The heavenly sound of a human voice or the soothing tapping sounds of a piano or any instrument can relieve stress.

An athlete might let out anger by being out in the field and roughly throwing a ball, not caring about injury. When playing an instrument for hours, not caring if a wrist becomes sprained, the musician can let out anger because something is bothering him or her.

“You feel a rush. When you play sports, you run and get your emotions out. Music is the same way,” said Alexis True, junior music major and tuba player..

Music therapy has been proven to relieve stress through a study led from 2008-2009 by neurologist and researcher Barry Bittman. Over six weeks, 52 inner-city adolescents from different backgrounds in Pennsylvania met with a trained facilitator for music-making sessions.

As part of the sessions, the kids played on hand drums and other percussion instruments as well as on the electric keyboard to express what they felt inside and and what was causing what Bittman described as the “disclosure” necessary to help them positively move on with their lives.

Everyday, most of us constantly wonder about whether we will get the assignment in on time or pass this class we got ourselves into, or whether we will go insane if a beloved passes away. These overwhelming situations cause a lot of tension, but no worries: A musical instrument is waiting for the person to pick it up and play with it.

“The act of playing music regulates breathing. It takes distractions away from the worry…Music focuses your attention and calms you down, so you aren’t so agitated,” said associate psychology professor Rebecca Cameron.

The moment most people start to play an instrument, they sink into their own peaceful world.

“When I was in high school, I performed at a spring concert. I was nervous before starting and overwhelmed after playing. You’re drained out. But when I was playing the instrument, I did not think of anything,” True said.

Of course, different musical styles appeal to different people.

“I like the communicating text (in music). like how you talk or sing to communicate. I consider myself an actor,” said music professor Claudia Kitka. ”My husband listens to jazz when I am not at home, but never when I am at home because I feel like I am being tested on it.”

People don’t need an instrument to experience stress relief through music – singing works, too.

“Generally, even when you’re having a bad day, you can use (an instrument or singing) to express emotion. You can speak from the heart. For instance, when my grandma passed away several years ago and I was at Sac State, I could put what I felt into music,” said senior music major Jennifer Gapasin.

Sometimes, though, some music does the opposite. Instead of decreasing stress, it increases stress.

“I know musicians performing in big shows or operas do face stress. Singers who want to become professional singers need to pass (what is keeping them from not achieving what they are capable of). I feel the saddest for those who have stage fright,” said Kitka.

Destiny can be written by music. If music gives the person stress, it will surely give happiness.

“(Music) is an element of beauty aesthetically and increases joys and other positive feelings as well as competency,” said Cameron.

Kirandeep Kaur can be reached at [email protected].