When Music Mends the Heart

The cloudy weather outside created a soft, hazy ambience in my practice room, especially with no lights on. The gentle melodic line of a Schubert sonata warmed my heart as I stroked the ivory keys. Strangely, the sound of birds outside matched perfectly with the music I was playing. I smiled at the beauty of such a pure melody and thought, "What a great way to connect with my soul... Such a healing time."

Every time I sit down to practice the piano, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to spend any amount of time with music. Practicing alone at home for hours isn’t quite the same as performing in front of a big audience—but in essence, it is exactly the same: deeply connecting with music, and ultimately, through music, connecting with the universe.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to stay at peace amidst the challenges of life and our surroundings. I’ve learned that any deep work you love—whether it’s gardening, cooking, painting, spending time with your kids, friends, or family, or simply walking around the neighborhood—can help you stay in a state of flow and contentment. For me, having spent over four decades immersed in music, I truly believe music is one of the greatest sources of solace—a peaceful escape whenever I need a lift.

When I have a great practice session or experience a powerful live concert, I often feel completely rejuvenated afterward. The best way I can describe it is as if I’ve been plugged into nature’s powerful energy source, recharging me for hours—or even days and weeks—to come.

It made me wonder: How can someone benefit from music even if they’re not musicians?

First, I believe that any deep connection—whether with another person or with music—is inherently healing. The key to that deep connection is intentional listening. For music to offer its full gifts, the first step must come from within us. How often do we "listen" to a podcast, to someone speaking, or to music without truly paying attention?

A small first step is this: listen to a piece of music—and only the music. Not as background noise. Not while driving or exercising. Set up your best listening environment, close your eyes if you can, and really listen. When you close one sense (like your sight), your sense of hearing often heightens. I dare you to try it.​

Not sure where to start? Try this heavenly excerpt from one of Mozart’s operas.

Secondly, try making music yourself. I know—it might not seem like your thing. But creating music, even in simple ways, offers exponentially greater emotional and spiritual rewards than simply listening. It could mean picking up a new instrument, singing your favorite song in the car or shower, or even tapping your fingers or swaying your body to the rhythm of a piece. The more actively you engage with music, the greater the energy and joy it will give you.

Lastly, I encourage you to listen to one piece of music performed by multiple artists. Last week, I became obsessed with a piece by Bach called Siciliano and ended up listening to at least five or six different versions of it. If you haven’t tried this fun musical adventure yet, I highly recommend it—especially with a piece you already love.

Not sure where to start? Follow my steps from last week!I’m linking three different versions of Siciliano here. After listening, just for fun, participate in a little vote to share which version you liked best.

I would love to hear whether your favorite matches mine—or if we all experience it differently!

• ​Version 1: by Evgeny Kissin

• ​Version 2: by Alik Sudbin

• ​Version 3: by Yunchan Lim

I hope this gives you a few simple pathways to connect more deeply with music this week.