Sometimes, when life feels overwhelming, I hear people say, “Listening to music feels like too much.” When emotions are already heavy, even music — often a source of comfort — can feel like one layer too many. In these moments, music therapists honour the stillness and sit alongside you, without rushing. Because music is not just sound — it’s also silence. Like any composition, life carries many textures — moments of movement, and moments of rest.
When the time is right, music therapists are there to gently help bring music back into focus, using its unique capacity to soothe, uplift, and reconnect. In this article, I share how music can become a sure friend — even if you’ve needed a break from it for a while.
A landmark survey from the 1980s showed that lack of social connectedness predicts vulnerability to disease and death, even above more well-known risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, and physical activity. Yet, 45 years later, I find myself still asking: What are we missing? Why are we still struggling to connect?
While music is only one piece of the mental health puzzle, it holds a special place. Here are three ways music — when used with intention and, at times, with the support of a music therapist — can be part of the solution, especially in the workplace:
1. Music is ‘Hormonious’
Sometimes life throws you for a loop, and what was once manageable becomes difficult, overwhelming, and lonely. It is widely acknowledged that emotional and physical wellbeing are closely intertwined. Emotional distress and chemical imbalances in our brains and bodies are intimately linked.
Alongside medical care, music can activate the body’s own mood-stabilization systems — engaging hormones and neurotransmitters that support emotional regulation. This is one way music therapists help clients safely reintroduce music into their lives: by selecting specific musical elements — rhythm, tempo, melody — that gently stimulate the nervous system without overwhelming it.
But music’s power isn’t only personal. It also serves as a bridge to social connection — itself a powerful buffer against distress. For example, in the workplace, one simple exercise is to have team members take turns curating the day’s playlist. When each person’s music is heard and shared, it not only lightens the atmosphere but invites stories, questions, and curiosity. These small acts of sharing foster a stronger sense of belonging — and belonging is essential to resilience.
2. Music takes us back to feel-good moments.
We are always collecting music. Some of it fades into the background, while other songs remain deeply woven into our memories. Under the right conditions, even long-forgotten songs can resurface, bringing with them rich emotional memories. As music therapists, we often guide clients through reflective exercises to explore their personal soundtracks, helping them reconnect with parts of their identity and past that may feel distant or lost.
I still remember the first time my grade two teacher sang One Tin Soldier. To this day, I recall every word as if I had just learned it yesterday. Watching him turn toward us, teaching us what felt like a grown-up song, created a sense of belonging I still carry.
Our earliest music memories often hold the deepest emotional resonance. By intentionally revisiting these moments — whether alone, with colleagues, or with a therapist — we can find perspective, comfort, and even healing. Whether we like it or not, feelings of isolation may always appear along our life’s journey. Music gives us a way through it.
“Music can be your sure friend. Every playlist you develop, every song you select, every chord you strum, can bring you into a creative process that will ease your mind and guide you to see your world through a different lens — bringing you a life that is fuller, and hopefully a little less lonely.” — JB
3. Music increases feelings of connection
Researchers, have shown that when we synchronize musically with others, we tend to feel more connected to them. Coordinating movement — whether drumming together, singing, or even tapping your toes — releases endorphins that trigger warmth and positivity. As music therapists, we often structure activities that foster these critical moments of shared rhythm and synchrony.
At work, simple exercises like sharing personal playlists allow colleagues to connect in new ways, staying curious about each other’s stories, tastes, and histories. You may remember the song — and they may remember a story too. Together, both of your lives are enriched. In this way, music continues to do what it does best: strengthen connection, reduce isolation, and remind us that even in difficult times, we are not alone.
In care with a music therapist, music becomes not just a playlist — but a personalized tool for healing, connection, and belonging.