Seven in 10 people say orchestral music improved their ‘mood and well being’ in lock down

Seven in 10 people say orchestral music improved their ‘mood and wellbeing’ in lockdown. Picture: Chris Christodoulou

By Rosie Pentreath, ClassicFM London

@rosiepentreath

 

Classical music can be a calming, positive presence when times are tough, this study shows.

Seven in 10 people surveyed have said that orchestral music has been improving their ‘mood and well being’ in lock down, since various forms of restrictions began in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Reminding us of classical music’s power to calm and soothe, as well as uplift us, in our toughest times, the result is from a new study from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) which explores engagement with orchestral music in 2020.

The study asked a nationally-representative sample of 8,000 people in the UK various questions about their music habits, including if they had been listening to orchestral music at various points in the year, if instrument learners have practiced more, and how corona virus lock downs, and then the news of the vaccines, have impacted respondents’ overall music habits and interests.

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As well as the 71 percent of people discovering the positive impact of orchestral music on their mood, 85 percent responded that they ‘actively broadened their cultural horizons’, a third of them through learning more about orchestral, opera and chamber music, while 66 percent said they had a child doing more music practice since lock down started.

And it seems lock down helped more people discover classical music for the long term: one in six people (16 percent) said they intended to continue exploring the music they discovered during lock down, while, when asked, respondents indicated they’d be willing to donate money to arts organisations or become members in the future.

The vaccine seems to have increased people’s confidence in attending large events as well. 83 percent of those surveyed said news of the vaccine made them more comfortable with social activities in 2021, and 29 percent of people indicated they felt it would be safe to attend concerts, and 31 percent for theatres, once the vaccines had been announced.

The survey is an overarching view of 2020, and is based on four main periods last year: pre-pandemic times, the first lock down (March until July), the lifting of lock down from July onwards, and following the news of the arrival of the vaccine towards the end of the year.

The national research is coupled with views from industry partners and anecdotal feedback from RPO players and audiences. Click here to read the RPO’s full report on engagement with orchestral music in 2020.