Musician's High

If you are a musician, you’ve probably experienced “musician’s high” from time to time! Yes, we get it too – similar to the “runner’s high” defined as:

… a brief, deeply relaxing state of euphoria. Euphoria is a sense of extreme joy or delight. In this case, it occurs after intense or lengthy exercise. Often, people who experience a runner's high also report feeling less anxiety and pain immediately after their run.

I’ve been reading up on what causes the runner’s high to see why it is that we may experience the same euphoric state when having an extremely productive or intense rehearsal, or a stellar performance.

On this website, there is information about the release of endorphins which are known as the “feel-good” or “happy” chemicals. In addition, a molecule called anandamide is found in blood of some who have just come off a run. This molecule produces reduced anxiety, euphoria, and a feeling of calm. All for the price of a little effort -- no need to call your pharmacist or drug dealer…

Although playing music doesn’t work up a sweat like running does, I would guess that some of these chemicals are released when we are working hard on a passage, and finally get it under our fingers so that we can play it smoothly and up to speed. And when we can play a lightning speed, well, isn’t that like our fingers are running?

This can happen not only in personal rehearsal but also in rehearsing with others in a group, whether it be a formal setting like an orchestra, or string quartet, or a folk, jazz, or rock band. When everyone is gelling and the music is greater than the sum of its parts, who doesn’t experience that same kind of high!

And then extending further into performances when it’s not just the performers but now, also the audience experiencing and interacting with the music. Even though they might be sitting still, how is it that an exciting passage of music gets into their physiology and gets them to release those endorphins? It seems like magic to me.

And when an audience member comes up to the performer after a performance and is speechless, I know they’re feeling that same euphoric calm that I feel after performing. It plasters a grin on my face that is hard to remove. Smile and nod, smile and nod…

And this isn’t just for those exciting, technically difficult, and high energy performances, but also for those deep and tender performances that reach into a person’s psyche and reminds them of something or connects them with the world around them.

No, I’m not a scientist and I didn’t find any studies that say there’s any such thing as a “musician’s high.” But it is part of the experience practicing, performing, and listening to music that makes my life truly blessed.