Listening to music is about fully immersing yourself in the sound, setting everything else aside, giving your complete attention to the sounds and observing the emotions and experiences they evoke.
A beginner's guide to: Listening to music (mindful)
mindful listening, music immersion, active listening, focused music experience, musical mindfulness
Want to get into listening to music (mindful)?
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
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What is listening to music mindfully?
In a world where music often plays in the background as we rush through our daily routines, listening to music in this sense is something entirely different. It’s about setting aside distractions and giving your full attention to the music, allowing it to guide your thoughts and emotions.
This practice isn’t about understanding notes or dissecting composition – it’s about how the music makes you feel. Whether it’s the soulful depth of the blues, the sweeping sounds of classical music or something modern, the goal is to let yourself fully experience the sound without doing anything else.
As you intentionally listen to the music, you’ll notice how it shifts your mood, brings memories to the surface or simply offers a moment of stillness in a busy day. Ready to experience music in a new, more personal way? Let’s explore the art of truly listening.
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Why listening to music mindfully is good for you
Mindful music listening lifts mood and clarifies emotions. Attentive listening eases stress, improves emotional regulation and enhances attention.
Uplifting music uplifts mood
Focus area: Lightheartedness (Impact rating: High)
Strong mood insight
Focus area: Emotional awareness (Impact rating: High)
Sparks idea generation
Focus area: Creativity (Impact rating: Medium)
Moderate energy boost
Focus area: Vitality (Impact rating: Medium)
Stress relief and relaxation
Focus area: Recovery (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love listening to music
Paul McCartney
Person
Zoë Kravitz
Actor
Roger Federer
Sports
Soul (Movie)
Movie
Want a closer look at listening to music (mindful)?
Ways to try it, what to expect, and how to stay safe. Read on!
You are probably ready to start streaming your favourite music. But before you do, there are some important things to keep in mind. Listening to music can be really enjoyable and these helpful tips will make sure that the first active listen leads to many more positive experiences.
Common styles
Listening to live music
Listening to a whole album
Tuning breath to the music
Safety
⚠️
Opt for a space where you can give your full attention to the practice.
What you might experience
🤔
"Can I really just sit and listen to music?"
😊
"Wow, I’m noticing so many details."
😬
"My mind keeps wandering."
😌
"This is actually really enjoyable."
😊
"I didn’t expect to feel this connected."
Start today
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
Explore your options
Whether you go it alone, join a group, or work 1:1 with a teacher, we’ve laid out what each path can look like.
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Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
One of the oldest known musical instruments is a flute made from a vulture's wing bone.
The Voyager Golden Record includes music from around the world and is currently traveling through space.
In 2019, researchers discovered that plants can "hear" and respond to music.
Listening to music while working out can improve physical performance by up to 15%
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2 facts
Popular memes
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13 memes
Academic research we rate
The impact of background music on adult listeners: A meta-analysis
Kämpfe, J., Sedlmeier, P., & Renkewitz, F. (2010). The impact of background music on adult listeners: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Music, 39(4), 424–448. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735610376261
Music listening and stress recovery in healthy individuals: A systematic review with meta-analysis of experimental studies
Adiasto, K., Beckers, D. G. J., van Hooff, M. L. M., Roelofs, K., & Geurts, S. A. E. (2022). Music listening and stress recovery in healthy individuals: A systematic review with meta-analysis of experimental studies. PLOS ONE, 17(6), e0270031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270031
The biological impact of listening to music in clinical and nonclinical settings: A systematic review.
Finn, S., & Fancourt, D. (2018). The biological impact of listening to music in clinical and nonclinical settings: A systematic review. The Arts and The Brain - Psychology and Physiology Beyond Pleasure, 173–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.03.007
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7 research pieces
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