Social Prescribing: Identifying Factors that Influence Mood in Audiences’ Experience of Live Music Concerts

This study examines factors affecting how people integrate live music (concert) experiences into their self-care, specifically related to improvements in mood. Our team investigated conditions of how music delivery affects listeners’ experience and level of engagement based on influential factors. We partnered with Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute faculty as we sought to learn about conditions affecting music listening, alone or with others, and how prior concert attendance influences the extent to which attending current music concerts might improve the mood of attendees. We studied factors influencing well-being through instituting Wellness Concerts called “Sound Journeys.” Overall 314 participants enrolled, and many were recruited from the general population of New York City. Some of the participants included patients from Mount Sinai Health System who had depression and attended sessions weekly at our clinic: children, teens, post-NICU (Neonatal Internsive Care Unit) adults and older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Our program included a series of six concerts designed to improve the mood among the attendees of live music performances. The content was matched to meet the ages of the attendees. Our research group consisted of musicians and music therapists who surveyed the attendees prior to and immediately after the live, in-person performances. There was a significant positive change in the participants’ mood in relation to concert attendance. As live music concerts involve a relationship between listeners (audience) and performers (musicians), we also surveyed the performers after each performance. Although social prescribing is increasing globally, the unique potential for live music experiences planned with understanding of the influential elements that influence perception is not well described. The capacity to improve wellbeing of audience members is an interesting proposition with little research to date. We are hopeful that our findings will encourage future studies that seek to define how live music concerts impact people’s mood and meet their quest for wellness.