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Joseph Barnett

Professor Hellmers

English 1201

23 October 2019

Annotated Bibliography

My research essay will aim to decipher and describe the role and abilities of

classical/orchestral music in relaxation and stress reduction. I feel that from a personal

perspective, I have always been able to use music to relax and take a deep breath. However, I am

curious as to other methods of application which music can improve the quality of living. I

would also like a more in-depth understanding of why classical music specifically can have these

beneficial effects.

Collingwood, Jane. “The Power of Music to Reduce Stress.” ​Psych Central, 2​ 018.

https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/​. Accessed 20 October

2019.

Collingwood’s article, “The Power of Music to Reduce Stress,” is an informative

collection of facts regarding the benefits of listening to classical music. Music can serve as an

effective stress management tool in people’s lives. However, people often push away music and

stubbornly assume it is a waste of time, when in actuality there is plentiful evidence to strongly

suggest otherwise. Listening to classical or soft music is also ideal in helping the human mind

find its “place” for meditation. From bringing a sense of security to disabled or less-fortunate

children, to reducing the pain, anxiety, and stress in patients before and after surgery, to
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relaxation therapy for adult cancer patients, music can have a myriad of applications to improve

the day-to-day lives of nearly everyone.

The author’s purpose of this article was to inform. This is distinguishable due to the fact

that no opinions were revealed in the article, it included facts and cited research, and the article

was scientifically reviewed.The audience for this piece of information is typical readers who may

find this article on the Internet, or general people looking to know a little more about the health

benefits of classical music. The fact that the article was published on an easily accessible website

in a professional but not overbearingly organized manner, establishes that it is intended to be

read by common people on the Internet.

“The Power of Music to Reduce Stress” was written by Jane Collingwood, who is a

regular author on ​Psych Central,​ who focuses primarily on topics related to mental health and the

dissection of research. This article is a reliable informative source because it had no bias or

opinion, did not contradict itself or any other credible information, and was scientifically

reviewed by ​Psych Central​’s scientific advisory board. And upon further inspection, this board is

comprised of legitimate researchers and healthcare professionals.

I will be able to use this article in my essay to explain examples of how classical music

can benefit day-to-day life, and in describing its application with relaxation and stress

minimization.

Fernando, G., Wanigabadu, L., Vidanagama, B., Samaranayaka, T., & Jeewandara, J.

“‘Adjunctive Effects of a Short Session With Music on Pain, Low-Mood and Anxiety

Modulation Among Cancer Patients’ - A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.” ​Indian

Journal of Palliative Care, p​ p. 367-373.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659521/​. Accessed 25 October 2019.

“Adjunctive Effects of a Short Session With Music on Pain…” by Gunasekara Fernando,

Lagath Wanigabadu, Buddhika Vidanagama, Terancy Samaranayaka, and Jeewandara

Jeewandara is a section of the ​Indian Journal of Palliative Care​ scholarly journal. It reflects on

and describes a study on cancer patients and the relation between their levels of pain and anxiety,

and listening to instrumental classical music. These were monitored through blood pressure tests,

pupil dilation, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and more. On the first day of the study, the cancer

patients did not listen to any music and their statistics were recorded. On the second day of the

study, their stats were recorded after being able to listen to instrumental classical music. After

comparing the data across days for each patient, the results clearly displayed that classical music

has a large effect in reducing pain, anxiety, and low mood in cancer patients in addition to their

ongoing treatments and therapies.

The purpose of this excerpt of the scholarly journal is to display new facts, data, and

information found through the study described. The intended audiences likely consists primarily

of other researchers and scholars, as well as upper level students interested in or curious about

specific effects of classical music on cancer patients.

I was able to determine this source is credible due to the fact that it passed each stage of

the CRAAP test. It has been currently published, just earlier this year. It also holds a significant

relevance to my research topic. The source has above adequate authority, because each of its five

authors are highly educated and scholars with excellent credentials. From what I can decipher, all

of the information presented by this article is accurate because it includes specific data and a
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study, and agrees with information found in several other reliable sources. Finally, this source

has a credible purpose as described in the previous paragraph.

I intend to use this source for multiple purposes when writing my research essay. Its

primary function, however, will likely be to serve as a source of specific data and study, as well

as specific groups of people that can benefit from classical music, cancer patients.

Lee-Harris, G., Blackburn, D., Timmers, R., & Humberstone, N. “Music For Relaxation: A

Comparison Across Two Age Groups.” ​Journal of Music Therapy, ​vol. 55, no. 4, pp.

439-462, 2018.

www.researchgate.net/publication/328005614_Music_for_Relaxation_A_Comparison_A

cross_Two_Age_Groups​. Accessed 20 October 2019.

George Lee-Harris, as well as the other authors of “Music For Relaxation: A Comparison

Across Two Age Groups,” an excerpt from the scholarly ​Journal of Music Therapy​ compared the

emotional stimulation and arousal of two age groups with two different styles of music said to be

relaxing. The two age groups were a “younger age group” and an “older age group”, and each

individual of each group listened to a style of relaxing music called MBM (Meditative Binaural

Music), as well as relaxing classical music. The results were clear in displaying that music can

promote relaxive emotions. However, the interesting aspect of the results showed that the

younger age group displayed more of a reaction and benefit to the Meditative Binaural Music,

whereas the older age group had a stronger benefit from the relaxing classical music. These

results helped Lee-Harris, Blackburn, Timmers, Humberstone come to the conclusion that
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although MBM unanimously has effects in relaxation, those effects are varied depending on the

age of the listener(s).

The authors of “Music For Relaxation: A Comparison Across Two Age Groups” wrote it

with the intended audience being other researchers and scholars who are concerned with how

music affects relaxation or other emotional responses, as well as college or upper-level students

seeking a path in music or human behavior/psychology.

I evaluated this source for its credibility and have came to the conclusion that it is a very

reliable source of information for a plethora of reasons. First and foremost, because of the fact

that the article was written by four authors, each with high education and reliable credentials.

Another reason this serves as a credible source is due to the fact that its information and

conclusions line up nicely with the information found in other scholarly journals and excerpts I

have read. It also contains recent information and remains relevant to its main claim and the

research topic I am exploring.

I foresee this source serving as extraordinarily helpful in putting together my research

essay. This is because the article also discusses a different form of relaxing music, MBM. This

will help me to be able to branch out some, and explore how some other genres and styles of

music can influence relaxation.

Nelson, Brooke & Yanek, Dawn. “10 Wondrous Things That Happen to Your Body When You

Listen to Classical Music.” ​The Healthy,

www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/classical-music-effects/​. Accessed 20 October, 2019

Brooke Nelson and Dawn Yanek’s “10 Wondrous Things That Happen to Your Body

When You Listen to Classical Music” is a factual article found on the popular health and

​ lassical music helps people relax, however, there are

more benefits to gain from it. One of these potential benefits is better sleep. Multiple studies

have shown that people are able to sleep sooner and deeper with an eye mask, ear plugs, and

classical music playing. Another is that music can increase a person’s emotional availability.

Psychologist Cather Jackson found that her patients were able to open up to her and discuss their

feelings when she played soft classical music in the background more so than when she didn't.

Also, studies have shown that there is a decrease in pain in people who listen to classical music.

Other potential benefits include sharper memory/greater brainpower, as well as a reduction in

anxiety and strengthened social skills. Finally, classical music helps people to be more

productive. Many people know that less stress means more productivity, so when people relax to

classical music they are able to get more work done and focus.

Similar to “The Power of Music to Reduce Stress,” Nelson and Yanek’s article is aimed

at ordinary people who are concerned with their health or are looking for simple ways to improve

it. It has the purpose of informing these people about the benefits of listening to classical music

can have, and how it has the effects it does. I was able to determine the audience and purpose of

this article due to its catchy layout, title, and pictures, the fact that it is on a very popular website

known for its articles about health, and because it presented real information and facts, but in an

easily understandable manner.

I realize why at first glance, one may assume that this article is not a good or reliable

source for information for a research topic. However, upon deep inspection I have discovered
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that it is, in fact, credible. It is a very recent article, and was just updated less than two weeks

ago. The information it provides is also relevant to my research topic and the topic of classical

music’s influence of relaxation in general. The facts displayed in the article do not contradict any

others I have found throughout my research, and the source has adequate authority. Although I

could not find many credentials for the authors, the article has been medically reviewed by

Renata Chalfin, MD. I found that Chalfin is a licensed neurologist with proper credentials.

Though this source may not be as useful for writing my essay as some others, I do believe

it can serve a helpful purpose. My research is focused on the effects of classical and orchestral

music on relaxation, but this article can help me to explore some of the other mental and health

benefits to be gained from this genre of music.

Pelayo, Jose Maria G., III. “Insights and Opinions of College Students on Classical Piano

Instrumental Music.” Online Submission, 52 pp., 2013.

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED543178.pdf​. Accessed 20 October 2019.

“Insights and Opinions of College Students on Classical Piano Instrumental Music” by

Jose Maria G. Pelayo III is about a study conducted in South Korea. 26 voluntary subjects were

given an album by Korean pianist Yiruma to listen to. The researchers recorded the volunteers’

responses and how the piano music helped them to relax. Afterwords, the subjects were given a

questionnaire about the music. The questions included whether or not they felt the music helped

them to relax, and whether or not they would recommend this style of music to others as a

method of relaxation. Of the 26 participants, 86% of them said they would recommend using

music for relaxation. And of those, three males and one female volunteer even mentioned that
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they had never listened to this genre of music before, but would still recommend it to their

friends and family. The conclusion of the study was that the majority of listeners of

instrumental/piano music find it helpful for emotional responses and imagination. Pelayo even

lists 21 emotions the participants stated they felt, and 15 scenarios or memories that came into

their imagination while listening to the piano music.

The intended audience of this source seems to be students of higher education or other

scholarly researchers. It has the purpose of informing the readers about what piano music can do

to emotions and imagination, as well as the study executed in South Korea and the conclusions

its results gave.

This informative source is reliable for research. It contains facts and data consistent with

that found in other sources, and is quite relevant to my research topic. Although it was published

in 2009, it stills seems to have helpful statistics and facts. Also, the author is credible. Pelayo is

an author, researcher, composer, psychoanalyst, and music psychologist with over 11 published

research items.

I intend to apply the information found in this source to my research essay by focusing on

using is as an example of a specific study that gave results that support my main claim. I can also

reference it to the other emotions the subjects experienced during the study.

Perminas, A., Peciuliene I., Gustainiene, L., & Jarašiūnaitė, G. “Effectiveness of Progressive

Muscle Relaxation and Biofeedback Relaxation in Lowering Physiological Arousal

Among Students With Regard to Personality Features.” ​Procedia - Social and Behavioral

Sciences​, 2015, pp. 228-235.

www.researchgate.net/publication/283958156_Effectiveness_of_Progressive_Muscle_Re

laxation_and_Biofeedback_Relaxation_in_Lowering_Physiological_Arousal_among_Stu

dents_with_Regard_to_Personality_Features​. Accessed 27 October 2019.

“Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Biofeedback Relaxation in

Lowering Physiological Arousal Among Students With Regard to Personality Features” by

Aidas Perminas, Ieva Peciuliene, Loreta Gustainiene, and Gabija Jarašiūnaitė is an excerpt from

a scholarly article reviewing an academic study performed on undergraduates of varying

faculties of Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. 105 students who had stated in a

previous survey that they had high stress levels, participated in and completed the study. They

were placed into two different methods of relaxation: biofeedback-assisted relaxation and

progressive muscle relaxation. They were placed in four different groups, and each group had a

different number of sessions in each method. The results in effectiveness concluded that the

different methods were more helpful to some than others, based on the personality type of the

participant.

The intended audience of this scholarly journal is other researchers involved in

physiology, psychology, and myology. Its purpose is to inform the other scholars of the

information found on the topic of relaxation based on the study performed at Vytautas Magnus

University.

I believe this source is credible and reliable for research on my topic. It is somewhat

recent, being published in 2015, and has relevant and consistent information. This source also

was written by multiple very credible and knowledgeable authors.

This article is not extremely closely related to my research topic. However, I do intend to

use what I have learned from it to help write my research paper. I can use it to recognize other

methods of relaxation that people use, and compare and contrast their effectiveness with that of

classical music.

Scheufele, Peter M. “Effects of Progressive Relaxation and Music on Attention, Relaxation, and

Stress Responses: An Investigation Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Relaxation.” ​Journal

of Behavioral Medicine, v​ ol. 23, no. 2, 2000, pp. 207-228.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/1012237.pdf​. Accessed 20 October 2019.

Peter Schuefele’s “Effects of Progressive Relaxation and Music…” is a doctoral

dissertation exploring how progressive muscle relaxation and music can help participants reduce

stress levels, comparatively. Half of the large number of volunteers for this study experienced

either music or progressive muscle relaxation, while the other half served as constants and

experienced silence or attention control. Generally speaking, both methods of relaxation had

significant results in lowering the volunteers’ blood pressure and stress level. However, the

results of progressive muscle relaxation were greater than the effects of the group that listened to

music. This helps Scheufele to conclude that although progressive muscle relaxation may have

been a more effective relaxation tool in this study, music may also be used to reduce blood

pressure and stress.

I think that Sheufele wrote this dissertation with other scholars and researchers associated

with branches of the medical field that are concerned with stress as the audience in mind. The
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purpose seems to be to inform that there are multiple effective methods of promoting relaxation,

but some may display more effectiveness than others.

This doctoral dissertation is a credible source because I evaluated it with the CRAAP test,

and it passed almost step. It not current (published in 1999), but it contains relevant information

to my research topic and the study it examined. The author is also reliable. Peter M. Scheufele is

a successful and certified psychologist in Los Angeles, California. The information in the

dissertation also appears to be accurate. Although it minoly contrasts with other information I’ve

found, Scheufele backs up his claims with specific data and facts. It also has a credible purpose,

to inform other scholars and healthcare professionals of the discoveries made through this study.