

Some light EDM may also work for some people, but not me.” “I prefer music that fades into the background, like lo-fi hip hop or white noise. Hava M., fifth-year student, University of Delaware Alec S., second-year graduate student, Colorado School of Mines “Soundtracks, classical music, New Age, or light electronic music tend to suit me well for studying.”
#DOES LISTENING TO MUSIC HELP STORYWRITING TV#
Then I usually go for something upbeat.” If you’re working on a creative task, try an ambient noise soundtrack (e.g., the Coffitivity app): A 2012 study found that the moderate background noise of a coffee shop or TV can enhance creativity ( Journal of Consumer Research). Other times, you need music that will keep you pumped and you from falling asleep. “It’s always good to listen to classical music when you’re trying to read textbooks or write important papers. “I listen to all sorts of music when I’m studying, but it really depends on what type of studying I’m doing to help decide on a genre,” says Jessica V., a fourth-year student at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in Colorado. In our survey, students recommended instrumental, classical, jazz, electronic, and film or video game soundtracks.

“The 1812 Overture would not be a good study aid, unless you were studying to be a demolitions expert,” Alan Chapman, a classical radio host and producer, told USC News. Others, who might find background music distracting, might use the music as a reward or a break from studying.”Įven if you do well with background music while studying, be wary of lyrics, drama, a too-upbeat tempo, and high volume. For most people, relaxing music in the background can help create an atmosphere that is supportive of studying. “For some of us, music playing in the background helps us focus on a task, while for others it could be distracting. So does music help or hinder learning? “It often depends on the individual and what works best for them,” says Stephen Williams, coordinator for the music therapy program at Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Another study suggested that fast, loud music reduced reading comprehension ( Psychology of Music, 2011). In 2017, researchers found that students who listened to music while reading a text on the concept of time zones scored poorly on a test compared to those who studied in silence ( Frontiers in Psychology). The pauses between musical movements may help our brains focus and organize new information, according to a study in Neuron.

In another study, students who attended a videotaped lecture with classical music playing in the background scored higher on a subsequent quiz than students who heard the lecture without music ( Learning and Individual Differences).

A 2020 study found that nursing students who listened to relaxing music while doing progressive muscle relaxation (a mindfulness technique) before a test performed better on their exams and had lower stress levels than students who did neither before the exam. Music can stimulate our thinking and sustain our attention for some study tasks, research suggests. Music can lower stress levels and improve test performance “Music helps me calm down before a big test, focus better studying, and cut out distractions,” says Kali G., an online student at the University of Wyoming. Studying for finals or completing your end-of-year projects? (Cue the opening of Spotify’s “Ultimate Study Music Playlist” on devices everywhere.) Many students attest to the power of music to elevate their academic performance, according to a recent survey by Student Health 101.
