“Music has charms to soothe a savage breast”

This proverb comes from a play which centres on a queen held captive where a web of love and deception results in the mistaken murder. The play, The Mourning Bride, premiered in 1697, written by William Congreve who was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration period. He was known for his clever, satirical dialogue and influence on the “comedy of manners” literary style of that period.

This 320-year old quotation is still heard regularly and it is surprising how pertinent it is to the pressurised and stressful nature of contemporary working life.  In the intervening centuries, much scientific research has been conducted into the therapeutic effects of music, particularly from the perspective of mental health and wellbeing.

Research suggests that music can stimulate the body’s natural feel-good chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins) and can help energise our mood and even help us to work through problems and provide an outlet for us to take control of our feelings.

Music can:

• Promote Wellness
• Manage Stress
• Express Feelings
• Enhance Memory
• Improve Communication
• Promote Physical Rehabilitation
• Alleviate Pain – did you know that focusing on music reduces your brain’s perception of pain?

So what relevance does the use of music on health and wellbeing have in the workplace and towards the use of performance improvement?  Music is an example of the more subtle ways in which communication and interaction can be enhanced for the mutual benefit of companies and their employees.  Top sports stars are known for having benefited from music in their training and preparation [1].

The same benefits can be derived from using carefully-selected music to boost performance improvement in the workplace.  Across teams and at special corporate events and experiences, music can have an uplifting and unifying effect, as the shared emotion, the rhythm and cadences all blend into a collective experience of enjoyment.  If you have attended a classical concert in a great hall or a rock festival under the stars, you will appreciate the sheer power of music to generate feelings of elation.  Those memories stay with us for ever.

Imagine the extra dimension of music added to a corporate event & experience, annual conference or even within a product launch and you soon see the potential to reach your guests in a way which words or pictures alone cannot.  Music is usually a key ingredient.

Receptions, dinners, exhibitions and other hosted occasions are all showcases for your company.  Your corporate image will be complemented by appropriate music, either in the background or to introduce and support a business presentation.  This works equally well at both formal awards events and informal parties.  A popular feature of incentive travel programmes is a themed meal with entertainment.  Local music played by local musicians provides a strong cultural connection with the location and the overall incentive programme theme.

Music is an important element of any event, whether it’s in the form of a playlist, DJ or live performance. We’re not just talking about parties and product launches; conferences benefit hugely from music.  It’s probably not the type of event you associate with music, but entertainment during seminar breaks and background music played in exhibition areas are both popular choices that can have powerful effects.

When planning live events, music will be used to provide a familiar shared interest that brings hosts and guests closer together.  It creates a relaxed atmosphere and encourages participation.  Every business event can be made more entertaining with musical accompaniment!

Just caste your eyes over the Top 10 songs played at conferences last season [2], and we guarantee you’ll find something which truly resonates with you and your emotions.