1. Smart people love music!

Brilliant scientist Albert Einstein said once, "If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician." Charles Darwin, a very clever person who came up with the theory of  evolution once said, "If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to listen to some music at least once every week." So what have we learned? Some of the smartest people ever love songs!

2. Music can make you happy!

A lot of research shows that when you listen to music you feel good!  That's because your brain releases a thing called dopamine.A neuroscientist at McGill University named Valorie Salimpoor measured the brain activity of people listening to music they liked and found it made them feel joy, excitment and happiness. So the next time you're feeling blue, put on some of your favourite songs for 15 minutes to feel better!  

3. Some songs can help you to sleep better!

Lots of people sometimes suffer from insomnia, meaning they can't sleep. But a study has shown that if you listen to relaxing music for 45 minutes before bedtime you will sleep significnatly better. If you struggle to sleep sometimes check out some Chopin or Mozart before beddies! 

4. Music super-charges your memory!

Did you know that music can help you learn and remember things better?  Lots of research shows that if you play music while revising you will find it easier to recall what you've learned - especially it you really like the songs being played. Try this musical brain-hack when you've next got a school test!

5. Songs can make you fitter!

 There are loads of benefits if you listen to music when exercising. A study done in 2010 showed that cyclists cycled harder and faster when listening to music. The right tunes can also get you in 'zone' so you end up exercising for longer.So if you wanna be fitter, try listening to your favourite songs when you exercise. 

6. Music makes ALL entertainment better!

Can you imagine playing your favourite video games without the accompanying soundtrack? Or watching a TV show where there is no opening credits to set the tone of what's to come?  How about a film without music? The immediacy of of music to strike straight at your emotions is one of the most powerful triggers to the human brain there is. The right songs enhance all the things we love to watch!

7. Sad music can help us...

We all feel sad sometimes, and that's okay.  When we try and ignore our sadness though, it can become a problem. Sometimes, if you're having a bad time, listening to a sad song can help you to release your negative feelings.  It may even help you to have a cry. That's why blues music exists - to help us all through our sadness and to let us know that we're not alone.I guess that's why they call it the blues!

8. The perfect song can connect you to people

As Bill and Ted would agree, music brings people together. When you and a friend (or even a total stranger!) love the same song and begin singing along to it like a couple of chumps - it's hard to find a more fun bonding human experience. What song reminds you of your favourite person? 

9. Sharing songs can let people know who you are!

When you tell people what music you're into it tells them a bit about who you are as a person. Making playlists for people and asking the to do the same for you, is a great way to get to know someone. Or you can share your tastes with the whole world by creating playlists on platforms such as Spotify. Why not make a playlist of your favourite tunes? 

10. Writing your own songs can help you to express yourself!

Sometimes when we are stuck for words, singing them is an easier way to express yourself!  This is a strange but true phenomenon which is one of the reasons we have music at all... music is usually an expression of emotion. While lip-synching to other people's music on TikTok can be fun, nothing beats the feeling of writing your own song. Why not try writing your own song today?  Here's a guide on how to get started!