Hi David,
A lot of the music at work movement was based on productivity improvements.
Here's a quote from the Muzak web site:
"The fact that music increased efficiency was substantiated by a team of
British industrial psychologists. The study by S. Wyatt and J. N. Langdon
gave the concept of special programming for work areas its foundation." I've
also heard they program music in stores to make shoppers slow down and take
their time browsing and buying.

I'm not sure if there's a stress reduction, though. I used to work in a
retail store, and I know at Christmas-time the fifth time in one shift that
the muzak version of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer was played I was
aggravated enough to want to offer my resignation. The type of music that
one enjoys tends to be a very personal choice, so I doubt that it's possible
to program music for everyone.

I've heard from yoga instructors that rhythmic movement timed with breathing
has been shown to reduce stress. And most massage therapists play music
during the session. And I know from personal experience that I can't stay
tense while I'm singing (although I can't say the same for anyone
unfortunate enough to be listening).

Just a few thoughts. Take care,
Rick Goggins, CPE
Ergonomist, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
[log in to unmask]
(360) 902-5450
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics/default.asp

-----Original Message-----
From: Ergonomics and human factors [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of David McFarlane
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 8:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Does "music and movement" reduce stress?

Dear all,

We are having computer problems here and every once in a while someone
suffers a computer crash that manages to lose an important file completely.
A colleague of mine became very stressed about one such loss just a short
while ago.

The other night I saw a most amusing scene in "The Pure Hell of St.
Trinian's" (a 1966 film that was recently re-released here on DVD) where
public servants were using "music and movement" to alleviate stress. It
showed dark-suited heavily-moustached men in the education department
pirouetting around the room to a pastoral measure (played on a portable
record player - whatever became of those?) and smelling imaginary roses. It
seemed to me to be a lampoon of the "music and movement" fad in the fifties.
It was absolutely hilarious.

They say that there is many a true word in jest. Can "music and movement"
really reduce stress? If so would it be useful for rest pauses or for the
involuntary pauses that computer crashes inflict on us from time to time?

I have been unable to find anything on the web on this topic though I did
find an interesting link to "Music While You Work" at http://www.whirligig-
tv.co.uk/radio/mwyw.htm

Does anyone remember whether "Music While You Work" was supposed to increase
productivity, reduce stress or merely entertain the workers?

I suspect this music at work trend still finds favour with some occupational
therapists but I am not sure whether ergonomists dabble in it.
I once heard (back in the eighties) of an onion-skin theory of ergonomics
that placed a lot of stress on emotional states and social relationships in
the workplace in addition to the more traditional physical design aspects.
Does anyone have any references on this onion-skin view of ergonomics?

Regards,

David.

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