Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In every life music performs a major role. Almost everywhere music can be heard

twenty – four hours a day (either performed by live musician or more often, reproduced

on records and broadcast by phonograph, television or radio. It is often spoken of as a

universal language and that it is the most common forms of self – expression today. Thus,

it is being use as language of expression in every human.

“Music is definitely a global issue; people all over the world listen to it”. Tamara

Goetz (2000).

“The music of the Philippines is a mixture of indigenous, other Asian, European,

and American musical sounds. Filipino classical musical compositions in many ways

symbolize the blending of multicultural influences. Much of the music of the Philippines

have been influenced by the three centuries colonial legacy of Spain; popular rock and

roll, hip hop, and pop; the native Austronesia population; and other Asian music”,

Microsoft Encarta (1993 – 2009).

Filipinos have observably exposed to music of different kinds. Before the colony

of Spain arrived in the Philippines, music has been part of the first Filipinos. But as time

passes by, our music changes and had become more powerful. Because of the great

impact it had to the Filipinos, we almost haven’t notice that its effect to the Filipino

students is becoming vast.

Almost everywhere in the world and even here in Davao City, music plays a big

role.

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It is one of the most prominent forms of communication and is used in every situation to

set a tone, alter moods, change attitudes, and affect behavior. In a 2000 study conducted

by Harvey, music was found to have a significant correlation with mood; it was found

that music helped facilitate a relaxed or excited inner mood.

“College students are typically very identified with popular music and spend

many hours listening to their music of preference”, College Student Journal (March,

2008). In the University of Southeastern Philippines, particularly, at the College of

Engineering, music has its largest influenced. As what many have observed, exposure to

music of the engineering students is much greater than other students from different

colleges because students from this college have dominant personalities and outlook that

attracts music than other students have. That’s why choosing this college to be our

specific target of research is the best choice for us.

Statement of the Problem

This study is conducted to find out the effects of music to the Students of the College

of Engineering on the University of Southeastern Philippines – Obrero Campus during

the school year 2008 – 2009. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following

questions:

1. What are the effects of music to the students particularly to the: 1.1 physical

appearance/development, 1.2 intellectual, 1.3 social, 1.4 emotional, and 1.5

moral?

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 2. Which factor namely: physical appearance/development, intellectual, social,

emotional, and moral, that the student is greatly influenced and affected by

music?

3. When and with whom do students listen with?

Review of Related Literature and Studies

From a Newsletter from the Institute of Heartmath Spring 2004 entitled Music in

our lives concluded that understanding the effects music can have, IHM’s founder Doc

Childre set out to create a musical experience that would lead to mental and emotional

balance in the listener. In the 90’s he produced two collections of instrumental pieces,

Heart Zones and Speed of Balance. Research showed that positive emotions created by

listening to Heart Zones resulted in beneficial effects on the immune system. Childre’s

other creation, Speed of Balance, was shown to increase four key aspects of wellbeing –

caring, relaxation, mental clarity and vitality. A total of 144 adults and teens participated

in the Speed of Balance research. As part of the study they also listened to classical, new

age, and grunge rock music. Grunge music increased undesirable qualities – hostility,

fatigue, sadness and tension – in both adult and teen listeners, and led to reductions in

caring, relaxation, mental clarity, and vitality. Effects created by new age and classical

music were mixed. Overall results of the study showed that given the connection between

attitudes, emotions, and the body, music successfully designed to balance the mind and

emotions can be an easy way to reduce stress and promote overall wellness.

Many people listen to music for sheer auditory pleasure, but music can do a lot

more than provide a temporary pleasure. In a 2000 study conducted by Harvey, music

was found to have a significant correlation with mood; it was found that music helped

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facilitate a relaxed or excited inner mood. In his study, Harvey relied on self – reports. He

administered a mood questionnaire that contained 6 statements that tested the participants

on what music they preferred when they were in a given mood. For instance, one

statement that the participants were to ask to agree or disagree with was, “When I am

depressed, I listen to music with an up – tempo beat.” This study found a strong

correlation between up – tempo music and an excited mood; the findings also indicated

that softer music correlated with a relaxed mood (Harvey, 2000).

Another method to measure the influence of music, besides self – reports on

mood, is actual physiological changes. In regards to music, this means determining which

music is most arousing in nature. Arousal is defined as a rise in diastolic and systolic

blood pressure while listening to music. In a 1999 study conducted by McNamara and

Ballard, it was found that heavy metal is most arousing music, followed by alternative

rock, rap, and dance music (McNamara & Ballard, 1999). The findings of this study are

significant because they indicate that the manner in which the body is affected by music

is not solely dependent on what type of music is preferred by the individual, but also by

the nature of the music in and of itself.

The issue of personal perception of different types of music is nonetheless an

important one. The question of effect of music on mood is weighted by music preference.

For example, a 1999 study by Scheel and Westefeld showed that a person’s preferred

choice of music seemed to be associated with a positive mood. Less than 1% of

participants in the study reported feeling sad when listening to their preferred choice of

music. The participants in the study also reported that, in general, they did not listen to

their preferred choice of music when angry (Scheel & Westefeld, 1999). This study

demonstrates that, overall, music is associated with a positive experience.

 Researchers have only scratched the surface in exploring how music can have

enhance or inhibit our health, well-being, and capacity to learn. Music has been found to

ease anxiety to both children and adult, and to clam the elderly. If you want to experiment

on yourself, these words from Doc Childre (2004) can provide you with a start – “Listen

to music from your heart and you will develop a true feeling for what type you need and

when.” Whether your laboratory is your kitchen, shower or car – make it an adventure!

Significance of the Study

Students. The essence of this study is to provide awareness and knowledge among

students, influencing many factors of their personality. It is a sort of measurement,

identification, and guidance to interrelated matters of students acts. The benefits will

occur if everyone’s respond and submittance connect with one another. Thus, it will be

delivered and captured among the means of said topic.

Parents and Family. This will contribute in nurturing satisfactory facts in social,

emotional, intellect and behavior among the members of the family. Determining

appropriate measures which will deliver enough information through the contribution of

ideas and viewpoints of both parents and children.

School. This study will provide diligent reports in understanding the acts and behavior of

students in school. Hence, it gives data supporting and exemplifying behavior of students.

Eventually, the one which classify and add coherence designated by its true purpose.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study is limited to the determination of the influential effects music have

among the Students of the College of Engineering on the University of Southeastern

Philippines – Obrero Campus during the school year 2008 – 2009.

 The effect music has towards the students is limited to the following factors:

physical appearance/development, intellectual, social, emotional, and moral.

Definition of Terms

Music refers to the art of arranging tones in an orderly sequence so as to produce a

unified and continuous composition. “In reality, music does not have any one concrete

meaning. Music has different meanings for different people. Music is unique in each

person’s life”.

Effects refer to the results that could happen.

Student refers to a person engaged in study and one that is learning

(a)one enrolled in a class or course in a school, college or university.

(b)one who independently carries on a systematic study or detailed observation of

a subject.