Exploring music preference: Meaningfulness of music as a function of emotional reactions

Abstract

Determining and utilizing music that is preferred and meaningful has been thought to increase participation and interest in music education and therapy. This study examines the relationship of emotional responses to specific music to the amount of meaningfulness associated with that music. In one quasi-experiment, participants selected music that elicited observable emotional reactions (chills/shivers, tears/crying and laughter/smiling) as well as music not producing these reactions and used a Likert–type scale to rate perceived meaningfulness of these pieces. In a second quasi-experiment, participants selected music considered personally meaningful or not particularly meaningful, and the occurrence of emotional reactions to this music was determined. Music associated with emotional reactions appeared to exhibit higher levels of meaningfulness than music not exhibiting emotional reactions. Music perceived as meaningful appeared to exhibit more frequent occurrences of emotional reactions than music considered not particularly meaningful. Suggestions for future research and applications are offered.

Keywords:

• meaningful
• music
• emotion
• education
• therapy