Have you ever noticed what happens when a favourite song comes on?

Imagine two identical movement classes.

One begins in silence.

The other starts with the opening chords of a song everyone recognises.

Within seconds, something changes.

A foot starts tapping.

Someone smiles.

Another person quietly sings the first line.

One person rolls their eyes because they’ve heard me say, “Oh, this one’s a classic!” more times than they care to remember.

Nothing about their muscles has changed.

Nothing about their joints has suddenly become stronger.

But somehow, the whole room feels lighter.

The science tells us this isn’t our imagination. Music really does change the way our brains prepare for movement. Before we’ve even taken a step, our brain has already started getting ready.

As someone born in the 1960s who absolutely loves 70s and 80s music, I’m fairly sure no scientific study has yet measured the motivational power of Bon Jovi, Queen, ABBA or Whitney Houston… but if anyone is looking for volunteers, I’m definitely in.

Music isn’t just something we hear

Most of us think of music as entertainment.

Something to listen to in the car.

Something to have on while cooking dinner.

Something that reminds us of our teenage years.

But your brain thinks very differently.

When music begins, several areas of your brain become active almost immediately. Parts responsible for movement, balance, timing, memory, attention and emotion all start talking to one another.

Long before you decide to move, your brain has already begun preparing for movement.

It’s rather wonderful when you think about it.

Your body starts getting ready before you’ve consciously decided to.

Researchers using brain imaging have shown that listening to rhythm activates areas involved in planning and coordinating movement, including the motor cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia. It’s one of the reasons we instinctively tap our feet, nod our heads or sway to a beat without even thinking about it.

Movement and music have always belonged together.

Why does exercise suddenly feel easier with music?

Here’s something that surprises many people.

Music doesn’t necessarily make exercise physically easier.

It makes it feel easier.

Scientists call this reducing our “rating of perceived exertion.”

In simple terms, the body may be working just as hard, but the brain interprets the effort differently.

Think about walking uphill.

Without music you’re counting every step.

With your favourite song playing, you’re halfway up before you realise you’ve reached the chorus.

The hill hasn’t changed.

Your muscles haven’t changed.

But your experience has.

For anyone returning to movement after illness, surgery, injury or cancer treatment, that matters enormously.

Sometimes the biggest hurdle isn’t strength.

It’s convincing your brain that movement is worth doing again.

When your brain is protecting you

If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you’ll know I often talk about confidence recovering more slowly than the body.

Music helps here too.

Enjoyable experiences release dopamine—the brain’s “reward” chemical.

Dopamine isn’t simply about pleasure.

It’s involved in motivation, learning and repeating behaviours that feel worthwhile.

Every positive movement experience becomes another piece of evidence.

“Maybe I can do this.”

“Maybe my body is safer than my brain thinks.”

It’s another gentle reminder that rehabilitation isn’t only about muscles and joints.

It’s about retraining the brain too.

Music gives us rhythm

One of the most fascinating areas of research looks at rhythm.

Our bodies love predictable patterns.

Walking is rhythm.

Breathing is rhythm.

Our heartbeat is rhythm.

Even the way we swing our arms follows a rhythm.

When we hear a steady beat, our brains naturally try to synchronise with it.

This is why rhythmic cueing has become an important part of rehabilitation for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, where research shows that carefully timed music or beats can improve walking speed, stride length and confidence.

Although most of us don’t have Parkinson’s disease, the same principles still apply.

Rhythm gives our movement structure.

Structure gives confidence.

Confidence makes us more willing to keep moving.

Music changes the way we breathe

As someone who spends a great deal of time talking about breathing, I couldn’t possibly write a blog about music without mentioning it.

Have you ever noticed that you naturally breathe differently when listening to calming music?

Or how your walking pace changes with a faster song?

Music quietly influences our breathing rhythm without us having to think about it.

Slow music encourages slower breathing.

Upbeat music often encourages bigger movements and slightly quicker breathing.

Our bodies naturally adapt.

When breathing becomes more rhythmical, movement often becomes smoother too.

But perhaps the biggest reason music works…

…isn’t physical at all.

It’s emotional.

One song can transport you back forty years.

A school disco.

Your wedding.

Learning to drive.

Family holidays.

The first dance at a party.

Music unlocks memories in remarkable ways.

This is one of the reasons music is increasingly used within dementia care.

Long after names or conversations have faded, favourite songs often remain.

Music reaches parts of us that words sometimes cannot.

That’s incredibly powerful.

And then there’s laughter…

This might be my favourite part.

Someone always invents their own dance move.

Someone starts singing.

Someone marches completely the wrong way.

“The other week someone started doing what they called their ‘groovy walk’. Before long, three other people had joined in. Were we technically working on balance, coordination and gait? Absolutely. Did it look more like friends messing about? Also absolutely.”

Someone else laughs so much they forget what exercise they’re supposed to be doing.

Perfect.

Because once people stop worrying about getting everything right…

…they usually move better.

The goal isn’t perfect choreography.

The goal is movement.

So… why Silent Disco headphones?

I completely understand why some people raise an eyebrow when they first hear the words silent disco.

It sounds a bit… well… unusual.

Until you actually try it.

One of the biggest advantages isn’t that the music sounds better.

It’s that you stay in control.

Too loud?

Turn it down.

Prefer things louder?

Turn it up.

Not keen on my latest “absolute classic” from the 70s or 80s?

Well… you can even turn me down too!

(Although I reserve the right to be mildly offended if it’s Queen.)

That choice makes a huge difference.

People with hearing aids.

People who are sensitive to noise.

People recovering from illness.

People who simply prefer things quieter.

Everyone can create the listening experience that suits them.

One room.

One community.

Many different preferences.

No problem.

Music gives us permission

Permission to stop counting.

Permission to stop comparing ourselves.

Permission to stop worrying about what we look like.

Permission to enjoy moving.

And perhaps that’s something many adults forget.

Children don’t exercise.

They play.

They dance in the kitchen.

They jump over puddles.

They skip.

They move because movement feels good.

Somewhere along the way many of us started believing movement had to be serious to be worthwhile.

It doesn’t.

Joy is good for us too.

More than just an exercise class

This is why I wanted to introduce silent disco headsets into our Meet ‘n’ Move sessions and my silent disco, walk, wiggle, smile.

Not because they’re trendy.

Not because they’re different.

But because they remove barriers.

They create smiles.

They encourage conversation.

They make instructions easier to hear.

They allow everyone to find their own comfortable volume.

Most importantly…

They remind us that movement doesn’t have to feel like rehabilitation.

Sometimes it simply feels like a group of people enjoying themselves together.

And that’s often when the best rehabilitation happens.

The final chorus

Maybe that’s the real magic of music.

It doesn’t magically strengthen muscles.

It doesn’t replace good rehabilitation.

It doesn’t cure illness.

But it changes the experience.

It helps us take that first step.

It distracts us from fear.

It reconnects us with happy memories.

It brings people together.

It reminds us that movement can be joyful.

And occasionally…

…if an enthusiastic instructor born in the 1960s gets a little carried away introducing another 80s anthem…

…you can always turn her down.

I promise I won’t take it personally.

Well…

Not too personally.

References 

• Terry PC, Karageorghis CI, Curran ML, et al. Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review.
• Karageorghis CI, Priest DL. Music in sport and exercise: An update on research and application.
• Thaut MH et al. Rhythmic auditory stimulation for gait rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
• Särkämö T, et al. Music-based interventions in neurological rehabilitation.
• American College of Sports Medicine. Evidence relating to music and exercise adherence.