In today’s digital age, almost everything is a click away. This includes music, which through the power of music apps and headphones has become a constant presence in our daily lives. This is especially true for students, who have even brought music into their study sessions. Luckily for students across the world, listening to music while studying has many benefits.
A study from the 1990s concluded that listening to classical music improved spatial reasoning skills and test scores. This result was named the Mozart Effect after the piece that was used in the study (Mozart’s sonata for two pianos). However, it was concluded that this effect is temporary and “is thought to improve your mood rather than increase intelligence” (Whitten and Brennan). Even then, a good mood can make any study session more productive.
Not only does music improve mood, but it can also decrease stress and motivate students. Studies have found that people who listen to music are often less stressed and experience less anxiety, which is important for students who may feel anxious about an upcoming test or project (“Studying with Music”). Students who want to relax should consider listening to slower, softer music. On the other hand, students who want to refresh their minds after a long study session and energize themselves should consider listening to louder, faster music. Other than waking up their tired brains, listening to louder, faster music can also motivate them to keep studying.
It is important to recognize that the type of music you are listening to while studying may cause its benefits to vary. For instance, certian types of classical or ambient music are popular choices because they are able to fade into the background. In contrast, music with complex lyrics or riffs can be distracting and detract from the gains made in a study session, as students may overly focus on the song compared to their study materials. For that reason, it is recommended to listen to instrumental music during study sessions to ensure maximum concentration (Schempp and Sanders).
Overall, while listening to music does have benefits, it is more important to consider yourself and your study habits. For instance, some people are able to study effectively and complete their homework with music. Some people can only listen to music while doing a more repetitive task. Finally, some people work best in silence. Streaming your favorite tunes to counteract the boredom from studying may be tempting, but make sure to evaluate your study habits before doing so to have the most productive study session possible!
Sources
Schempp, Theresa and Mike Sanders. “How Music Can Help You Study.” University of Maryland Global Campus, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study.
“Studying With Music: Benefits and Tips.” Grand Canyon University, 8 May 2023, https://www.gcu.edu/blog/gcu-experience/studying-music-benefits-and-tips.
Whitten, Cheryl and Dan Brennan. “Can Music Help You Study?” WebMD, 16 Sept. 2021, https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/benefits-music-studying.
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