As you sit down to study, the melodic sound blares through your headphones. Today, it is Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. Yesterday it was the new pop album by Chappell Roan. How do you decide what to listen to when you study? Are you looking for music you enjoy, or music that you believe will help you focus on the task at hand, and does it actually benefit you by improving your concentration?
If you Google “study music” you will likely find a plethora of playlists that claim to enhance your focus. Many playlists on YouTube that I came across were entirely instrumental, which I understand would be ideal for some people, as lyrics can be distracting.
However, according to Srini Pillay, a Harvard neuroscientist, classical music is not necessarily the best for studying. In fact, they claim there is no correct answer to what type of music is the best for your brain. It is entirely dependent on the individual, but it is worth noting that music that is familiar and enjoyable to you tends to be the most effective for optimal focus.
Michael Heter, who is currently preparing for vocational exams, tells me he needs total silence when studying. Music playing in the background, even softly, is a distraction to him.
On the other hand, Desiree Hedgepeth is a 27-year-old former college student who likes to listen to rock and heavy metal when she studies. Although rock and heavy metal are not the only music she listens to, she likes this while she studies because the emotion the artist expels helps to reduce her anxiety. She says Linkin Park and Slipknot are some of her favorite artists to have on her study playlist. Biondy Maurice, who is currently a student in a certification program, says that her study music depends on her mood. She can listen to any genre such as R&B, country, or Haitian music. Biondy prefers Haitian music as this is the best type of music to elevate her mood, which will in turn help her focus.
As a music lover and self-proclaimed “Karaoke Queen,” I prefer music that is familiar, but somewhat mellow. I have a study playlist that is quite diverse, although I will say I think Pop music is the most dominant on the playlist. I have created a playlist of songs that I love but won’t get me too excited. There is no overlap of songs on my study playlist that would be on my Sing Along or Get Psyched playlists. Some artists on my playlist include Taylor Swift, Whitney Houston, Eminem, and Bon Jovi.
Whichever type of music you prefer to listen to when you study, if any at all, you should be sure that it is having the effect you are looking for, whether that is improving your mood or your focus. The main factor in successful study music is finding tracks that you enjoy and are familiar with. Happy listening will help you study, so get your playlists together and hit the books!
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