Music & Medicine: The Importance Of Music For Our Health with Dr. Goyal

When most people think about singing, they think about talent or technique. But for Dr. Shreya Goyal, music is something deeper. It’s a mental reset. A pressure valve. A way to feel human in a field that often requires her to put emotions aside.

As a full-time physician, Shreya is no stranger to stress. Her days are full of high-stakes decisions, long shifts, and constant responsibility. That kind of environment demands control, logic, and structure—leaving very little room for vulnerability or creativity.

That’s where music comes in.

“In medicine, we just have to be so regimented and serious,” she said.

“Music has always given me a way to relax and express myself emotionally.”

This is something we hear more and more at VoxTape Studios—not just from singers, but from people in all kinds of demanding careers. Nurses. Teachers. Lawyers. Engineers. People who spend all day thinking, solving, doing. Singing becomes a way to feel again.

A Little Background on Shreya

Growing up in Texas, she always felt drawn to singing, but like a lot of artists, she never fully gave herself permission to take up space with it. Between the demands of med school, residency, and clinical life, her artistry was something she kept in the background. But once she was settled in her profession she decided to reconnect with her love for music and enroll in voice lessons with us at VoxTape Studios. This has given her the courage to start recording covers and post them online and even perform live at open mics around New York City.

“It feels really vulnerable,” she said. “But also kind of exciting.”

The Neuroscience of Singing

Music activates almost every part of the brain: auditory, emotional, motor, memory. It boosts oxytocin (the connection hormone), lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), and even improves neuroplasticity—helping the brain rewire in real time. Singing isn’t just a creative act. It’s a biological one. This is why exposing young children to music is so great for their brain development!

But it’s not just children than feel the effects of music. Shreya mentioned that even just 10–15 minutes at the piano and/or singing helps her feel more like herself. That kind of emotional reconnection doesn’t just improve your day—it can improve your long-term health.

And when music is something you create, not just consume? The benefits multiply.

Why Creative People Make Better Caregivers

Shreya doesn’t see music as separate from her identity as a physician. If anything, it supports it. Singing has helped her listen more deeply, connect more fully, and process the emotional weight that medicine often suppresses.

This isn’t about having a “creative outlet” just for fun. It’s about staying grounded, compassionate, and mentally well in a high-stress job. It’s about accessing the parts of your mind and body that your professional life doesn’t always engage.

And that’s something we believe deeply at VoxTape—your voice doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s part of how you process the world.

“Even during med school, I was always interested in how music affects the brain,” Shreya said. “There’s just something about it that brings you back to yourself.”

Bonus Coaching Moment: Finding Space in the Voice

Since Shreya is also a student here at VoxTape Studios, we wrapped up our conversation with a quick coaching moment. We noticed that her tongue was holding a little tension, which was affecting her mix and resonance. After just a few adjustments, her tone opened up and the effort dropped away.

Final Thoughts

Music isn’t separate from your life. It supports everything else you do. Whether you’re a doctor, artist, teacher, or somewhere in between—your voice deserves space.

Singing is one of the fastest ways to reconnect with your body, your mind, and your emotional core. You don’t need to be a pro to feel the benefits. You just need to start.

So if you’ve been feeling disconnected lately?

Play. Hum. Sing. Let your voice remind you who you are.

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