Music performance is a significant aspect of the college experience for many Bruins, with many nonmusic students actively engaging in interdisciplinary passions through various creative communities at UCLA.

Hayden Ghosh, a third-year mathematics/economics student, is currently in Game Music Ensemble, a student-run organization that rehearses and performs music from video games at on-campus concerts each quarter. He said the organization’s no-cut policy makes it an inclusive space for students.

“No matter what your instrument is, no matter what your skill level is, we try to find a place for everybody,” Ghosh said. “As a part of that, we also understand that people are very busy with school, so we’re very flexible with rehearsals.”

Many Bruins appreciate the accessibility and abundance of music clubs and organizations on campus.

Matheo Irazabal, a fourth-year electrical engineering and physics student, said he has easily found and joined music groups and bands at UCLA. He added that he has participated in the school’s symphony and philharmonic orchestras and currently manages small group performances for Bruin Chamber Musicians, all of which are valuable experiences and memories for him.

“My philosophy was basically, ‘Do as much as you can in the four years here because you probably won’t find it as easily available once you graduate,’” Irazabal said.

The desire to pursue music for many students may be linked to the benefits it brings.

A study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy indicated that listening to music for five minutes alleviated clinically high levels of anxiety in performing arts college students. When participants in the experiment had their anxiety levels measured before and after listening to five minutes of music, average anxiety scores dropped to normal levels following the music break.

Similar to how listening to music may benefit one’s emotional well-being, music education has been found to be advantageous to one’s mental health. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found a positive correlation between music education and mental energy among college students, which in turn improved the quality of their learning.

Involvement in music communities has helped many Bruins find comfort, especially among those pursuing demanding majors.

Danny Smith, a fourth-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said he has been a member of ScatterTones, UCLA’s premier all-gender competitive a cappella group, since his first year of college. Although ScatterTones is time-intensive, rehearsals feel more relaxing than tiring, Smith added.

“I actually look forward to the a cappella rehearsals as an escape from that (school), as a nice creative break that allows me to use a different part of my brain to explore positivity and connection and community with others,” he said.

Alexa Jennings, a third-year molecular, cell and developmental biology student, said she is a violinist in the UCLA Symphony Orchestra. As a pre-medical student, she said she finds her music community fun and collaborative.

Fourth-year materials science and engineering student Kyle Fujisaka shares a similar perspective to Jennings. Fujisaka said being a drummer for UCLA Marching Band and a member of Kyodo Taiko, a student-run Japanese drumming ensemble, helps him balance his time spent on academics and in leisure, helping to prevent stress and burnout. He added that Kyodo Taiko in particular is emotionally relieving.

“There’s a lot of big moves that go with that, and so you get to release your anger, throw your energy into the drum,” he said.

Just as music can provide a break from academic rigor, it can also forge community and friendship.

According to a literature review published in Frontiers in Psychology, the synchronous movements often accompanying musical performances have the capacity to promote social bonding. Similar conclusions were drawn from a study published in Evolutionary Psychology, which found that the mere act of making music in a group setting increases the release of endorphins – hormones involved in stress regulation and relief – and promotes community bonding.

For example, Irazabal said one of his most memorable music-related experiences in college happened during week zero of his freshman year. He said he was playing the piano outside Covel Commons when other musicians stopped by to join him throughout the eight hours he was there. Music allowed him to connect with others through its own language, he added.

“It’s no words,” Irazabal said. “It’s just purely feeling.”

Additionally, Ghosh said music has helped him form friendships with people he wouldn’t have met otherwise, including doctoral students and non-UCLA-affiliated community members who share his passion.

Finding community through music is also the case for Jennings, who said she appreciated how supportive members of her orchestra are, many of whom are also pre-med like her.

“One thing I do like about it is that it’s not really a competitive environment,” Jennings said. “So people are just there to give advice and be friends.”

Along with the emotional and social benefits, the collaborative skills many musicians learn through their group work can be translated into nonmusic disciplines. According to the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, adding visual and performing arts education to the training of scientists can stimulate their creativity and teamwork skills in their professions.

This was the experience of Smith, who said singing in a group has taught him the importance of collaboration.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned with singing in a group is about listening to others and really empathizing with others,” he said. “It’s really important to hear the other people around you so that what you’re singing fits in and doesn’t stand out, and that everyone supports each other in creating one unique sound.”

While music has enhanced many students’ social and emotional experiences, as well as helped them gain applicable teamwork skills, Fujisaka said practicing and performing music can go beyond reaping certain benefits.

“​​Even if it really doesn’t get you anywhere career-wise, it’s just a good outlet because life isn’t just about work,” Fujisaka said. “It’s about enjoying the little things too.”