Chooseday 15th September - Choose to turn it up!
Good Morning,
This Chooseday, we're choosing to: Turn. It. Up! 🧠🎶
Music is one of the few things that can get multiple parts of your brain working together at once. When you listen to music, your brain processes the sound while also engaging areas involved in emotion, memory and reward.
And when you hear a song you love? Your brain's reward system can release dopamine — the feel-good glorious neurochemical involved in pleasure, motivation and fulfilment.
That might explain why the build-up to your favourite part of a song can feel so satisfying. In fact, research has found that our brains engage dopamine pathways not only when we experience a musical “high”, but also as we anticipate it — that tiny pause before the chorus drops, the beat kicks in or the guitar solo arrives. (Salimpoor et al., 2011, Nature Neuroscience).
So yes, your brain really can get excited because it knows the good bit is coming. 🤯
Basically: your playlist is giving your brain little moments of anticipation, reward and emotion — often without you consciously thinking about it.
🎤 And live music? That's a whole other level.
There’s something about hearing your favourite song through headphones.
And then there’s hearing thousands of people sing it back to the artist at a concert.
That feeling of being surrounded by people who are all experiencing the same moment isn't accidental.
Think about what happens at a gig:
🎶 Everyone knows the chorus.
🙌 Everyone puts their hands up.
🗣️ Everyone sings slightly out of tune together.
❤️ And for a few minutes, everyone is completely in the moment.
There’s a reason leaving a great gig can feel like you've just had a three-hour emotional reset.
Music can help us mark moments, remember people and places, change our energy and connect with other people.
A song can remind you of your first road trip.
A playlist can get you through a workout.
A nostalgic track can take you straight back to being 17.
And one ridiculously good chorus can turn your Tuesday commute into a stadium tour. 🎤
So today, choose to turn it up.
Put on the song that makes you happy.
Play the one that gets you moving.
Send your favourite song to someone you love.
And if you haven't listened to music properly today — not as background noise, but really listened — give yourself three minutes.
Headphones on.
Volume up.
Press play. 🎶
🎁 Give the Gift of Music
For many of us, music is something we can access whenever we want.
But for children experiencing disadvantage or difficult circumstances, opportunities to experience music and the creative arts aren't always guaranteed.
The Song Room works to change that — bringing music and creative learning into schools and communities and helping children experience the benefits of creativity, connection and self-expression.
So this Chooseday, why not give someone else a reason to turn their music up?
🎁 Give the Gift of Music through GoodCompany today and help bring the joy and benefits of music to children who need it most.
Happy ChooseDay,
The GoodCompany Team
Know someone who will benefit from a Chooseday mindset?
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