A student is walking down the street on his way to school listening to his iPod. He flips through the artist and song titles until he finds the perfect song. This is it. His mood is uplifted and he suddenly has a boost of energy. This is the effect of one simple great song.

Music has a great impact on every day lives. It affects our mood and can even lower stress. It all depends on the kind of music we listen to. Lets say you’ve had a hard day at work or school and you’ve got a lot of work to do. Listening to classical music may help you focus better than listening to some hip-hop. If we listen to a fast, upbeat song it will lift our moods and give us energy. If you listen to a sad, slow song it might be likely to cause depression.

Not only can music affect your mood some people think that the kind of music you listen to says a lot about your personality.

According to www.utexas.edu people who listen to jazz, classical, folk and blues tend to be inventive, tolerant, and politically liberal. People who listen to alternative, heavy metal, and rock music are said to be curious, risk takers, and intelligent. People who listen to country, religious and pop music are outgoing, cheerful, and see themselves as physically attractive. If you enjoy funk, hip-hop, soul and electronica you are most likely to be talkative, energetic, forgiving, and consider youself attractive.

Some studies have linked music habits to teen suicide. Rock star deaths such as Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide, are said to influence teens.

“It’s just a stereotype of people who don’t understand the music,” said Jabari Dorsey, a masters student at Kent State University, when asked about how he felt on the topic of heavy metal and teen suicide.

But is it just a stereotype or is there really a connection. People who listen to heavy metal tend to be risk takers so are these teen risking there lives to fit to the stereotype?

“No, if someone has problems they have problems. It doesn’t matter what music you listen to,” says Corey Zallow, a junior in high school who attends the JMC program at Kent State.

So whether you listen to music to focus or gain a boost of energy. It is very helpful and it can also inform you.