Notes of Wellbeing: Why Music Matters for Our Parents

By Summit FM General Manager Tommy Bruno

Stepping into my mother's house is like entering a sensory sanctuary. The space vibrates with life— healthy plants stretch toward sunlight, bowls of fresh fruit offer bursts of color, and, always, there's music dancing through the air. She's mastered the art of perfect volume: loud enough to recognize the melody yet never drowning out our conversations.

The Summit FM has become her household companion, playing simultaneously in three strategic locations: the attic (where it mysteriously keeps mice at bay), her cozy bedroom, and the living room where we gather. While she stays remarkably current with artists like MJ Lenderman and Lola Young, I've realized these daily soundtracks might give her aging brain invisible benefits.

As neurologist Oliver Sacks beautifully expressed: "Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears — it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear."

Science backs this intuition. A comprehensive University of Michigan study surveyed over 2,600 adults aged 50-80 about their musical habits. The findings? Music isn't just entertainment—it's medicine. An overwhelming 85% of participants engage with music several times weekly, and nearly all reported health benefits. Three-quarters found that music melted away stress and sparked joy, while 65% credited music with enhancing their mood and mental well-being.

Watching my mother move through her days accompanied by these carefully chosen Summit tunes, one thought remains constant: there's never a moment of embarrassment about what's playing at her house—only the quiet pride of knowing she surrounds herself with something that nourishes both body and soul.

So the next time you visit your parents, consider turning off that TV and turning on the tunes; they may thank you, and so will we!