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The scientific benefits of listening to classical music on your commute

7 March 2019, 15:40 | Updated: 7 March 2019, 19:25

Promoted by Great Western Railway

The scientific benefits of listening to classical music on your commute. Picture: Getty

There are many ways to pass the time during your journey, but if you’re looking to boost your health then a Bach concerto might just be the way forward…

For most British workers, the average daily commute is around an hour – and over time, this journey can become tiring.

But, science suggests that listening to a bit of Brahms, Chopin or Morricone while you travel could be just the tonic you need.

Aside from sounding totally beautiful, classical music has been proven to have a positive impact on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.

How does classical music boost your health?

If you have a hectic day of work ahead and need to be your most productive self, listening to your favourite classical pieces actually reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body – and this is especially true of tracks with a regular rhythm or low pitch.

In a recent study at the Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan, pregnant women who played a classical album every week were less likely to experience depression and anxiety.

To help you unwind, here are three soothing pieces for you to listen to:

· ‘By the Banks of Green Willow’, George Butterworth

· ‘At Church’, Slovak Suite, Vítězslav Novák

· Symphony No. 2 – Adagio (iii), Rachmaninov

Boost your brain power

Listening to classical music enhances both productivity and brain power, something which is often referred to by scientists as the “Mozart effect”.

In another study by the University of Maryland, a group of radiologists reported a sharper memory and increased accuracy when Baroque pieces were played in hospital reading rooms.