Music has a powerful ability to influence our mood. For instance, classical or jazz music can help you relax, while pop or rock music might energize you for a fun night out. But have you ever wondered if music can also boost athletic performance?
“Synchronous music” refers to fast-paced songs with a strong beat that match the repetitive movements in sports. This type of music can lead to higher performance levels, especially in endurance sports like cross-country skiing. A famous example is Haile Gebrselassie, who synchronized his running stride to the rhythm of the pop song “Scatman” while breaking the 10,000-meter world record.
Research shows that music can act as both a mental and physical stimulant. When the music has personal significance, it can be even more effective. For athletes experiencing pre-competition anxiety, music can improve mood, self-esteem, and confidence. During competitions, music can help athletes focus, drawing attention away from feelings of fatigue.
Studies have found that athletes who listen to pop songs during training or warm-ups have higher heart rates and increased muscle power compared to those who train without music. Music can also trigger emotions and enhance mental imagery, a technique where athletes visualize themselves succeeding in their sport. This mindset is crucial, especially before major events.
Interestingly, some coaches use music as a motivational tool by allowing athletes to listen to it only after reaching certain productivity levels during training sessions.
So, what type of music is most effective? Research suggests that listening to music, regardless of its style or speed, improves performance compared to no music. However, upbeat music with a tempo of more than 120 beats per minute provides the greatest benefits. Creating a playlist of your favorite upbeat songs can help boost your performance.
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Choose a sport or physical activity you enjoy. Create a playlist of fast-paced songs with strong beats that match the rhythm of your movements. Test your playlist during your next workout and note any changes in your performance or motivation.
Conduct a simple experiment by listening to different genres of music before and during a physical activity. Record how each type of music affects your mood, energy levels, and performance. Share your findings with the class.
Choose a song that inspires you and use it to practice mental imagery. Close your eyes and visualize yourself succeeding in a sport or activity while listening to the music. Reflect on how this exercise affects your confidence and focus.
Set a personal fitness goal and use music as a reward. Only allow yourself to listen to your favorite songs after reaching specific milestones in your training. Discuss how this motivational strategy impacts your productivity and determination.
Research the tempo of various songs and create a playlist with tracks over 120 beats per minute. Use this playlist during a workout and compare your performance to sessions without music. Analyze how tempo influences your athletic output.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music] Music can really set a mood. A little classical or jazz might relax your whole body, while pop or rock music can get your blood pumping for a night out on the town. But if music can seemingly enhance a mindset or help resist mental fatigue, can it also affect athletic performance?
The term “synchronous music” refers to uptempo songs with a strong beat that coincide with the repetitive movements of a sport. This type of music leads to a higher work output in athletes, particularly in endurance sports with repetitive movements, such as cross-country skiing. This was put into practice when Haile Gebrselassie famously synchronized his running stride to the rhythm of the pop song “Scatman” while breaking the 10,000-meter world record.
Studies show that music can act as both a cognitive and physical stimulant, especially when the music has personal meaning to the individual. For athletes who suffer from pre-competition anxiety, music can enhance mood, self-esteem, and confidence. Even during competition, music can help narrow an athlete’s attention, diverting focus away from sensations of fatigue.
In studies of athletes using music, those who listened to pop songs during training or warm-ups had higher heart rates and increased muscle power compared to those who trained without music. Furthermore, because music can trigger emotion, it has been documented to enhance mental imagery—a technique in which athletes visualize themselves mastering a sport before competition. This state of mind is crucial for all athletes, particularly before major events.
Interestingly, coaches sometimes withhold music from athletes as a motivational tool. Athletes are told they can use music during training sessions only once they have reached a specific productivity level.
So, which music works best? Almost all findings indicate that listening to music, regardless of composition or speed, enhances performance compared to no music. However, music with an upbeat tempo of greater than 120 beats per minute yields the greatest improvements. Science suggests creating a pump-up playlist full of your favorite upbeat songs to boost your performance.
Don’t forget, we have a new video out every day during the Olympics! Our amazing partners at the CBC already have five videos available for you to binge on. Just head to cbc.ca/olympics to watch them before anyone else. We also want to know your questions for this special series—use the hashtag #ScienceSays and let us know your burning Olympic questions. Subscribe for more awesome science videos!
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This version maintains the original content while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Music – The art of arranging sounds in time to produce a composition through the elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. – The students learned about the different genres of music and how they can affect people’s emotions.
Performance – The act of presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. – The orchestra’s performance at the concert hall was met with a standing ovation.
Athletes – Individuals who are proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise. – The athletes trained rigorously to improve their performance in the upcoming competition.
Training – The process of learning the skills necessary for a particular job or activity. – The musicians underwent extensive training to perfect their skills for the symphony.
Stimulant – A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body. – Caffeine is a common stimulant that can enhance alertness and concentration during study sessions.
Emotions – Strong feelings deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. – The composer expressed a wide range of emotions through the symphony’s dynamic movements.
Motivation – The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. – The scientist’s motivation to discover new elements drove her to work tirelessly in the lab.
Rhythm – A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. – The drummer maintained a steady rhythm that kept the band in sync during the performance.
Competition – The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others. – The science fair was a fierce competition where students showcased their innovative projects.
Heart – A hollow muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation. – During exercise, the heart rate increases to supply more oxygen to the muscles.
