How Music Builds Community and Confidence During the Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, our world begins to resonate with music—choirs, concerts, carols, and spontaneous gatherings. This isn’t just tradition; it’s a biological phenomenon. When we share music, our bodies and brains synchronize in ways that strengthen community bonds and nourish self-confidence.

In We Are What We Listen To: The Impact of Music on Individual and Social Health, I explore how musical experiences activate powerful physiological processes. When we sing or play together, our breathing, heart rate, and even neural oscillations begin to synchronize. This rhythmic entrainment—when bodies fall into a shared tempo—stimulates the release of oxytocin, the hormone of trust and social bonding. At the same time, dopamine and endorphins flood the brain, reinforcing pleasure and motivation while reducing stress hormones like cortisol. The result is a state of coherence: our biological systems align with those around us, fostering empathy and belonging.

This collective rhythm not only connects us to others—it enhances self-assurance. Group music-making engages motor and emotional regions of the brain, strengthening pathways related to coordination, communication, and emotional regulation. Singing together helps us breathe deeply and rhythmically, calming the nervous system and expanding lung capacity—both of which directly influence feelings of stability and confidence.

During the holidays—a time of both celebration and vulnerability—music becomes a biological bridge between self and society. It transforms gatherings into shared rituals of emotional alignment and health.

So, this season, sing with others, dance, or simply listen together. You’re not only creating memories; you’re literally tuning your body and brain toward connection and well-being.

Read more in my book We Are What We Listen To, or invite me to speak about how music shapes emotional and social health in your organization.