Why Music Moves Us
NOTES ON NAVIGATING LIFE
MUSIC・PSYCHOLOGY・MOVEMENT・HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Music, memory, emotion and the experiences that connect us
Why Music Moves Us
Music, memory, emotion and the experiences that connect us.
There are moments when a song can take us somewhere words alone cannot. A familiar melody can bring back a person, a place or a particular time in our lives. A rhythm can lift our mood, help us release tension or make us want to move. Sometimes, a piece of music can move us to tears without us quite knowing why.
Music is part of being human. It accompanies our celebrations, our losses, our journeys and our everyday routines. It can help us feel understood, bring people together and give expression to feelings we might struggle to put into words.
But why does music have such a powerful effect on us?
The answer lies in the fascinating relationship between music, the brain, the body, memory and emotion.
Music and the brain: more than something we hear
When we listen to music, our brains are doing far more than processing sound.
Music engages several areas of the brain involved in hearing, memory, emotion, attention, movement and anticipation. Rather than being handled by one isolated part of the brain, music brings together different processes and systems.
This helps explain why music can feel so immersive.
We recognise patterns, anticipate what might happen next, respond to changes in rhythm and melody, and sometimes experience a physical or emotional response before we have consciously thought about what we are hearing.
There is also a fascinating relationship between music and the brain's reward system. Research suggests that pleasurable musical experiences can involve dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with motivation, anticipation and reward.
Think about that moment when your favourite part of a song is approaching. You know the chorus is coming. You might feel a little lift of anticipation before it even arrives.
That response is part of what makes music so compelling. We are not simply hearing a sequence of notes. We are anticipating, recognising, remembering and responding.
Why a song can take us back in time
Have you ever heard a song and immediately remembered where you were when you first heard it?
Perhaps it reminds you of your school days, a first love, a holiday, a family member or a particular chapter of your life.
Music has a remarkable relationship with autobiographical memory: our memories of our own lives and experiences.
A song can become connected to a person, place, feeling or event. When we hear it again, those associations can be brought back into awareness.
Sometimes the memory is vivid. Sometimes it is simply a feeling: a sense of familiarity, happiness, sadness or longing that is difficult to explain.
This is one reason music can be so meaningful across different stages of life. It can provide a connection to our personal history, reminding us not only of what happened, but of who we were and how we felt at the time.
It can also help us feel connected to parts of ourselves that everyday life may have pushed into the background.
Music and emotion: when feelings find a way through
Music can change the emotional atmosphere of a moment.
A gentle melody might help us settle. An energetic rhythm might lift our spirits. A familiar song might bring comfort, while another might give us permission to feel sadness.
Of course, music does not affect everyone in the same way. Our responses are shaped by our experiences, associations, culture, preferences and the circumstances in which we listen.
The same song might make one person smile and another feel nostalgic or emotional.
What makes music particularly interesting is that it can allow us to experience emotion without needing to explain it.
We might not have the words for what we are feeling, but we recognise something in the music. It gives us a way to connect with that feeling, sit with it or simply let it be there.
That does not mean music will always make us feel better. Sometimes a song brings difficult memories to the surface. Sometimes we deliberately choose music that reflects how we already feel, rather than trying to change our mood.
Both responses are part of our relationship with music.
The body feels the rhythm too
Music is not just something we experience in our heads. We respond to it physically.
Think about tapping your foot without realising, nodding along to a beat, swaying to a melody or feeling a shiver when a particular musical moment arrives.
Rhythm can influence movement and our sense of timing. Our bodies often respond naturally to patterns in sound, which is one reason music and movement are so closely connected.
Music can also influence how we experience physical effort. A familiar or motivating track might make a walk, a workout or a repetitive task feel easier or more enjoyable.
This connection between sound and movement is one of the reasons music can sit so comfortably alongside practices such as yoga, dance, walking and relaxation.
In yoga, for example, we often pay attention to the relationship between breath, movement and awareness. Music can sometimes support that experience, offering a rhythm or atmosphere to move with.
At other times, silence is more appropriate.
The important thing is not that we always need music, but that we become more aware of how sound, movement and our own physical experience interact.
The music we share
Music is also a social experience.
We sing together, dance together, attend concerts, share playlists and associate songs with people we love. Even when we listen alone, music can make us feel part of something larger than ourselves.
A live musical experience can be particularly powerful. There is something distinctive about being in a room with other people, hearing the same music, responding to the same moments and sharing an experience that is unfolding in real time.
It can create a sense of connection without requiring conversation.
This was something I wanted to explore through my project, The Musician Will See You Now™ – Reimagining the Waiting Room.
Bringing live music together with stories, reflection, breathwork and ideas from coaching psychology, the experience explored how music might offer a different way to think about wellbeing.
The response reinforced something I have long believed: music is not simply entertainment. It can create space for people to pause, connect, reflect and experience something together.
It can be a starting point for a conversation, a moment of recognition or simply a welcome change in how we feel.
Listening with a little more awareness
We often have music playing in the background while we work, travel, exercise or carry out everyday tasks. There is nothing wrong with that. Music can be a wonderful companion to ordinary life.
But what happens when we give it our full attention?
Try this simple exercise the next time you have a few quiet minutes.
Choose a piece of music you enjoy. It does not need to be familiar, meaningful or particularly relaxing.
Find somewhere comfortable, and give yourself the opportunity to listen without doing anything else.
As you listen, notice:
-
What do you hear? Pay attention to the instruments, rhythm, melody, voice and changes in the music.
-
What do you feel? Notice any emotions, memories or associations that arise, without needing to analyse them.
-
What happens in your body? Are you holding tension? Do you notice your breathing changing, your shoulders softening or a desire to move?
-
What stays with you? When the music ends, take a moment to notice what, if anything, has shifted.
There is no right or wrong response. You do not need to feel calm, uplifted or inspired.
The invitation is simply to notice.
Sometimes awareness begins with something as ordinary as listening.
Music as part of how we navigate life
Music has accompanied human life for generations. It helps us celebrate, remember, express, connect and make sense of our experiences.
It can bring energy when we feel flat, offer comfort when words are difficult and create moments of connection when we feel alone.
It is not a substitute for professional support, nor does every musical experience need to have a purpose. Sometimes a song is simply a song, and that is enough.
But when we pay attention to the role music plays in our lives, we begin to recognise how closely connected our senses, memories, emotions and experiences really are.
For me, this is part of a much wider exploration of human wellbeing: understanding ourselves a little better, becoming more aware of what influences us and finding ways to respond to life with greater confidence and self-trust.
Music is one of the ways we can begin.
A moment to reflect
Think about a piece of music that has stayed with you.
Perhaps it reminds you of someone, takes you back to a particular time or helps you feel something you cannot quite put into words.
What is it about that music that matters to you?
And when was the last time you gave yourself the time simply to listen?
You might be surprised by what you notice.
About Elaine
Elaine Lennon is an award-winning artist, speaker and educator, and creator of The Life Compass™.
Her work brings together music, creativity, learning and human wellbeing, exploring how we navigate life, work and change with greater awareness, confidence and self-trust.
Through her music, speaking, educational work and original Life Compass™ approach, Elaine creates experiences that encourage people to pause, reflect, discover new perspectives and find their own way forward.
Her guiding philosophy is:
Calm the Water · Find Your Rhythm · Navigate With Confidence
Explore Further
Notes on Navigating Life is an ongoing editorial series exploring the connections between music, psychology, movement and human experience.
Continue exploring:
-
The Body Has a Story Too – understanding the relationship between our physical experiences, awareness and wellbeing. (Coming soon)
-
Why We Need to Pause – exploring stress, capacity and the importance of making space to recover. (Coming soon)
-
Finding Your Rhythm – considering how our values, choices and changing circumstances shape the way we live. (Coming soon)
-
When Words Aren't Enough – exploring music, creativity and the many ways we express and connect. (Coming soon)
Listen, read, explore and discover more at your own pace.
Further Reading & Sources
The ideas explored in this article draw on research from music psychology, cognitive neuroscience and the study of human memory, emotion and social connection.
For anyone interested in exploring the science and research behind some of these ideas, the following publications offer a useful starting point.
Selected research and references
-
Vuust, P., Heggli, O. A., Friston, K. J. & Kringelbach, M. L. (2022). Music in the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 23, 287–305.
-
Chanda, M. L. & Levitin, D. J. (2013). The neurochemistry of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(4), 179–193.
-
Belfi, A. M., Karlan, B. & Tranel, D. (2016). Music evokes vivid autobiographical memories. Memory, 24(7), 979–989.
-
The Psychology of Music: Rhythm and Movement. (2018). Annual Review of Psychology, 69, 51–75.
-
Rickard, N. S. et al. (2025). The unifying power of live music events: A systematic review of social outcomes for audience members. Musicae Scientiae, 29(4), 595–623.
-
Kaiser, A. P. & Berntsen, D. (2023). The cognitive characteristics of music-evoked autobiographical memories: Evidence from a systematic review of clinical investigations. WIREs Cognitive Science, 14(3), e1627.
These publications provide some of the research foundations for the themes discussed here. The article itself brings these ideas together in an accessible way, alongside my own experience as an artist, educator and creator of The Life Compass™.