Harmonizing Self-Esteem: The Symphony of Music as a Confidence Booster

There’s a situation that’s familiar to most humans on the planet – you’re feeling annoyed, angry, or anxious, and you can feel pressure on mental, emotional, and even physical levels until you hear a tune, the tune. Your favorite song or classical piece springs up on your playlist, or you hear it in passing, and suddenly, you feel yourself smiling. There’s more pep in your step, your heart is lighter, and the internal pressure dissipates.

Does this sound familiar? If you answer yes, then you’ve experienced firsthand the incredible power of music. Whatever your genre of choice is, beloved tunes have the ability to make you feel like a superhero; they can transform your perspective and boost your confidence.

If this is your first time to come across this concept, let’s delve into it and see how you can harness the power of music to become happier, more fulfilled, and more confident.

The Impact of Music Therapy on Your Confidence

“Music is one of the longest-standing self-prescribed therapies in history,” is the saying from Erin Seibert, a music therapist, and it couldn’t be truer. Seeing that music has deep healing properties, it’s no wonder music therapy is becoming increasingly popular.

If you’re struggling with self-confidence and you’re looking for gentle yet powerful ways to boost and nurture it, trying music therapy could be a way to go. A skilled music therapist can help you discover your potential, alleviate stress, and help you feel better about who you are and your place in the world.

In music therapy, you can create music, play instruments, sing, dance, or just listen to selected pieces. This will allow you to express yourself, recognize and honor your emotions, and have a creative outlet in the process. As you start to understand yourself better, self-confidence and trust will come naturally, and navigating everyday challenges will become easier.

The goal of the therapy is to inspire you to work on your emotional well-being, work through trauma, and find ways to love yourself more.

Music Recommendations

• If you’d like to try some music therapy, this 3-hour healing music playlist could help you get started.

• If you’re looking for beloved familiar tunes to help you find balance and peace, Prelude in C Major by Johann Sebastian Bach will never fail you.

Alexandre Tharaud – J.S. Bach: Prelude No. 1, BWV 846

• Finally, for some of the most incredible contemporary instrumental music, lend your ear to Ludovico Einaudi’s Nuvole Bianche to feel as if you’re taking flight and living your best life.

Ludovico Einaudi – Einaudi: Nuvole Bianche

The Social Aspect of Music Can Be a Confidence Booster

Music is one of the great equalizers. No matter what you’re going through, there’s a song out there that will resonate with you perfectly and an instrument that can capture the breadth of your feelings.

Music is supposed to be a shared experience, and this is shown in the simple fact that when we know someone likes the same band we do, we immediately connect to them more.

That’s why joining a group for a musical activity is a good way to subtly boost your confidence. If there was a time when you shied away from exposure, be it something as small as wearing school uniform, receiving praise, or getting out on a stage and playing an instrument, now is the time to change things around.

Depending on your preferences, you can learn to play that instrument you always wanted, join a choir, or even a band if you’re feeling adventurous.

Doing this may put you out of your comfort zone, but it will simultaneously feel so good because you’re being brave and trying something new. Besides, when you join a group of people with the same goals as you, you’ll naturally develop connections, feel you’re part of a community, and, with time, a support system. You can get in touch with people from all over the world because music is a universal language and you get to experience new cultures, which in itself is an incredible learning experience.

Music Recommendations

Here’s a list of classic songs that celebrate community, friendship, and the joy of making music together.

Slavonic Dances by Antonin Dvorák

Divertimento in D major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Saper Vorreste (Un Ballo in Maschera) by Giuseppe Verdi

You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King

One Love by Bob Marley

Relating to Music and Feeling Seen and Understood

The feeling of not belonging can significantly affect our desire to connect to the world and to the parts of ourselves. We often trap ourselves into thinking that no one hurts like we do, no one loves like we do, and no one understands us because of it. Nothing can be further from the truth, and music is there to prove the point.

Did it ever happen to you to hear a song that seems to speak to your soul, to the unique struggle you’re going through?

That in the moments you listen to it, it’s as if you’re expanding because you feel seen and accepted. That’s the unadulterated power of music – we can relate to it and to the artist who created it. Even when we can’t put our emotions into words, music does it for us, and suddenly, we feel like we belong, like there’s some sense in the world after all.

Relating to music, a song, a band, or a certain genre will make it easier to relate to people who listen to it. Knowing that more people are out there facing the same challenges as you makes everything easier, and with that knowledge, you gain a new level of confidence. This is how music nudges you towards understanding you’re not alone in whatever you’re going through, and that alone is a lifeline and a confidence booster.

Music Recommendations

You probably already have a list of songs and bands you relate to, that make you feel seen and understood. If you’re looking for more recommendations, here are a few songs to check out:

Violin Concerto in D Minor by Jean Sibelius

Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy

Gymnopédie No.1 by Erik Satie

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

Conclusion

Harmonizing and nourishing self-esteem through music is something humans have done for thousands of years, and that alone is a reason to give it a try. When you need that extra zhuzh of confidence, play your favorite playlist and let beloved tunes and lyrics take it from there. Chances are, you’ll feel bolder and more empowered as the music dances through you, and that is the ultimate goal!

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Donna Elise Maurer is a multifaceted artist and educator with a devotion to music and an insatiable curiosity for the arts. Music has been Donna’s lifelong companion, and her expertise spans both piano and guitar. With a career spanning five enriching years in various music schools across New York, Donna has been a guiding light for budding musicians. Her teaching philosophy extends beyond the technicalities, instilling a deep understanding of music theory and a genuine appreciation for the art form itself.