Comments on: Depression Lifted by Beethoven Piano Sonatas

By: WWE

WWE — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Studies have found that listening to quiet classical music produces every effect shown in "meditation" studies. One suspects it is the process of sitting still for a period of time, not asleep, but not engaged in anything focused such as reading. Music and mantras basically preventing boredom, while the actual healing agent: rest, has its effect. If you try this at home, try to get comfortable because the body cues on "elbows" and "knees" being immobile to determine if it is resting.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:57:00 +0000

Historically, Ludwig Van Beethoven was very depressed as a child. In fact, when a child... the only way he became at all good at the piano is because his father made him practice. Many times, Mr. Beethoven would come home late at night drunk. He would literally drag young Ludwig to the piano and force him to practice until dawn. When played wrong notes, he would be beaten and told to play it again. Finally, Ludwig would be allowed to go to bed to the sound of morning church bells. Mr. Beethoven did this to his son because he noticed that Ludwig did have a talent for music and Mr. Beethoven became determined to make his son the next Mozart.

Having gone through this trauma through out his childhood, Ludwig naturally became very good at playing the piano. Since music was really the only thing he had ever known, music became his life long career. Beethoven loved music, yes, but have you ever really listened to his music. Other than his 2nd Concerto, all of his music is very depressing. Many of his works are in minor, or if in major, he had the incredible talent of making it sound gloomy. I believe his style of music is due to how he became to love music, and how he viewed the world around him.

I do not see how listening to depressing music by Ludwig Van Beethoven would help improve anyone’s attitude. If you want to improve your attitude, listen to Mozart, many works by J.S. Bach, Leroy Anderson, or any music that gives you that “feel good” feeling.

-Brian Moon
University of Alaska Anchorage

By: Brian Woodward

Brian Woodward — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:18:00 +0000

Listening to music is a subconscious activity. Depression is a condition of the conscious Self. So, when we listen to music for the sake of listening to music, especially when depressed or sad, then we slip in to the subconscious. So, of course there will not be any depression, just as one is "not depressed" when they fall asleep. However, I would agree with some lasting, even though, short-term, affect on depression whem embracing the Self, because one took a break and a breath, which is the best tool for dealing with the long, hard road of depression.

--Brian Woodward Ph.D.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:55:00 +0000

Anon, yes, you make the same points as the previous Anon.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:41:00 +0000

This is either bad science or bad reporting or both. You can't take 56 people, treat them all the same way, and draw any conclusions! Because you have no idea if these people would have had their depression scores improved on their own anyways without any intervention.

There must always be a comparison group of some sort to begin trying to infer some hint of causation.

A much better study would be to randomize the people into two groups of 28 people each: one group gets twice a week Beethoven for 15 minutes in a clean, quiet room, the other group gets twice a week of silence for 15 minutes in a clean, quiet room. Then see if there are any differences between these two groups.

(Other control conditions are possible, such as suggested by the other posts: pop music or non-Beethoven classic music. Another way to design this experiment would be split them into 3 groups, one Beethoven, one non-Beethoven, and one group that doesn't even get the clean quiet room at all... but the problem is you'd have fewer people per group and less likely to see an effect if one exists).

Regardless, the way this webpost is written is ridiculous: if the research actually didn't have a control group of any kind, the webpost should mention that as making the conclusion very difficult to believe. And if there was a control group but the webpost failed to report it, then that's just sloppy, misleading reporting.

By: nosmo2

nosmo2 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:17:00 +0000

I don't care if it is a placebo effect as long as it works.
However,if it it a placebo effect which works only under the study conditions and
perhaps not when the patient tries it in his/her own home environment
it would not be of lasting benefit.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:24:00 +0000

Anon, I'm afraid there's no more information available on this study (I looked). So, yes, all those alternatives you quote are possibilities.

By: bittersweet

bittersweet — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:55:00 +0000

Wow, classical music amazing... I'm a high school psychology student, and I also play the violin (lots of classical music!), so this article is very interesting. I heard that also Mozart's compositions are very soothing.

The comments by other people are quite of interest. (e.g. placebo effect)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 22:58:00 +0000

Go on. If you going to report on it... At least make a sop of an attempt to convince us that the original researchers had (or hadn't) shown that this wasn't...
* Placebo effect.
* Effect of somebody anybody trying something anything at least they're paying attention at last.
* Beethoven working better than say Bach, britney spears, Iranian folk tunes, dentist drills, podcasts...
* Not listening to depressing news casts about the US threatening again to bomb Iran..

By: Chance

Chance — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:28:00 +0000

I went to iTunes and got the album. Too soon to say for sure, but it does seem to lift my mood and level me out.

I'm wondering why they chose Beethoven, and why these particular pieces.

For me at least, these pieces kept my attention. A lot of classical music just doesn't hold my attention, but these sonatas are moody moody moody---yet they always come back to home base. Mozart or someone else might do the same thing, but I don't think I'd sit through it for long---too predictable.