of our daily lives, in that we as teenagers often seek comfort through the music that we listen to.
Persuasive Speech
In one moment, I will play for you thirty-five-second clips, of five distinct genres of music. As I play through each clip of music, I would like for my audience to be aware of any thoughts or emotions, that may happen to drift by. It would also be great if you guys could manage to keep in mind the emotions that you felt and recall upon them at any time throughout the duration of my presentation. In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that everyone be involved with at least one form of music. Whether or not that form of music is through physically playing an instrument, or participating in various forms of recreational or organized singing. Research suggests that simply listening to music, can immensely benefit the portions of your brain that regulate higher-order functions, such as reasoning and logic. This important research is coupled with the fact that many colleges and universities take notice in the undergraduate application of a student, that has been associated with organized music either in or outside of high school. According to Margaret Liu from The Daily Cardinal, “Music is a universal language. It can make you laugh or cry. It can soothe you after a stressful day, or get your blood pumping for a competition.” I seem to find that Liu’s words can so easily be compared to the monotony of our daily lives, in that we as teenagers often seek comfort through the music that we listen to. Comfort can be sought through music when working on a homework assignment, or preparing yourself for an impending sports game. As I have divulged deeper into the more scientific realm of this topic, I have discovered that there has been a recent medical interest into the practicality of music therapy treatment. This therapy would be utilized in tandem with more conventional means of treatment, in an attempt to further assist patients with both their physical and mental needs.
After analyzing the results of my survey, I have been able reach a revealing conclusion that pertains to everyone in this classroom. This conclusion being that is fortunate enough to have free access to various online music platforms. For example, a majority of my peers prefered to utilize the platform of Youtube to listen to the music of their choice. My fellow classmates can also connect with music through school-sponsored organizations, such as band or chorus. Now, if you turn your attention to the board, you will notice a chart that has been taken directly from the results of my survey. As you can see, the chart tells US that about sixty-eight percent of my peers use music to help them with their academic work. According to Dr. Masha Godkin from Northcentral University, “Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory”. These undisputed benefits can be linked to the advantages of listening to music that you enjoy, whether you are studying for an upcoming assesment or completing a daily homework assignment. In addition to the academic benefits that music has to offer, listening to music before you go to bed can, “Help you fall asleep faster, wake up less during the night, and feel more rested in the morning”, as stated by the National Sleep Foundation. According to a second statistic from my survey, only about thirty-eight percent of my classmates listen to music before going to bed. A common recommendation among many noted sleep therapists is that you should try listening to a playlist of calming songs, to help you relax before falling asleep. It is also important to keep in mind that the ideal song for relaxation before bed, should have a general tempo of about seventy beats per minute. Any song with a faster tempo will inhibit the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, and inevitably, keep you awake.
Attracting the attention of the college or university of your choice is an advantage of being involved with organized music in high school. Colleges and universities are more apt to accept applicants that have been involved with either band or chorus, simply because of undisputed scientific evidence. According to the Portland Chamber Orchestra, “Playing a musical instrument involves multiple components of the central and peripheral nervous systems.” The central nervous system involves the brain and spinal cord, and is triggered when motor systems in the brain control both the rigid and fine movements of the musician. For example, a violinist is able to move both their hands and chin, through voluntary commands to their central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system involves sensory information from the musician’s extremities, visual information from the musician’s eyes, and auditory information emanating from the musician’s ears. A pianist might use their peripheral nervous system when they feel the weight of their fingers against the keys, when they read sheet music in order to play the correct notes, or when they actively listen to the volume, and tone of their sound. Part of what makes the art of musicianship so arduous is the brain’s ability to work harmoniously with both its left and right hemispheres, by a means of connective tissue called the corpus callosum. If you look at the board once more, you will notice a diagram that depicts how the various sections of the brain are affected by playing or listening to music. It is this perfect culmination of synergy between the two hemispheres, that can attract the attention of colleges and universities across the United States. This is why it is pertinent for you to mention any musical experiences that you have had in high school, on your college application.
Recently, music therapy has been introduced as a form of alternative medicine.
According to Deane Alban from Be Brain Fit, “Music therapy has proven useful for treating people with autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, emotional trauma, and a variety of mental disorders including depression.” One way that music therapy has been able to significantly improve the symptoms of a condition, can be seen with Alzheimer's disease. If you are unaware with this condition, Alzheimer's disease is a genetic mutation where a person’s neurons begin to degrade at a certain age. A patient with the disease will begin to lose their ability to have reciprocal conversations with others, and will eventually not be able to speak at all. Since musical tunes are one of the last memories to fade away, before total synaptic shutdown, music therapists are trained to play music that is familiar to their patients. Usually, the therapists will be professionally trained in a variety of acoustic instruments, including classical guitar, piano, and violin. When an Alzheimer’s patient hears a familiar tune, the auditory cortex of their brain is activated, and their neurosynaptic function is stimulated. As the field of music therapy becomes more widespread, you can often find music therapists at your local rehabilitative facility, outpatient clinic, or psychiatric hospital. After a period of multiple treatment sessions, patients with Alzheimer's have been known to exhibit a drastic leap in their cognitive awareness and overall happiness.
Within the context of my presentation, I have discussed several important topics that relate to the benefits of allowing music to be involved with your life. First of which, included the benefits of listening to music while you study, and the benefits of listening to relaxing music before you go to sleep. Second of which, including the advantages of being involved with organized music in high school, and the attention that you would receive from both national and international college councils. In the final segment of my speech, I discussed a more recent form of therapy that involves playing familiar music for patients that are suffering from mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease. The familiar music allows for the patient to connect with their surroundings in a manner that was not previously possible. I hope that you will take into consideration the important topics that you have learned today, and apply them the next time you think about plugging in your headphones.
Works Cited
Alban, Deane. “How Music Affects the Brain for the Better.” Be Brain Fit, 22 Nov. 2017, bebrainfit.com/music-affects-brain/.
“Can Music Help You Study and Focus?” Northcentral University, 2 Jan. 2018, www.ncu.edu/blog/can-music-help-vou-studv-and-focus#gref.
“How Music Can Help You Sleep Better.” Sleep.Org, sleep.org/articles/sleep-music/.
Liu, Margaret. “Music Benefits the Mind and Health.” The Daily Cardinal, 18 Apr. 2016, WWW.dailvcardinal.com/article/2016/04/music-benefits-the-mind-and-health.
“What Happens When the Brain Plays a Musical Instrument?” PORTLAND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA,
portlandchamberorchestra.org/what-happens-when-the-brain-plays-a-musical-instrument/.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main topic of the persuasive speech?
The persuasive speech discusses the benefits of music involvement in various aspects of life, including academic performance, sleep quality, college applications, and therapeutic applications.
How does music benefit academic work, according to the speech?
The speech highlights that music activates both hemispheres of the brain, maximizing learning and improving memory. Survey results indicate that a significant percentage of peers use music to aid in their academic work.
How does music affect sleep, according to the speech?
The speech states that listening to calming music before bed can help individuals fall asleep faster, wake up less during the night, and feel more rested in the morning. It recommends a tempo of about seventy beats per minute for ideal relaxation before sleep.
How does involvement in organized music affect college applications?
The speech suggests that colleges and universities are more likely to accept applicants involved in band or chorus due to the cognitive benefits of playing a musical instrument. It emphasizes that playing music involves multiple components of the central and peripheral nervous systems, fostering synergy between brain hemispheres.
What is the role of the central nervous system when playing an instrument?
The central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, is triggered to control both rigid and fine movements of the musician.
What is the role of the peripheral nervous system when playing an instrument?
The peripheral nervous system processes sensory information from the musician’s extremities, visual input from the musician’s eyes, and auditory input from the musician’s ears.
What is music therapy and how is it used?
The speech presents music therapy as a form of alternative medicine, useful for treating conditions like autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, emotional trauma, and mental disorders. In Alzheimer's patients, familiar tunes activate the auditory cortex, stimulating neurosynaptic function.
What is the impact of Music Therapy on Alzheimer’s patients according to the speech?
After treatment, patients with Alzheimer's have been known to exhibit a drastic leap in their cognitive awareness and overall happiness through music therapy.
Where can music therapists be found?
Music therapists can often be found at local rehabilitative facilities, outpatient clinics, or psychiatric hospitals.
Where are the sources for the persuasive speech?
Sources for the persuasive speech include articles from Be Brain Fit, Northcentral University, Sleep.Org, The Daily Cardinal, and Portland Chamber Orchestra.
- Quote paper
- Christopher Nenopoulos (Author), 2018, Persuasive Speech, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/424780
