Music had great influences on a listener. It can take the mind and body to do spontaneous things whether they are good or bad. Depending on the type of music and the message it brings can influence a person and their actions. For example, if someone is listening to emotional music like Dashboard confessional, the listener will become very in touch with ones self and their feelings. It all really depends on the person and how they interact with the music. However, in some way or another music can influence a listener physically and psychologically.
By breaking down the definitions of music it is easier to understand how music influences the listeners" actions whether they shall be negative or positive. Melody is the part of music that stands out (1). It makes the music memorable. Music that does not have much of a melody often lacks direction. Consonant harmony (harmony that is pleasing to the ear) can produce a wide variety of effects. Consonant harmony can be bright or dark, cheerful or melancholy, lyrical or disconnected, upbeat or slow (1). Harmony that is unpleasant to the ear, although it sometimes can have similar effects as consonant harmony, is usually irritating, agitating, or has one of any number of other negative effects. So depending on the harmony, it will give the listener a mood. This mood is strong and could be influential.
"Rhythm is the single most influential musical element. Tempo is very closely related. Rhythm and tempo have a strong physiological influence on the body. Music that has a fast tempo, raises the heart rate of the subjects in an experiment by 4.7 beats per minute. It is a commonly acknowledged fact that many people listen to music, especially rock and its related styles, for the "beat"; in other words, they listen to it for its rhythm and tempo. Obviously, then, they are very influential." (1) Rhythm is also responded to by the listener. More specifically, affected individuals are rarely aware of all of their responses, such as changes in heart rate or respiration, or even toe tapping (1).
