Recently while I was watching Manic, I realized that I had never really thought of music and motivation at any point during the semester. What made me think of it was the part in Manic when the bipolar kid was telling Lyle how much music meant to him, and that without it, he didn't know what he would do. I commented on the fact that without music, he might not even have been alive at that point. It was his love and passion that dove his emotions for music, and in turn drove his motivation to live. It made me think of when I was on the high school track team and the guys would always blast heavy metal music in the weight room. It drove most people crazy but our coach thought it was a good idea that we have it on because he had heard that when people listen to heavy metal music, they lift up to 10% more, or some statistic like that. At the time I thought who cares, I'd rather lift 10% less than listen to this crappy music. But when you think about the power music can have over you emotions, it's easy to see why music can also drive your motivation. Even now, when I go on a run I listen to music that is upbeat, loud and fast, as I'm sure most people do. I don't think many people would be jamming out to Bach as they are running 5 miles or trying to work on their lifting abilities. Sometimes I even listen to music that makes me angry, because that emotion then triggers a reaction in my body that pushes me to move faster and work harder. This is talked about in the book in chapter 9 looking at emotion as motivation. I found an article that talks about music and motivation in exercise and it gives some interesting insight into what may help you when working out.
Is there any music that you specifically listen to when you are doing something specific?
When working out, does it help you to listen to something you normally wouldn't listen to, like heavy metal?
If music was removed from your workout, how do you think it would effect you??
Here is the article I found:
http://www.tinajuanfitness.info/articles/010207.htm
Is there any music that you specifically listen to when you are doing something specific?
When working out, does it help you to listen to something you normally wouldn't listen to, like heavy metal?
If music was removed from your workout, how do you think it would effect you??
Here is the article I found:
http://www.tinajuanfitness.info/articles/010207.htm
This is an interesting article and I think you’ve written the funniest quote I’ve read so far on these blogs when you were talking about your high school weight room and the heavy metal music blasting out of the speakers. Whether you were intending to be funny or not your “our coach thought it was a good idea that we have it on because he had heard that when people listen to heavy metal music, they lift up to 10% more, or some statistic like that. At the time I thought who cares, I'd rather lift 10% less than listen to this crappy music.”
That quote reminded me of a small fitness club I used to work out at. The weight room was a converted racquetball court so needless to say a couple weight machines, two or three muscle-heads and me made it a tight quarters. Anyway, I always seemed to get there when these guys changed the channel (there was a satellite radio members could control) to the most God awful thrash metal station ever. Don’t get me wrong I like a spoonful of metal every now and then but these clowns lifted, head-banged and then probably waxed each other’s chests after their workout. I had to look in the weight room mirrors every five minutes to remind myself that I was still working out and not slam-dancing in the moshpit at a Slipknot show.
Funny you should ask what music we listen to when doing anything specific. I was just thinking about this today as I was walking across campus and noticed how many people have their earphones in. Then I wondered what all these people are listening to and what the chances are that someone is listening to the same song at the same moment. Then I thought to myself "man I think of some weird sh*t when I walk across campus." I didn’t take my earphones out to ask anyone what they were listening to, but I thought it would be interesting none the less.
Sorry my response didn’t enlighten you with any quotes from Reeve or anyone else for that matter. Not that I don’t have the book next to me or access to the internet, I just don’t have the motivation from any metal music to make me want to open the book or do a google search.
I find this interesting as well, and I am very thankful that this is so true! I started running last year, and to be honest, I am in no way a natural at running. What really motivates me to keep going is to have an awesome song playing on my iPod. I have made a playlist with songs that are upbeat and/or have lyrics that would motivate me. I even listen to some songs that normally I wouldn’t be interested in listening to. This is like your coach’s advice on listening to heavy metal while working out. I guess what it is for me, is the fact that without good, upbeat music, I do not have enough will power of my own to keep me running for 4 miles. For me, running is not a “fun” activity, but rather, an activity I have to do in order to lose weight or stay healthy and active. Because I’m only motivated by these intrinsic motivators, I need something extrinsic (like music) to give me an extra boost.
I too found this article to be very informative and pithy. I have always found music to be incredibly motivating and it allows me to often times function more properly and for longer periods of time in certain activities. My music library is very extensive, ranging from classical to underground hip hop, but I haven't really found specific artists that motivate me to certain behaviors. I have found the artist "Cake" to be very helpful when mowing the lawn. I interpret their rhythmic qualities as a marching tune, giving me exact points in the beats to which I can walk, or "march". Contrary to what I said above about not finding certain artists for certain activities, "Sigur Ros" is a great band to listen to if you want to try and fall asleep or get in the studying mood. It was interesting, but not surprising that when participants listened to music while biking racked up 27% more biking time than the control group that biked in silence. Especially for weight lifting and aerobic exercises, music provides a basis for motivation. Simply put, it offers additional stimuli that inevitably encourages and stimulates other parts of the brain. When preparing for a speech or violin recital I would definitely choose subduing and calming music that reduces my heart rate, whereas before basketball games I would jam out to rocking music, pumping that blood through my veins. I think music is so crucial to motivation and overall mental and social development. Not only is it enjoyable on a personal level, but I have developed close friendships and other relationships because of the fact that I share similar musical interests as others around me. Without music I would be a lost little puppy in search of something. Fortunately, music has filled that void and I feel whole.
Im glad you posted this blog, because I was thinking about music and motivtion while watching Manic, but put it off to write about it in a blog. I know that if music wasn't around me all the time I would be lost as well. I listen to music in my car every day and even when I get ready for school/work. As related to the article I do listen to music while working out. Im not sure if you have heard of Escape the Fate, but they are my all time work out buddy for music. Their music motivates me to just keep on moving along if I am running on the tredmill or outside. No mater what excerise I am doing Escape the Fate is right by myside.
I do believe that listening to music is very good for working out with to keep your mind of running or weight lifting. When I have not had music while running I constantly am thinking "I am so tired I just want to quit" But when I have music it definitely helps.
I mean there is even a Nike shoe where all you have to do is put a sensor in your left shoe, attach a reciever to the end of your iPod and the sensor allows you to get voice feedback, while listening to your favorite play list.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/run.html
That is very convienent to anyone who wants automatic feedback about their progress and running.
I believe music along with exercise is a key thing for motivatoin.
It is definitely interesting to think about the role music plays in our entire evolutionary history as well as within contemporary society today. I do not think of myself as musically inclined, but music is actually a major part of my life when I actually think about it. I love going to concerts in the summer, always listen to my ipod/radio in the car, and music is always playing when we party on the weekend. Music helps set the tone and essentially our emotions.
The following article looks at how music affects people. My favorite part of the article was when it talked about how music can be a person's individual energy drink. You can use music to incite yourself to perform at your highest level whether you are studying or trying to bring your energy and emotions to the front of your mind before competition. Music can lift our spirits as we can pick a favorite song and purposefully alter our state of mind. For instance, many people listen to country music when they are sad or ready to drink because oftentimes it can be pretty laid-back or actually incorporate drinking within the lyrics of the song. Finally, the article also talks about music's uses as a therapeutic medicine. In general, there is a reason why music has played such an integral part of cultures and lifestyles across the world for as long as man can remember; arguably, it is part of our physiological and psychosocial well-being.
http://www.catalogs.com/info/books-music-dvd/how-does-music-affect-people.html