Beat the Winter Blues: The Science Behind Music and Mood

Shorter days, colder temperatures, and less sunlight can trigger biological and psychological changes that leave many feeling low. Serotonin drops and changes in the body's internal clock can reduce motivation, but music offers an accessible, research supported way to boost well-being.

From the way sound activates the brain to the mood boost that comes from sharing music with others, science shows why music works and how you can incorporate it into your winter routine.

Music is one of the few activities that engages nearly every part of the brain, influencing emotion, cognition, and stress regulation. Music causes structural and functional changes in the brain, both with immediate exposure and over time.
What happens in your brain when you engage with music?

• Activates the reward system: It triggers dopamine release, boosting motivation, pleasure, and positive emotions.
• Reduces stress: Music can help reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone, helping the nervous system relax.
• Engages the whole brain: Listening to or making music lights up emotional, motor, and memory regions at once, keeping the brain active and engaged.
• Supports emotional processing: Music stimulates the amygdala and hippocampus, areas tied to emotion and memory, helping us process feelings more effectively.

Incorporating music into your routine can strengthen emotional regulation, ease stress, and contribute to long-term mental well-being.

Cold weather can make it easy to isolate without realizing it. Music can pull us back into connection, even indoors. 

How music keeps us connected:

• Group classes: Music classes for all levels provide an environment for social interaction. Learning and performing with others activates the brain’s reward and bonding systems. Even if you don’t play an instrument, group classes for music appreciation are also a great option that can be available online!
• Ensembles and jam sessions: Great for those with experience to build community through shared musical interests.
• Listening: Attending concerts, listening at home, or sharing playlists all foster connection.
• Family music activities: Adding music to everyday tasks like cooking, painting, or crafting with music in the background creates shared experiences that boost positive emotions.

Engaging with music, both by listening and playing, supports the brain, regulates mood, and strengthens emotional resilience. A few ideas:

• Start the day with an uplifting playlist: Start the day with music you enjoy to boost dopamine and motivation.
• Practice an instrument regularly: Learning a musical instrument engages motor, auditory, and prefrontal regions simultaneously, all while improving cognitive function and reducing stress.
• Family or small group mini concerts: Making or sharing music with others stimulates social reward, strengthens bonds, and fosters a sense of belonging and positive emotion.
• Music exploration: Trying new genres or pieces encourages neural growth and keeps the brain engaged.
• Use the iso-principle: Start with music that matches your current mood, then gradually shift to music reflecting your desired emotional state.

While listening to music offers immediate mood boosts, learning to play an instrument provides long-term cognitive, emotional, and social benefits. 
Learning an instrument can:

• Strengthen memory and focus: Engaging motor, auditory, and prefrontal regions strengthens working memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility.
• Build confidence: Learning a skill with clear milestones, such as mastering a piece or improving technique, reinforces confidence and triggers the brain’s reward system.
• Improve emotional expression and communication skills: Music practice strengthens connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, areas involved in emotion regulation.
• Offer lifelong stress relief and creative outlet: Playing music reduces cortisol and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation. Over time, this creates a reliable tool for coping with stress and maintaining emotional well-being.
• Foster social connection: Making music with others engages the brain’s social reward systems, building trust, cooperation, and a sense of belonging.

Learning an instrument is valuable at any age. From young children to adults, anyone can benefit from learning how to play an instrument!

Whether through private lessons, group classes, or simple musical habits at home, music can brighten the season in powerful ways. 
If you’d like support, encouragement, and a community to learn with, the Music Institute of Chicago is here to guide you.

GET STARTED TODAY