Unleashing Creativity - Combining music and art to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

Art and music have long been intertwined in human history, each enriching the other in profound ways.

Inspired by our 2024 spring resource, our Music and Art and Creative Spaces groups, this blog explores how making art while listening to music can offer numerous benefits for mental and emotional well-being.

1. Enhanced Emotional Expression

   Art and music both serve as powerful outlets for emotions. When combined, they offer a dual-channel approach to self-expression. Music can evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to melancholy, and when these emotions are channeled into art, they can be explored and understood more deeply. Moreover, as verbal expression isn't necessary when creating art, this provides a unique opportunity to explore and convey emotions that may be difficult to put into words or for those who are non verbal using art can be a way of communicating their thoughts and feelings.

2. Increased Relaxation and Stress Reduction

   Listening to music has been shown to have a calming effect on the mind and body. When paired with the act of creating art, this soothing effect is amplified. The rhythm and melody of music can help lower stress levels, slow the heart rate, and promote relaxation. As participants immerse themselves in the creative process, wether musical or artistic, they often find that their worries and anxieties dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm and focus. This can also enable a rethinking or period of thought clarity around stressful issues, enabling less stress to be produced on a regular basis.

3. Improved Focus and Flow

   Music can enhance concentration and focus, making it easier to enter a state of “flow” during artistic endeavours. This state, where time seems to stand still and creativity flows effortlessly, is often facilitated by the right musical backdrop. Music helps to anchor attention and maintain engagement, allowing artists to fully immerse themselves in their work.

4. Increased Sensory Awareness

   Creating art while listening to music engages multiple senses simultaneously. This multi-sensory experience can heighten awareness and enrich the creative process. For instance, the rhythmic patterns of a piece of music might influence the speed and direction of brushstrokes, while the mood of the music can dictate the choice of colours and textures. This interplay between sensory input and artistic expression fosters a deeper connection to both the music and the artwork being created. The differing sensory input of art creation, using wet paint, textured resources, glue, light and dark colours, different sizes and shapes of materials can also encourage more integration of sensory systems and when paired with music can assist with encouraging better gross and fine motor coordination and increased blood flow throughout the body.

5. Strengthened Emotional Insight

   Reflecting on how music influences artistic choices provides valuable insights into one's emotional state and creative instincts. As individuals create art inspired by music, they may discover new aspects of their feelings or thoughts that were previously unnoticed. This reflection can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth, as individuals gain a clearer understanding of how different stimuli affect their emotional landscape, and what their current landscape may be looking like.

6. Promotion of Mindfulness

   Both music and art encourage mindfulness by drawing attention to the present moment. The act of creating art while listening to music requires individuals to be fully engaged in the here and now, which fosters a sense of mindfulness. This focus on the present can be therapeutic, helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by shifting attention away from past regrets or future worries.

7. Fostering a Sense of Accomplishment and Joy

   The combination of music and art often leads to a profound sense of accomplishment and joy. Completing an artwork not only provides a tangible result of one's efforts but also reinforces the positive emotions experienced during the creative process. This sense of achievement can boost self-esteem and install pride in oneself.

Integrating Art and Music in Therapy

At Sounding Board Music Therapy, we use the integration of art and music as a powerful tool for personal development and healing. Whether through guided art sessions, freeform creative projects, or reflective practices, combining these two mediums offers a unique and enriching therapeutic experience.

By exploring the partnership between music and art, we unlock new avenues for emotional expression, relaxation, and self-discovery. The next time you find yourself reaching for a paintbrush or a pencil, consider pairing it with your favourite music. You might be surprised at the depth of creativity and insight that emerges as you engage in this multi faceted sensory experience.

So, embrace the music, let your creativity flow, and discover the transformative power of art and music working together.

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Director & Registered Music Therapist 

Megan Spragg

Megan Spragg is a Registered Music Therapist, based in Melbourne, Australia and trained in New Zealand. She has worked within both mainstream and special education settings for over 20 years and has a passion for working with clients with physical disabilities and complex high health needs. She works with both Children and Adults and loves to use music to enable people to do things they didn't think they could. She is the director of Sounding Board Music Therapy Services, and loves to resource therapists, parents, carers and teachers in their ongoing work.