what type of music is best for homework

The best music to listen to while you work or study

They say classical music makes the best study tunes, but are we really limited to Bach and Mozart?

You've probably heard that classical music is good for studying, taking tests and doing creative work. This idea stems from the " Mozart Effect ," a term coined in 1993 when scientists discovered that listening to Mozart's Sonata for 10 minutes resulted in better spatial reasoning skills -- a particular type of intelligence that involves visualizing and manipulating images in your brain. 

The findings in that 1993 study got blown out of proportion, however, and classical music became synonymous with intelligence: so synonymous, in fact, that in 1998, then-Governor of Georgia Zell Miller proposed sending a classical cassette tape to every baby born in the state, free of charge, so that the babies would become smart. 

Even though the Mozart Effect has been more or less debunked in the time since, some experts still argue that music can offer other benefits to our brains -- namely, concentration and productivity. 

Read more: How to create the best exercise playlist for better workouts

How can music help us focus?

Consider these few reasons why music might help you plow through your to-do list: 

Elicits positive emotions: People tend to be more productive and efficient when happy ( recent research confirms this ), and the right kind of music can put a little pep in your step. People who listen to music, in fact, may be happier overall than people who don't listen to music.

Makes you feel upbeat: Sometimes, work and life just feel drab. If you've been feeling bored, a happy tune can make lackluster tasks seem more appealing. 

Drowns out other noise: If you've ever worked in a coffee shop or an office with an open floor plan, you've probably been driven up the wall by the sounds of someone sniffling or shuffling their feet. Listening to music, particularly through a good pair of headphones , can drown out distracting noises.

Read more:   Best music streaming: Spotify, Apple Music and more, compared     

If you can't stand the sounds of your work environment, use music to drown them out. 

Can music really make you more productive?

Research on music for productivity is inconclusive, to say the least. Some studies show that background music can improve your episodic memory and overall cognitive performance , yet other research suggests that background music can actually be a detriment to your ability to focus and learn . Still others say that it has no effect one way or another .

There are factors that affect whether background music works, too: Some research suggests that background music needs to be free of lyrics in order to promote productivity ; other studies say simply that whether music aids in concentrating depends on how much a worker likes or dislikes the music . 

Note that the studies discussed in this section measure something different than the aforementioned Mozart Effect. While the Mozart Effect measures the ability of music to enhance intelligence after the music stops playing, research on music for productivity investigates background music, or music that plays while your attention is primarily on something else (your work).

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What kind of music helps us focus? 

With the fact that there's no real scientific consensus in mind, it's worth looking at the handful of research studies on different types of music and their ability to aid in concentration.

Classical music

Despite the muting of the Mozart Effect, some research still suggests that classical music can help people learn and focus (just not as impressively so as the 1990s would have you believe). For example, one study found that college students who listened to classical music during lecture learned more than those who listened to the same lecture without classical music. Some research suggests, however, that classical (or any type of complex) music is best when performing simple tasks , rather than complicated ones.

Ambient music

Ambient music is a style of gentle, tone-based music that utilizes ambient sounds like the hum of an air conditioner or the buzz of TV static. Ambient music often lacks a true beat, usually doesn't have lyrics, and ends up blending into the preexisting background noise -- this is why ambient sounds like white noise are often used at sleep aids . 

In terms of focus and productivity, one study found that white noise can help people with ADHD ignore noisy environments and perform tasks with more efficiency. There's still a lot of work to do, however, when it comes to understanding when ambient noise helps and when it doesn't , according to recent research from the University of Alberta.

Nature sounds

We already know that spending time in nature is good for our physical health. It turns out that listening to nature sounds, even when trapped in an office, can boost your mood and promote deep focus . Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York found that soothing nature sounds, such as rainfall, can mask intrusive sounds and help workers stay on task. 

This Nature Sounds playlist on Spotify has more than one million monthly listeners, a good indication that the playlist works for something, be it relaxation, sleep or focus. 

Test your music system with these great rock tracks

What type of music to avoid

Just as particular styles of music can help you focus and get things done, other styles can sabotage your efforts no matter how strong your work ethic. There's no research that explicitly compares the effects of different types of music on productivity, but most people can probably agree that it's best to avoid distracting styles, such as dubstep music and heavy metal, while working. 

Truly, though, it all comes down to personal preference. And it's not as if experimenting with background music can really hurt -- we're talking about music here, not whether a food additive is safe or not . The worst outcome is a slow day at work and perhaps a bit of scolding from your boss. 

You should know yourself well enough to understand what types of music and sounds help you focus, and which ones don't. If you find yourself struggling to focus with '80s classic rock in the background, maybe it's a good idea to turn off the Guns N' Roses and switch to something with less electric guitar.  

It's worth experimenting to find out what kind of music helps you focus. I personally can't listen to any music, regardless of style or tempo, that has lyrics. I've tried and tried and failed. I just get too caught up in the words and can't concentrate on the task at hand.

Instead, I've found that I focus much better when listening to soft electronic music or nature sounds (particularly rain and waterfalls). Some of my most productive days have been the result of simply switching on a floor fan to block out distracting noises. 

In the end, as with all things, do what works best for you.   

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Studying to Music Can Put Your Brain in the Right Frame of Mind

What do Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and YouTube all have in common? If you said they’re some of your favorite go-to sights to hear your favorite music, then you may want to tune in more often. Did you know that studying to the right kind of music can make you feel less stressed, more focused and dare we say it, smarter? It’s true.

Let’s face it, no one likes to study. But how cool is it that music can be just what you need to get through the books easier while making your studying more productive?  Pretty cool, right? Want to hear more? Sit back, grab your headphones and learn how studying to the right kind of music may be more than just music to your ears.

Benefits of studying to music

Do you listen to music while you study, or do you prefer total silence? The jury is out on which is better since everyone is different; however, several research studies are proving that listening to the right kind of music can put your mind into study mode.

Here are some of the benefits of tuning in to the right tunes:

• Relaxes the mind
• Increases concentration
• Lessens distractions
• Improves focus
• Improves performance in high-pressure situations, such as mid-terms and finals week

Best genres to study to

Music is universal, and everyone’s tastes are different. You might be experiencing that right now with a roommate or a group of friends. What soothes one person might drive the other one to pull their hair out. Sound familiar? Since we all have different personalities, music preferences and even study habits you’re probably wondering which type of music is best.  We’ve done the homework for you (you’re welcome) with some suggested genres and examples of each that may help put your brain in the right frame of mind. Take a listen.

Classical music—Mind-boosting effect helps with mathematics

Before you dismiss classical music as “not your thing,” it’s worth a try. You’ve most likely heard of Mozart, one of our world’s greatest classical composers, but have you heard of the Mozart Effect ? A group of studies found listening to Mozart can cause a temporary “enhancement of spatial temporal reasoning performance,” which means the ability to think through long-term, more abstract solutions to logical problems.  In fact, the Mozart Effect has little to do with listening to Mozart and more to do with listening to music that activates a certain part of the brain. Even Albert Einstein was a fan of Mozart!

When it’s crunch time and you’re burning the midnight oil, try listening to Baroque classical music. Composers such as Bach, Vivaldi and Handel are known for their up-beat music composed of 60 beats-per-minute. Studies revealed those who listened to music that played at 60 beats-per-minute showed a dramatic reduction in stress and an increased sense of relaxation It’s become a popular choice when you need to get work done.

Here are some benefits of listening to classical music:

• Improves test scores
• Reduces learning time
• Improves creativity and clarity
• Integrates both sides of the brain for more efficient learning
• Raises IQ scores

Sounds of nature—Keeps your brain engaged by increasing concentration

Have you ever tried studying in a noisy room? It can be annoying and frustrating to say the least. Calming music Nature sounds such as waterfalls, rain and the seashore, for example, can be extremely effective in masking white noise.

Here are some benefits or studying to the calming music of nature sounds:

• Masks voices and white noise which can be distracting
• Enhances cognitive functioning
• Optimizes concentration

Songs without lyrics—Great choice when reading and writing

The last thing you need is more words in your head when you’re reading your textbooks or writing a paper. Listening to songs without lyrics is a great way to stay focused without distraction.

Brian Eno’s Music for Airports —Chill-out electronic music for serious studying and deep concentration

You may want to crank this up for your next cramming session before your big exam. This album was specifically designed to relax stressed out travelers at airports. It’s also been shown as an effective tool when it’s time for serious studying and deep concentration.

Creating a playlist

It may sound obvious, but research revealed brain function decreases when you listen to music and sounds you don’t enjoy, making it difficult to focus and concentrate. So, be sure to choose music and sounds that make you happy.  Here are some tips for creating your playlist:

• Create your playlist in advance so you’re not fumbling to find a new song every few minutes.
• Keep your playlist to around 40-50 minutes—this is a great reminder to take a study break when it’s over. Plus, it helps you plan your study sessions to meet your concentration level.
• Avoid listening to the radio. Dialogue between radio personalities and commercials can be distracting.
• Turn it down. Listening to music at a moderate level is best.

With the new semester kicking off, now is the best time to start creating your playlist so it’s ready to go when you need it. Happy listening!

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What Is The Best Music For Studying?

Top 5 Types of Music For Studying – Your Ultimate School Study Playlist

By Nikita Baxani

Picture this: You have lots of homework to finish, tests to study for, and a deadline approaching that is stressing you out. You’ve now started to procrastinate- and on top of that, distractions are keeping you from getting into deep focus. How can you overcome this?

You can enhance your productivity by incorporating music into your study sessions alongside a study planner app , to create a focused and motivating atmosphere that minimizes procrastination. Music can serve as an interruption between distracting sounds in your environment and your task at hand allowing you to concentrate and be more productive. Music can also help calm you down, or, give you a boost of energy and motivation to get a time-consuming task done. Therefore, music should not be overlooked as a study tool if you’re looking to achieve academic success.  

The Psychology of Focus and Music – 

Let’s explore some physical concepts behind how music might have a positive impact on focus before we get into music genres . According to experts , listening to music stimulates the brain’s memory, attention, and emotional regulation centers as well as other areas. Music, when carefully and correctly chosen, can:  

• Reduce stress : Calming music and gentle melodies can help you stress less, which will help you focus better. Keep the calm by planning and using a school planner app to stay organized, allowing you to better manage your workload and create a sense of control.
• Increase memory : Specific musical genres have been shown to enhance memory recall, making it easier  to remember and retain knowledge while studying.  
• Boost enthusiasm : Positive, upbeat study music can help to increase motivation and strength, helping you to remain attentive and concentrate for longer periods.
• Create study patterns: When you consistently listen to a certain type of music during a study session, your brain forms a Pavlovian relationship , associating the music with a state of concentration and productivity. This conditioned response makes it easier for your brain to transition into a productive state of mind, using associative learning to send signals to your brain that it’s time to focus and work effectively as soon as that familiar study soundtrack starts playing.

Now that we understand some of the science behind why music can be a great study tool, let’s look at some specific music types as well as suggestions on how to use them to improve your concentration.  

What is the Best Music for Studying and When to Use Each Type?

1. Classical Music: It is well known that listening to classical music on YouTube by composers like Mozart , Beethoven , and Bach can improve attentiveness. They’re perfect for studying because they have calming melodies and are songs with no lyrics, making them a good tool for exam prep. 

2. Jazz music : In addition to classical music, instrumental music , ambient , and electronic music can also be powerful. Instrumental music by musicians like Miles Davis or Brian Enos music encourages focused attention.  

3. Nature sounds : The best music for studying and focus may actually not even be “music”. Rainfall, ocean waves sounds , or bird songs are examples of nature sounds that can offer a peaceful and distraction-free writing environment. These often have a very calming effect, helping you relax and get into deep focus more quickly.

4. Lo-Fi Hip-Hop : Lo-fi  is contemporary music that combines soft musical samples with calming beats . These tracks’ repetitiveness can assist you in finding a rhythm when working on your schoolwork. Lo-fi live streams on YouTube are super popular amongst students which can be a nice way to feel a sense of teamwork, even when you’re studying alone.

5. Baroque Music: It has been proven that listening to baroque music, particularly tracks with tempos between 60 and 70 BPM, can improve focus, making it a great choice of music for studying. The right tunes are ones like Handel’s Water Music .

Pro Tips When Using Music for Studying–  

• Volume control : To avoid the music working against you and becoming a distraction , try to keep the volume high enough to cut most background noise, but not too quiet that you’re struggling to hear it.
• Making music your timer: Using certain songs or YouTube music playlists as timers for stretches of focused work could be effective. When the music stops, use this as an opportunity to take a brain break and stay mentally refreshed, following the very popular Pomodoro study technique. To get the most out of your Pomodoro focus sessions, you can choose music with a moderate pace to increase concentration and experiment with different genres such as classical, ambient, and lo-fi beats to find the perfect balance that fits your workflow.
• Take breaks: Use short meditation breaks between sessions to refresh your brain, such as mindfulness and guided meditation apps like MyStudyZen to help speed up your mental reset. You can also try deep breathing and gentle stretching during breaks to reduce physical tension and improve mental clarity
• Give yourself energy boosts: Use high-energy music during breaks to fight fatigue and boost mood, such as upbeat pop, rock, or electronic music to energize your mind and body
• Stay consistent : Once you figure out a music type that works for you, try to stick to that music type for some time to train your brain to recognize that when a certain music type is playing, it’s time to focus . 
• Experiment: Don’t be scared to try out music genres and artistic approaches until you discover what works best for you.  

In conclusion, music can work as a powerful tool that can enhance your study capabilities . So, try to incorporate some melody into your study approach the next time you sit down to get some work done. Your brain and your grades will thank you!

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Best Music to Stay Focused While Studying

Dec 9, 2018 | Productivity

Conventional wisdom says that classical music improves learning. Researchers even coined the Mozart effect to describe the potential increase in spatial-temporal reasoning while listening to Mozart’s music.

However, there’s an entire category of music that gets overlooked in these discussions:

Binaural Beats

Binaural beats are designed to induce specific brainwave frequencies. To understand why they are useful, you must understand how brainwave frequencies impact cognition.

There are 5 brainwave states. The lower frequencies correspond to more relaxed mental activity, and vice versa for the faster frequencies. The progression looks like:

Binaural beats help you control these brainwave frequencies.

The music sends a slightly different sound frequency into each ear (e.g. 100 Hz into your left ear, 114 Hz into your right). Your brain processes the difference (14 Hz) and synchronizes your brainwave frequency accordingly (frequency following response).

The most common use for binaural beats is for meditation or sleep, targeting the Delta or Theta frequencies. But they can also be used for productive work.

While studying for exams, I like to target the high Alpha/low Beta frequencies – a combination of the flow state plus analytical thinking.

Using Binaural Beats While Studying

I’m an actuary, not a neuroscientist. I can’t speak to the robustness of the research or theoretical foundation behind binaural beats. But I can conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis.

Binaural beats have no incremental cost – you can find them on YouTube, Spotify, or any music-streaming service.

But they do have a positive expected benefit.

Best-case scenario: the binaural beats work as intended and increase focus.

Worst-case scenario: binaural beats do nothing, but you still get some benefit from the placebo effect.

This positive asymmetry makes it an easy decision. Try out binaural beats (14 hz ) during your next study session and see if you feel more focused.

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Pros and Cons: Listening to Music While Studying for Optimal Focus

Integrating music into your study routine may seem like a mere method of enjoyment, but it transcends this perception. It is, in fact, a powerful cognitive tool that has been proven to have remarkable effects on our learning capabilities. Research continues to shed light on the profound influence of music on studying, unveiling an array of benefits that contribute to more effective, focused, and enjoyable learning experiences.

Advantages of Studying With Music

1. an impressive aid in studying.

Venturing into the depths of how music helps us study, it’s essential to recall Dr. Gordon Shaw’s groundbreaking theory, ‘ The Mozart Effect ‘. This theory originated in the 1990s when Shaw extensively studied brain theory and spatial reasoning in problem-solving. His research with students led to the intriguing conclusion that frequent exposure to Mozart’s “ Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major ” boosted their IQ by nine points.

Not only does music provide a pleasant background for studying, but it also enhances endurance, keeping students engaged for extended periods. The persistence needed to master new material often clashes with the monotony of the task. Music comes into play here, transforming the tedious process into an engaging, even enjoyable experience.

2. A Powerful Catalyst for Focus

Music plays a crucial role in maintaining focus during study sessions in the era of endless distractions. It acts as a gentle, steady undercurrent, tuning out external disturbances. As you immerse yourself in your study material, music provides a consistent, comforting backdrop, allowing your mind to anchor itself firmly to the task.

Music mitigates the whirl of distracting thoughts and allows your brain to steer its attention to studying. It’s akin to a cognitive anchor, helping your brain bypass the temptations of wandering thoughts and bringing them back to the study material.

3. An Incredible Instrument for Concentration

Scientific studies, including brain imaging scans, have highlighted the effect of music on concentration. Listening to music activates the brain’s left and right hemispheres simultaneously, significantly bolstering learning abilities. By triggering different areas of your brain, music helps maintain its agility and health. Thus, nurturing your ability to concentrate by merely tuning into some serene sounds is within your grasp.

The influence of music on concentration is multifaceted. It helps reduce anxiety and facilitates healthy emotional processing, leaving your brain free to concentrate on the task at hand.

4. A Potent Enhancer of Academic Performance

Incorporating music into learning curriculums has repeatedly proven beneficial, significantly improving academic performance. For example, a primary school in Bradford achieved a remarkable rise in SATS results by merely integrating more music into the curriculum.

5. A Dynamic Motivator for Studying

One of the most profound challenges in studying is sustaining the motivation to persist through complex material. Music, with its varied tones, rhythms, and melodies, injects an element of enjoyment into the learning process, rekindling motivation and interest.

Creating a personalized learning playlist can serve as a backdrop to your study routine. Listening to your favorite tracks can inspire focus and stimulate your eagerness to learn, thus making studying an enjoyable endeavor rather than a dreaded task.

6. A Proven Memory Booster

Music is a well-recognized mnemonic device. It triggers the memory centers in the brain, making recall more manageable. To put it simply, music can play a vital role in helping you remember what you’ve studied. The melody and rhythm of music can link to specific information, making it easier to retrieve when needed.

Songs with catchy lyrics often get stuck in our heads. This phenomenon, often referred to as an “ earworm ,” can be put to productive use in learning. Pairing important information with melodies can help you remember details with greater accuracy.

7. A Mindful Way to Manage Stress

The soothing power of music is no secret. Numerous studies show that music can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by your study load, listening to relaxing music can help restore calm, allowing you to refocus and study more effectively.

Music has a unique link to our emotions; thus, it can serve as an extremely effective stress management tool. It can be a powerful medium to connect with our feelings, helping us process them more healthily and ultimately enhancing our ability to learn.

8. A Creative Pathway for Problem Solving

Disadvantages of Music During Study Sessions

While the benefits of integrating music into study sessions are indeed substantial, it’s crucial also to be aware of its potential drawbacks. Just as music can enhance cognitive function, it may hinder optimal learning under certain circumstances. Understanding these potential pitfalls is essential to leverage music’s benefits while minimizing its potential for distraction or inefficiency.

1. A Potential Distraction

While music can promote focus, it can also have the opposite effect, particularly when it contains lyrics. Lyrics can interfere with the processing of linguistic information, such as reading or writing. In essence, your brain may struggle to focus on the study material because it’s also attempting to process the words in the song. This is especially true if the music’s language aligns with your study material.

Moreover, complex musical compositions with intricate harmonies and melodies can similarly draw attention away from the task at hand. Rather than serving as a gentle backdrop, such music can command cognitive resources, leading to divided attention.

2. An Interrupter of Deep Learning

Research suggests that silence is sometimes more beneficial for complex tasks that require deep cognitive processing. Some learners may find music interrupting their thought process, making solving complex problems or grasping challenging concepts more difficult. Deep learning requires an undisturbed mental space, and music can fragment this continuity for some individuals.

3. A Misleading Sense of Mastery

Listening to music while studying can create a more enjoyable learning environment, which can sometimes lead to an inflated sense of understanding. Research indicates that students who study with music tend to believe they’ve learned the material better than they actually have. This can be problematic when it comes to recalling and applying information during an examination or in a practical setting.

4. An Unwanted Emotional Influence

While music can help manage stress and enhance mood, it can also evoke strong emotions that might distract from studying. For example, a song that reminds you of a particular event or person might trigger a flood of memories and emotions, leading your mind away from the study material.

5. A Potential Cause of Overstimulation

Listening to music while studying can lead to sensory overload, particularly for individuals with certain learning styles or neurological conditions. For instance, individuals with ADHD may find music overly stimulating and distracting. Similarly, individuals with auditory processing issues or those who are particularly sensitive to sound might find that music more hindrance than a help.

While music can indeed be a powerful tool to enhance studying, it is not universally beneficial. Understanding one’s learning style and preferences is vital to ensure the best use of music during study sessions. Just as the right kind of music under the right conditions can boost learning, the wrong type, or using it inappropriately, can have the opposite effect. Thus, balance and self-awareness are key when leveraging music in the pursuit of knowledge.

Does listening to music improve GPA?

No direct scientific evidence suggests that listening to music while studying will necessarily improve your GPA. The relationship between music and studying is complex and depends on various factors, such as the type of music, the task at hand, and individual learning styles. For instance, some students may find that certain types of instrumental or classical music improve their concentration and subsequently enhance their study effectiveness. However, the potential impact on GPA would also depend on many other factors related to study habits, comprehension, test-taking skills, and so forth.

Is it better to listen to music while working or to work in silence?

The choice between working with music or in silence is largely personal and can depend on the task at hand. Silence may be the best option if the work involves complex cognitive processing or linguistic comprehension, as it allows for deeper concentration. On the other hand, for more mundane or repetitive tasks, music can make the process more enjoyable and may help maintain focus. Importantly, music without lyrics or with a consistent rhythm tends to be less distracting. The key is understanding your work style and the nature of the task.

Why does music help me focus with ADHD?

Research has suggested that individuals with ADHD can benefit from listening to music during tasks that require concentration. Music, particularly with a steady rhythm, can stimulate the brain’s production of certain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine, which play crucial roles in attention and focus. Moreover, listening to music can make the task more enjoyable, which may improve motivation and persistence in individuals with ADHD. However, this isn’t universally true for everyone with ADHD. The type of music, the task, and personal preferences all play a role. Trying different approaches and seeing what works best for you is important.

Final Thoughts

The role of music in study and work environments is complex and multifaceted. The effects it has on productivity, focus, and creativity are contingent on a multitude of factors, including the nature of the task, the type of music, and the individual’s personal preferences and learning style. While research provides some guidance, the final decision on whether to incorporate music into study or work routines rests upon trial and error, as individuals gauge what methods best optimize their performance and well-being.

Furthermore, it’s essential to consider the limitations and potential drawbacks of this practice. Music can enhance mood and focus and can also be a source of distraction, particularly when engaging in complex cognitive tasks or when the music includes discernable lyrics. Hence, finding the right balance is crucial. Music is a tool that, when used strategically, can potentially improve both productivity and enjoyment in work or study environments. It underscores the importance of personalizing our learning or working styles, aligning our habits to our unique preferences, and continuously experimenting with ways to optimize our performance.

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Enhance your focus: 8 best music to study and concentrate

Picture this: you’re at a library, preparing to complete your assignment or revise for an upcoming exam. 

But your friends are busy chatting, loud chattering noises flood the space, and ambient noises distract you. 

Usually, you would struggle in this kind of environment — but that doesn’t have to be the case when you have a playlist of the best, science-backed music to study and concentrate. 

Certain types of music, particularly those with a slow tempo, can relax even the most tense of  minds. Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America/Getty Images/AFP

Why are certain genres of music more effective in helping you study than others?

It’s  been proven  that listening to certain types of music in specific situations can boost productivity and mood, from enhancing the quality of your workout to reducing stress and anxiety. 

As a student, you would have crafted or listened to a study focus music playlist at least once in your life. 

You may have noticed that listening to certain genres improved your concentration, especially if you’ve been studying in louder environments such as cafes. 

Or perhaps you enjoy going to the library, slipping your headphones on, and listening to songs while you work. 

If this sounds like you, you’re one of the thousands of students who do the same thing. 

A survey showed that around  60% of students  tend to listen to music while studying. Researchers also found that listening to music was the  most popular side activity  for teens who juggled studying with another task.

Not all music does the job, though. A  University of Toronto study found that loud music negatively affects reading comprehension, agitating rather than focusing the listener. 

Similarly, the  University of Wales  found that sometimes, music — especially music with lyrics — can worsen a student’s working memory and reading comprehension. 

What are the best music to study and concentrate?

1. classical music.

Classical music is one of the best music to help you study and concentrate. 

There’s a theory dubbed  “The Mozart Effect”  that suggests this genre of music can enhance brain activity and arouse your brain to focus.

There are also several studies done where students listening to classical music did better on quizzes than students with no music.

Suggestions:

• ClassicFM  (a free radio streaming platform that plays famous classical pieces)
• “ Study Playlist: Classical Music ”  on Spotify
• “ Classical Music for When You’re on a Deadline ”  on YouTube

2. Lo fi music

We’ll be lying if we say we’ve never Googled “lo fi chill for studying” several times in a week. 

“Lo-fi” stands for “low-fidelity,” a type of sound recording that uses distortion, hum, background noise, or limited frequency response — making it distinct from live recordings.

Whatever it’s made of, playing lo-fi chill for studying makes us relax, focus, and ultimately,  study better . Research says this is because these “flaws” trigger our cerebrum — the uppermost part of the brain — to help us focus.

Speaking to Hyde.edu, student Haley Bounds says lo-fi music can  keep her focused  while she completes her assignments. “Sometimes,” she says, “I actually lose track of time doing homework or reading my books.”

• “ 3 Hours of Music for Studying for Concentration and Focus ” on Spotify
• “ Lofi Hip Hop Radio 📚 — Beats To Relax/Study To ” on YouTube
• LofiCafe (a website to stream lo-fi music to study and concentrate)

Video game franchises like the “Legend of Zelda” have some of the best music to study and concentrate. Source: Richard A. Brooks/AFP

3. Video game music

This might surprise you, but video game music is actually one of the best music for homework. 

According to  Orion Academy , video game music is designed to  keep you absorbed and focused  — which is also great for memorising. 

When your brain is focused on just melody, it’s taking a break from trying to break down the lyrics of a song and thus increases your performance.

Video game music tends to stay at a relatively low, constant volume too. This prevents you from becoming distracted by sudden increases in volume.

Since video game music is generally fast-paced, your brain will be constantly engaged in the task at hand.

• “ Video Game Soundtracks ”  on Spotify
• “ Video Game Study Lounge ” on YouTube
• Choose favourites from this  list  and create your own playlist

4. Nature sounds

Nature sounds relax our nervous system. Researchers at  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  have discovered that natural sounds boost moods and focus.

The study found employees were more productive and had more positive feelings when nature sounds were playing in the background while they worked.

Nature sounds include the soothing sounds of the rain, ocean waves on the beach or even the jungle. Some prefer listening to bird calls and animal noises.

From the peak of Everest to the deepet ocean beds, there are millions of nature sounds to experiment with and find the best music for homework that works for you.

• “ Relaxing Nature Sounds for Sleeping – Natural Calm Forest Waterfall Music Meditation Sound for Study “  on YouTube
• “ Nature Sounds For Concentration ”  on Spotify
• “ Rain Sounds + Stream for Sleep, Focus, Studying | 4K Nature Video White Noise 10 Hours ” on YouTube

Binaural beats play two slightly different tones in each ear, creating a unique sound in your brain. Source: Miguel Medina/AFP

5. Binaural beats

Binaural beats are like a secret weapon for studying and concentrating. They work by playing two slightly different tones in each ear, creating a unique sound in your brain. This sound has a powerful effect on your mind and can help you focus and retain information better.

When you listen to binaural beats, they stimulate your brainwaves and bring them into a state of calm focus. They can shift your brain from a busy, distracted mode to a more relaxed and attentive state. Picture giving your brain a gentle massage — helping it to tune in and concentrate on the task at hand.

These beats also help synchronise your brain’s left and right hemispheres. The result? You’ll find it easier to process and remember information.  

• “ Focus Music, Binaural Beats Concentration Music for Studying, Super Intelligence ” on YouTube
• “ Pure 40 HZ Binaural Beats: The Frequency for FOCUS, MEMORY, and CONCENTRATION ” on YouTube
• “ Super Focus: Flow State Music – Alpha Binaural Beats, Study Music for Focus and Concentration ” on YouTube 

6. Isochronic tones

Isochronic tones are like a superhero soundtrack for studying and concentrating. They are powerful audio pulses that have a remarkable impact on our brainwaves. When you listen to isochronic tones, your brain responds by syncing up with these rhythmic pulses, creating a state of focused attention.

Unlike binaural beats, isochronic tones don’t require headphones. You can easily hear them through speakers — making them a convenient tool for enhancing concentration and study sessions.

The rhythmic pulses of isochronic tones help to stimulate the brain and bring it into a state of deep focus. They promote alpha and beta brainwave patterns, which help to boost alertness, concentration, and information retention.

Suggestions: 

• “ Harmony Streaming ” on Spotify 
• “ Upbeat Study Music for Concentration – Peak Focus Isochronic Tones ” on Youtube
• “ Increase Concentration with Study Focus Isochronic Tones – Electronic ” on YouTube 

Music is the food of the soul — in the case of rhythm and blues, it may even be the best music to study and concentrate.  Source: Pius Utomoi Ekpei/AFP

Are you someone who easily gets distracted? Then RNB may not be the best music to study and concentrate. 

There’s a high chance you might spend too much time jamming to the lyrics of the song instead of focusing.

While music in this genre generally has lyrics, many RnB fans reported feeling more relaxed, focused, and less stressed, which may have a positive impact on their ability to focus and learn.

Suggestions”

• “ Study R&B Smooth Songs ” on Spotify”
• “ Chill R&B Beats Mix – Beats to Relax and Study (Vol.) ” on YouTube

Zero in on the chants of monks, one of the most effective music to study and concentrate. Source: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

8. Meditation music

Gentle rhythms and soft tones promote a meditative state of mind. It helps to clear mental clutter and boost your concentration. 

What’s more, meditation music often incorporates nature sounds, such as flowing water or bird songs. These natural sounds have a soothing effect on your mind, promoting a sense of harmony and tranquillity.

We recommend daily meditation (HeadSpace and Calm are our favourite apps) for overall better performance in school or at uni. 

• “ Deep Meditation Music To Achieve Calmness and Bring Positive Energy ” on Spotify
• “ The Sound of Inner Peace 14 | 528 Hz | Relaxing Music for Meditation, Zen, Yoga & Stress Relief ” on YouTube
• “ Beautiful Relaxing Music for Sleep – Rain Sounds & Insomnia, Relaxing Music, Peaceful Piano Music ” on YouTube

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The Ultimate Study Music Playlist

This is a playlist of my favorite study music. It’s great for homework, studying for exams, reading, and generally getting crap crossed off my many checklists.

I’ve been working on this playlist for several years, and it contains music (all non-lyrical) from a wide variety of genres and sources, including video game/anime/movie soundtracks. At the moment, it’s got about 240 songs for you to choose from.

Listening on another app? I’ve worked to mirror this study playlist to other services. Check them out below:

• Spotify Study Music Playlist
• Apple Music Study Playlist

If you’d like, you can study with me in another tab while this plays. You can also listen to the playlist on YouTube instead of on this page.

By the way – I create my own study music as well! If you’d like to give it a listen, here’s a playlist:

You can also follow me on Spotify or on YouTube if you want to be notified when new tracks are released.

Need even more study music?

Here are a few options.

Brain.fm – Music designed specifically to help you focus more effectively. It works really well for me, and I use it for around 50% of my research, writing, and reading sessions – the other half are mostly done with the playlist above.

Piano Study Playlist – If you’re in the mood for a more consistent playlist, check out this one full of solo piano tracks.

Coffitivity – Sometimes I’m in the mood for ambient noise instead of music, and the sounds of a bustling coffee shop are my personal favorite type.

Noisli – An ambient noise generator that lets you create your own mix using sounds like rain, thunder, fan, and white/brown/pink noise.

More Playlists

Work Vibes – My personal playlist of “getting-stuff-done” music. Most of the tracks here have vocals, so I wouldn’t read or study intently with them. But they’re great for crushing emails, working on design projects, or doing other work where I simply need to execute quickly.

Tom’s Workout Playlist – A collection of the tracks that usually accompany me to the gym.

The Music Guide: What You Should Listen To While Studying

Listening to music whilst studying isn’t for everyone, whilst some may find it easier to concentrate on their work, it can be the opposite for other people.

If you like listening to tunes during a study session or if you’re curious as to what the best genres are to help you focus, take a read of our guide of the music you should listen to whilst studying.

We’ll also be discussing what the benefits of listening to music whilst studying are, so you can discover if it’s really a good thing to have your headphones on blast in the library. Carry on reading to find out!

Benefits Of Listening To Music Whilst Studying

Research has shown that there are many positives on your body and brain that come from listening to music whilst studying. But what are they? We’ve listed a few of the benefits below.

• Relaxes the mind
• Increase concentration levels
• Improve focus
• Can lessen distractions
• Boost your memory
• Music can motivate you to study
• Reduce anxiety and stress levels
• Can boost mood

Although, music doesn’t affect everyone the same way and for some people, they will find that a study session is negatively impacted by listening to music.

Instead, they would prefer to sit in silence when getting uni work done, it just depends on person to person.

To truly maximise the benefits of listening to music when studying, carry on reading to find out what the best genres are, so you can make the most of your study playlist!

You may just find that a certain music type is great for you to listen to when getting your uni tasks done, whilst another music type is distracting.

Music Genres To Listen To When Studying

In truth, whether listening to music when studying is good for you depends on several factors such as personal preferences, the content you’re learning, the music volume and how you learn.

If you want to see if you study effectively when listening to music, then you need to choose the right genre for you first and foremost.

It really does just come down to your own enjoyment so it may be best to experiment and try out a variety of different genres to see which one is the right choice for you.

After all, everyone’s music tastes are different so what may work for one student may not work for the other.

Such as, one person may prefer music genre’s such as R&B and find listening to it when doing uni work helpful, whilst another person may prefer to listen to Rock music – it really is subjective!

On that note, there are certain music genres to listen to improve your study habits according to research.

Check out the 6 best music types to listen to below, almost all of them are music genres without lyrics because instrumental music is said to be less distracting.

Classical Music

Classical music isn’t for everyone due to it being historic, but a variety of studies have proven that listening to it can be relaxing and calming to get you in study mode.

Such famous studies include the Mozart effect, which states that listening to classical music can improve your mood and productivity.

There are many Classical music playlists so go and check them out and see if there’s any benefits that you experience from listening to this music type – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

Electronic Music

Next up on our guide of what to listen to while studying is electronic music. This genre can be beneficial to have on whilst cracking on with your uni assignments due to the unique sounds and rhythms.

Research suggests this genre can help reduce study-stress and allow your mind to take in more information and stay focused.

Try it out and see if the songs make you feel relaxed and ready to study!

Instrumental Jazz

If you’re not usually a fan of jazz music you should try listening to instrumental jazz instead, as many people state that it can improve their concentration, lessen their stress levels and brighten their mood when they’re getting work done.

One thing a lot of people don’t realise is that listening to music they don’t normally listen to can be beneficial when studying, as you don’t get too engaged and distracted with the tunes that are playing!

You may have heard of the phrase “Lo-fi beats to study and relax to” being thrown about over social media, well this is exactly that!

It’s one of the best background noises to listen to whilst focusing on work as it includes synths, white noise, and soft beats.

There hasn’t been much research on the effectiveness of this genre on studying as it’s a relatively new type of music, however, many uni students do find that having this music on keeps them motivated on the task at hand.

Nature Sounds

One of the worst things to do is to study in a noisy room, which is why library’s take a quite passive aggressive approach to silence.

However, if you’re studying within your student flat or house and it’s quite noisy (it’s to be expected) then having some white noise in the background can be effective in masking any distractions.

Many people find that listening to nature sounds when trying to sleep can be relaxing and help them drift off such as rain sounds, but this music genre can also be effective whilst studying. It’s known for increasing concentration levels and promote high focus levels.

Not to mention, some state that it can boost their creativity too.

If you find that going on a walk outside and taking in nature can clear your head, why not try listening to this music type when you’ve got a big workload?

Indie Music

If you’ve tried all these other genres and are still stuck what to listen to while studying, then indie music is a type that may be effective for you.

Indie music can be a good background noise to calm you down when studying and can improve your memory as a result, especially if you have high anxiety levels.

You may find that it’s so much easier to remember song lyrics than to recall any of your textbook information, this is because they involve repetition and rhyming, and your brain searches for patterns to try to form a better understanding.

So, listen to a catchy song that helps you relax, and you may find your study game is better than ever!

Make Your Own Playlist

So, now you know the best music genres to listen to when studying why not curate your own study playlist for your next work session?

This way you can plan what music you’re going to listen to in advance, and you don’t have to spend time shuffling your tunes when you’re in the middle of studying – talk about distractions!

If you don’t have time to make your own playlist, then there are many on Spotify and YouTube for you to listen to whilst hitting the books. Just ensure that you’re listening to music at a moderate level.

Happy listening everyone! We hope this post has been useful and that you’ve found a genre of music to boost your overall productivity level when it comes to getting your university work completed.

However, you should also remember that effective studying is more than just the music that you listen to. Such as, you need to ensure you’re not cramming in tons of work at one time, and that you’re eating and drink enough to fuel your concentration and energy levels.

Here at Essential Student Living, we provide students with modern accommodation in cities across the UK. Find your new home today!

Check out our blog next on Money Comes Back, Memories Don’t: Why You Should Travel After Uni.

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Best Study Playlists - Study Music, Focus Music

Everybody has their own routine for how to study for exams, do homework, read or focus on a particular task. Listening to a study playlist is a great way to center your attention and lift your mood. Listening to music can also reduce stress, which is a plus when it comes to balancing a busy schedule of work, school and family!

Music Therapy has proven that you can process a wide range of emotions from excitement to thoughtfulness depending on what type of music you listen to. When we’re studying, we’re probably aiming for thoughtfulness. Research has also shown music has the potential to boost memory, which can be a huge plus.  However, complex and distracting music might not be the way to go when choosing the right studying playlist for you.

We have found that the best genres of music to listen to while studying, reading or writing include minimalist, classical, piano and low-fi music. We’ve compiled some of the best lyric-free playlists that will act as brain food while keeping your attention on your studies so you can ace that test and earn that A.

Best Study Playlists on Spotify

1. This more than 24-hour playlist is full of piano and classical songs to help you focus.

2. Lofi Girl curates some of the most relaxing and engaging playlists. Her use of lo-fi tracks mixed with ambient pieces will keep you relaxed but never bored.

3. This playlist is all instrumental all the time!

Best YouTube Study Playlists

1. This is a deep-focus playlist so you know you’ll finish what you need to get done!

2. This Bossa Nova & Jazz playlist is a MOOD. It will transport you to a lovely cafe, on a rainy day. 

3. This extra ambient playlist describes itself as “brain power, focus concentration music.” You’ll feel like you’re in a sound bath.

Music is just one way to improve your mental health. See more tips on how to improve your mental health as an online student. 

10 MENTAL HEALTH TIPS FOR ONLINE STUDENTS

*Arizona Online does not endorse playlist creators. Music is not guaranteed to boost academic performance. 

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What’s the best music for studying?

February 21, 2024

Can the right music help you study? Let's put it to the test. Here are three Spotify playlists designed to get you into the productive zone. 

You’ve got your books out. Your noise cancelling headphones at the ready. Now it’s time to turn up the music and dive into an intense, hours-long study session.

But what’s the best music for studying? And will the right study songs actually make you more productive? Here’s what the experts reckon.

Does music help you study?

Everyone has a different opinion on this question—and ultimately it does come down to personal preference.

But plenty of experts agree that music can help you study. Some think it’s because music has a direct impact on your cognitive function, boosting your memory, concentration and problem-solving abilities, while others just think that music makes you happier, and therefore more willing to push through boring tasks.

Whatever the reason, it’s thought that the genre you choose can make a difference.

What genre of music is best for studying?

When you need to focus: instrumental.

Listen to our playlist: Intense Study Focus

Nothing disrupts your flow more than a sudden, irresistible urge to sing along to a favourite song. If you need to get some serious work done, it’s best to listen to instrumental tracks that don’t have any lyrics

In the early 90s, scientists even theorised that listening to classical music—or Mozart in particular—could boost your brainpower. They called this the Mozart effect.

While the idea has become a bit of a pop culture myth since then, a more recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine found that classical music does  encourage your brain  to pay attention. This is because it doesn’t follow a predictable pattern like pop music does, so it keeps you alert enough to absorb tricky topics when studying.

If you want to try it out but 18th century composers just aren’t your jam, a lot of people swear by TV, movie and game soundtracks. This intense background music is upbeat enough to stimulate your brain, but as a bonus you associate the songs with how you feel when watching your favourite movies, so it puts you in a better mood. It’s ideal music for writing essays.

Check out our playlist above for some of the best TV and movie soundtracks to study to.

When you need a break: pop or dance 

Listen to our playlist: Time for a Dance Break

Most of us can concentrate for about 90 minutes before we need a study break. And it’s important to take those breaks, because they make us feel refreshed, relaxed and energised when we get back to work.

What we’re saying is, this is a perfect excuse to step away from your laptop, blast some high-energy pop music—and maybe even bust a few moves in your bedroom. Not only is it fun, but a McGill University study found that listening to your favourite songs gives your brain a hit of dopamine, improving your mood dramatically.

Plus, it’s a good idea to get your body moving after sitting still for a long time to avoid muscle strain. If you’re not much of a dancer, try going for a walk or a run while listening to a dance playlist. Spending just 20 minutes outside, surrounded by green spaces, has been proven to reduce your stress

Try our playlist above for a mood boost during your next study break.

When you need to read: acoustic

Listen to our playlist: Weekend Study Session

If lyrics don’t bother you and you want calm music for studying, then you might like to go with a quiet acoustic playlist.

There’s a reason this genre is a café staple: the gentle guitar sounds blend perfectly into the background, making it great music to listen to while reading.

Another study by Stanford University found that slow tempo music with a simple melody has a relaxing effect on your mind, which is why it’s our favourite genre for a long weekend study session. Check out our playlist to see if this music makes you feel more productive.

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Trade Schools Home > Articles > Best Music for Studying

The Best Music for Studying: 5 Genres Worth Trying

By Publisher | Last Updated March 16, 2020

What is the best music for studying? Most students would probably love a definitive answer to that question. Maybe you're one of them. But can there really be just one right answer? And what about the whole premise? Is listening to music while studying actually effective? Does music help you study, or does it hinder you?

Here's the truth: It all depends on factors like your personality, your music preferences, how you learn, what you're studying, whether you're reading or writing, and how loud you play your music. That may not be the most satisfying answer, but it highlights the fact we're all different and complex creatures. When it comes to studying, music can be beneficial, detrimental, or completely neutral. What works for one student may not work for another.

Plus, many experts who have researched this subject recommend silence as the best auditory environment for concentration. Music has been shown, in many studies, to have a negative effect on people's abilities to absorb, process, and retain information. When in doubt, they suggest turning off the tunes altogether—especially if you are reading or studying a foreign language.

Still, we all know that life isn't always so simple. Silence can backfire. Many of us need a little extra motivation or outside stimulation in order to focus. Music can lift our moods and remove some of the boredom of studying subjects that we may not be particularly interested in. Without music, we may not be able to get through an entire study session. That's why using music for studying is often a better choice than trying to make a go of it in uncomfortable silence. At least you're studying.

That may be why, in a survey at one American college, more than 60 percent of students said that they find it beneficial to use music for concentration and studying. But how do you choose which kind of music to study to? Science offers a few clues about selecting the right music. Based on diverse research and the experiences of various college students, the best music genres to try may include:

• Classical music
• Ambient and electronic music
• World music
• Instrumental and atmospheric rock
• Instrumental jazz

Some students also try using audio products that promise brainwave entrainment through binaural beats . However, there is real debate about whether or not such products actually work. Using binaural beats for concentration sounds like a cool thing to do, but you may want to read more about it before spending any money on those types of products.

What Science Tells Us About the Best Music to Listen to While Studying

In fact, the existing research is a mixed bag. Various studies contradict each other, and they often have major limitations. For instance, many widely touted studies on the subject have been conducted with very small sample sizes—some with only eight to 20 participants. That makes it hard to generate reliable or practical conclusions about the effects of listening to music while studying when talking about the wider population. Plus, any given study only considers a few of the many possible variables at play.

So it's a good idea to take existing research findings with a grain of salt. However, they do offer some clues that are worth thinking about. For example, consider these findings:

• Your music preferences matter: The effects of background music on concentration are related more to a listener's fondness for that music than to the specific type of music. So, when it comes to concentration, music for work or study is most likely to have a distracting influence if the listener strongly likes or dislikes the music being played. In addition, the connections within people's brains that are responsible for internally focused thoughts and memory tend to be most active when they are listening to their favorite music , regardless of genre.
• Volume is more important than music genre: A moderate level of ambient noise can enhance a person's performance on creative tasks. But creativity and information is harmed when the volume gets too high . People also tend to have significantly higher mental performance under silent conditions than when listening to music. And volume has more of an impact on performance than any particular kind of music.
• The best music selection may depend on what you're doing: The best music for concentration may depend on your specific studying activities. For instance, you may perform better at reading while listening to music that you prefer. In contrast, you may do better at solving math problems while listening to music that you don't prefer.
• Your personality type may play an important role: Introverts may do less well than extroverts on tests of memory and reading comprehension when being exposed to pop music.
• Your age may have an impact: Contrary to the results of many older studies, the learning and memory of today's high school students may not be affected much, if at all, by background music. That may be due to the frequent and widespread use of modern personal music devices , which most young people have grown up with.

So, can music help you focus? Maybe. It really just comes down to experimenting with different music genres and volumes in order to find out what works best for you during different study tasks. But here's a basic process to try:

• Before studying, spend at least five minutes listening to music that you find relaxing or motivational. That way, you can elevate your mood and prime your brain for the task ahead.
• While studying, listen to a playlist of music that doesn't have any recognizable lyrics or vocals. (Avoid radio for that reason.) Play something instrumental at a low or moderate volume. But stop the music temporarily when you face a challenge that requires extra focus.
• After completing your task, review what you've been studying. And play some of your favorite music that has a strong and enjoyable melody, with or without vocals.

Five of the best music genres to experiment with include :

1. Classical Music

Playing classical music for studying is especially worth trying if you don't feel a strong like or dislike for it. That ambivalence may actually be what makes it effective for you since there is less chance that you'll be distracted by it. You may simply receive the benefit of its harmonious and peaceful qualities.

You are probably already familiar with at least some of the music by famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven. You may even be familiar with some of the work by composers of baroque music who preceded them, such as Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel. And most people today have heard the work of modern composers who use elements of classical music in their scores for major Hollywood movies.

So, what is the best classical music for studying? The popular answer might be Mozart since the so-called "Mozart effect" has been so widely publicized. The problem with this answer is that, since the original study that discovered it, many other studies have shown that there is no merit to the idea that Mozart is the only music that can enhance mental performance. It all depends on what you like.

That's why, within this category or any other, the best study music may be anything that gives you a calm sense of energy without drawing too much attention to itself. It could be as simple as music featuring a lone piano or acoustic guitar. Or it could be as complex as a full orchestra with horns, woodwinds, stringed instruments, and drums. Different styles make different people respond in different ways.

When it comes to finding and experimenting with various forms of classical concentration music, YouTube is often a good place to start. For example, pay attention to how the following classical music compositions make you feel:

2. Ambient and Electronic Music

This broad category of music is popular on many college and university campuses. From slow ambient music with long drones to fast electronic dance music (EDM) with quick beats, many songs in this varied genre can be used as good music for studying. That's because, like classical music, it often provides a relaxing influence that can make your mind more receptive to new information.

Since you may be operating on a small budget in college, music of this type is frequently worth getting from websites with free online streams. For example, Soma.fm offers popular online radio streams like Drone Zone, Groove Salad, and Secret Agent. And Digitally Imported offers online radio channels in almost every electronic genre, including cool channels for relaxing study music like Space Dreams. And if you're a Spotify user, you have access to a huge variety of songs and playlists.

Of course, on YouTube, concentration music within the ambient and electronic genres is ever-present. Do the following songs make you feel relaxed and ready to study?

3. World Music

Finding music to listen to while studying is often easier when you become open to possibilities outside of music from North America and Western Europe. The styles from around the rest of the globe are extremely diverse and may offer exotic sounds and rhythms that you have never heard before. And a lot of it is suitable to use while concentrating. (Music for studying doesn't always have to consist of sounds that you already know well, especially if you need to write or channel your creativity or imagination somehow.)

Check out various kinds of ethnic, folk, and indigenous music from around the world. From India to Australia to the Caribbean, the diversity of styles is extraordinary. And, like other genres, you can find many examples from all over the globe on YouTube. Music for concentration is created in almost every culture. Plus, some world music is even effective when it includes vocals (as long as you don't understand the language being sung).

How do you think studying with music like the following examples would work for you?

4. Instrumental and Atmospheric Rock

Some college students find that the best music to study by is so-called post-rock music. It's a diverse genre that includes many bands that focus mostly on playing instrumental music without any vocals. However, some bands do include limited vocals with hard-to-discern lyrics. As a result, their songs often provide ideal background music for studying since they don't draw a lot of attention to themselves.

Explore the work of bands such as Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Sigur Rós, and Godspeed You Black Emperor. Rather than traditional song structures, they often employ ethereal or atmospheric soundscapes. And many songs have a minimalistic narrative structure in which they slowly build to a satisfying crescendo.

As with other types of studying music, YouTube is a great place to discover post-rock songs and bands that you may want to add to your playlists. For instance, give the following songs a try next time you have to study.

5. Instrumental Jazz

Even if you think that you're not a fan of jazz, it's often worth giving some of the mellower styles of this genre a chance. You may be surprised at how inspired and relaxed it can make you feel. In fact, using instrumental jazz music to help you study may be ideal if you aren't normally a big fan of the style. As long as you don't totally dislike it, the genre can provide a neutral yet pleasant backdrop that doesn't distract you or make you want to stop and immerse yourself in the music instead of studying.

Much-loved jazz artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans all produced many mellow songs that are perfect for using as background music during study sessions. For example, try listening to the following selections while concentrating on your studies.

What Is Brainwave Entrainment? (Do Binaural Beats Work?)

A binaural beat is basically just an auditory illusion that is created when two tones—each one with a different frequency—are played into the separate ears of a listener at the same time. In addition to the tone on the left and the tone on the right, the listener (who is wearing headphones) perceives a pulse in between them. That pulse has its own tone and frequency and is known as the binaural beat. A similar effect happens when two different frequencies are passed through a single speaker and a person listens without headphones. In that case, the pulses that are perceived are called monaural beats.

Many companies sell audio products with binaural beats that can supposedly change the frequency of your brainwaves in order to help you relax or focus. Some of them even overlay study music. Alpha waves or beta waves are often what their binaural beats are trying to induce in listeners' brains. That's because those waves tend to be present during states of relaxation or concentration. Most brainwaves fall into the following categories:

• Delta waves: These brainwaves are usually present during dreamless sleep. They are represented by frequencies from about 0.1 to 4 Hz (i.e., cycles per second).
• Theta waves: When a person is drowsy, sleepy, or in deep meditation, these waves are typically present. Their frequency range is generally between 4 and 8 Hz.
• Alpha waves: Study after study has shown that alpha brainwaves tend to be present during states of relaxation, mental reflection, and creativity. They range from about 8 to 12 Hz.
• Beta waves: These brainwaves tend to occur when a person is concentrating, intensely focusing on something, or feeling alert or unsettled. Their frequencies range from about 12 to 30 Hz or above.
• Gamma waves: At frequencies of about 40 Hz and higher, a person may experience moments of joyful insight or deep discovery and understanding.

So, are binaural beats safe? And do they actually work? Contrary to some ill-informed reporting by certain media outlets, binaural beats are most likely safe. They are not "digital drugs" that can make you high or cause any kind of "alpha waves overdose." In fact, there is very little credible, peer-reviewed scientific evidence to suggest that binaural beats affect the human brain in any significant way.

To be sure, there is a ton of online hype about binaural beats, study methods involving them, and the potential for alpha wave music to help students concentrate. But you won't find much verifiable scientific substance to back up the bold claims made by many companies who are cashing in on the trend of trying to induce beta or alpha waves for studying. That's why it may be best to save your money.

On the other hand, some students claim to have experienced positive changes while using binaural beats. Focus and a sense of calm are just two of the many purported effects. So maybe binaural beats work in a way that scientists still don't understand. Or maybe those students are experiencing results thanks to the power of suggestion, which is a real, scientifically valid phenomenon.

Either way, you don't have to spend money in order to give binaural beats a try. Plenty of websites offer free online streams or downloads.

What Music Helps You Study?

Have you discovered any answers yet? If not, keep trying different songs and music genres. Try music that you're unfamiliar with or that you think you won't like. The best music for studying may actually be something that you've been reluctant to try in the past. So be bold and experiment.

If all else fails, maybe you and some friends can create your own music. These days, almost anyone can make electronic compositions with nothing more than a laptop computer and a small MIDI keyboard. Even sophisticated mobile apps are available.

And if you want more advanced training, many vocational schools offer convenient programs in music recording and production. You can easily find a program near you by entering your zip code into the program finder below.

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Best Music to Study to & Stay Focused: What to Listen To While Studying?

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Plato once said, A song is a far more effective instrument than any other for education because its rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the mind and soul . By this statement, Plato confirmed the same connection that exists between music and education. For years, various studies have been conducted to determine whether or not songs can be applied as a tool for helping students focus on their studies and help them pass their exams. However, the results of these researches have always proved contrasting simply because of the unique learning abilities of different people.  Some people might learn better to get good grades while listening to songs, while others may be distracted by them. Although this may be true, learning while listening to certain types of songs has had great benefits that include:

• Relaxing the mind.
• Minimizing distractions.
• Improving concentration.
• Enhancing mood.

People are affected differently by songs. However, if you are looking for the best music for studying and concentration, then you are in the right place. But the effectiveness depends on your preferences. You should know what type of music helps you focus before looking at lists of songs that will help you learn. This blog post provides examples of the best music to listen to while studying.  If you have difficulties doing your homework assignment, turn to academic professionals. StudyCrumb is an academic platform offering expert help with all kinds of assignments. Leave your ‘ do my homework for me ’ call and get your task completed by a pro.

What Is the Best Music to Listen to While Studying According to Research?

It is often said that music is a universal language. Although this is true, everyone has different preferences regarding their choice of songs. A recent study in 2014 has determined that songs play an integral role in enhancing your memory and cognitive functions. It also sought to answer the question of what music is best for studying. The study also suggested a catalogue of genres regarded as the best music for studying. We narrowed it down to provide a list of songs that suit different preferences and study habits. Our listing focuses on music to help you focus, relax the mind, and minimize distractions. The best type of music for studying is the one that can help you achieve all those advantages. Some of the genres we have included are classical, jazz, electronic, etc. All you have to do is listen to them, have your mind engaged, and choose which one suits you best.

Best Music for Studying and Focus

If you are lost and looking for the best study music , you are in the right place. This article contains various beautiful creative songs and tunes that can enhance your learning experience. What type of music helps you study depends on your taste. Everyone has preferences on the types of songs that can sharpen their focus and make their understanding complete. This section will provide a list of genres that will help narrow your choices. Some of the music helping students focus that we have compiled include instrumental rock, timed tempos, nature sounds, low fi, jazz, electronic, classical, and ambient. If you have not heard about some of these genres, we will expound on them below.

Classical: The Best Music for Concentration and Focus

Do you still wonder what music helps you focus on your studies? Then it would be better if you started with classical music. Recent studies conducted by various scientists have claimed that classical songs are a powerful tool for helping students in their studies. If you want to relax and concentrate better, classical is the best genre of music to listen to while studying. Take, for instance, the analysis of the Mozart effect in classical songs. Through the examination of the Mozart effect, it was discovered that classical songs have a far-reaching effect on memory. In other words, students who use classical music to study and concentrate will easily recall most of the information they learn. The classical genre can also reduce stress levels and improve your sleep patterns. These benefits are essential in refining a student’s learning and writing ability. So if you want improvements in your concentration levels, this genre is for you. Here are some of the best classical examples to help you study.

Instrumental Rock: The Best Music to Study to

Instrumental rock is beneficial for those students looking for less distracting music to study to. Different researchers found that most students prefer instrumental songs when it comes to the question of what music to listen to while studying. In other words, they favor listening to songs with no lyrics, which improves their learning concentration. Instrumental rock can range from slow-tempo classics to acoustic cover songs. If you choose instrumental rocks as the music to study and focus on, you will have better concentration and focus. Studying while listening to instrumental rock on your headphones will make it easy for your mind to be engrossed in what you are learning. It will also enhance your creative thinking, vastly improving your learning experience. This is possible because instrumental rock protects the mind from the surrounding noises. If you aim for more concentration and focus, we have a list of great instrumental rock songs.

Ambient Studying Music – The Best Study Music

Are you still searching for what kind of music is best for studying? Still worry about how to focus on home work ? We prepared different types of genres that can help you with concentration. If you are a student who prefers a gentler, smooth, tone-based genre, then ambient is the best study music for you. Ambient sound is a type that utilizes various serene atmospheric sounds that are heard in our everyday lives, such as TV static buzz, white noise, air conditioner hum, ticking clock etc. This genre does not usually have lyrics or true beats but is classified among the best music genre for studying because of its relaxing effects. Ambient songs blend with pre-existing background noise to create a masterpiece that goes as far as drowning out other environmental noises. As a result, your concentration level increases, enhancing your educational performance. If you prefer such kinds of sounds, you can find some of the best-compiled playlists here.

Timed Tempos: Good Study Music for Brain

If you are still confused about what type of music is good for studying, you might consider timed tempos. Some researchers made an interesting assumption about using certain tempos to enhance learning experiences. They claimed that timing a song at 60 beats per minute can boost learning. In other words, this means that certain songs are timed to change their tempo after every minute to constantly stimulate the brain. Changing the tempo of songs triggers your mind and makes it more productive. Additionally, this greatly improves your creativity. As you can see, timed tempos are also a wonderful option to choose if you are still looking for what music to study to. Ensure you know your preferences before choosing your preferred song. If you listen to timed tempos while learning, we have found an interesting playlist for you here.

Nature Sounds: The Best Music for Focus

Have you ever experienced the serene feeling of listening to the sound of rain, or that of a flowing river? These nature sounds have a way of making you feel relaxed. If you are still figuring out what kind of music helps you focus, you can listen to nature sounds. Students seeking calmness during their studies should try nature sounds. They are not only one of the best study music to help focus, but they can also boost your mood. Various researchers have determined that natural sounds such as rainfall, ocean waves, or jungle noise can soothe students and help them focus on their learning. If you select nature music to concentrate by, you will find it easy to calm your nervous system, which opens up the brain to memorize information better and make it easy for you to pass your exam. Some of the best examples of nature sound are found here.

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Low Fi: The Best Music for Studying and Memorizing

Do you still need some clarification on which is the best genre of music for studying? If yes, then you should listen to low fi songs. Low fi is a relaxing, low-tempo, and smooth genre with beats that can be both hypnotic and relaxing for the mind. Low fi songs will put you in a peaceful space to enhance your learning process. It is regarded as a perfect music for studying because of its relaxing nature. Low fi can be also extremely helpful in reducing stress levels because it sharpens your brain, making it more focused on the task at hand. If this is your cup of tea, you can find some of the best low fi songs here.

Electronic: Music to Help You Study and Enjoy the Process

Another music genre that can answer the question of what music helps you study is electronic. Most people say electronic songs are the most popular genre worldwide due to their creative beats and catchy tunes. They are especially popular among college and university students who like trendy songs. Electronic songs usually blend various electronic instruments for creating beautiful tunes that people can listen and dance to. Recent analyses have shown that electronic songs can also be considered among the best studying music. It is a perfect selection if you want to chill out and be more productive in your studies. Electronic music's upbeat tempo will stimulate your brain and make your whole body active, thereby improving your learning and writing experiences. Electronic songs are best for relieving stress and elevating your energy level. If you want the best electronic music to help study and focus, listen to the playlist that we have compiled here.

Jazz: Helpful Music to Listen to While Studying

Some scholars have claimed that jazz is the best type of music to listen to while studying. Although others have contradicted this statement, there is no doubt that the jazz genre is regarded as one of the best music to make you focus. Jazz concentrates on improvisation and blending different musical instruments to create a symphony. Students who listen to jazz while studying can experience a calming and relaxing feeling that will boost their learning process. Many students struggle to appreciate jazz because of its complicated combination of various instruments. But if you find it soothing, you will discover how essential it is for learning. If you have not yet settled on the type of music to listen to while studying, consider listening to jazz. Who knows, you may discover that you like it. If you wish to try it out, we have compiled a playlist of beautiful jazz songs here.

Music Without Words: Study Music That Helps You Concentrate Better

By now, you should have a clear picture of what type of music is best for studying. However, we will provide you with one last option that will spice up your choices. Music without words is another option that you can use to aid your studies. Songs without words effectively aid the learning process because they eliminate the chances of being distracted. Since there are no words in these songs, your brain will concentrate more on studying rather than singing along to lyrics. All songs, tunes, and sounds with no words can be classified into this category. However, not all of them can be considered as effective music to concentrate while reading. Some can be distracting and negatively affect your learning experience. There are many genres of music to help concentrate, but music without words is the most preferred one. Here is a playlist of songs for you to enjoy.

Where to Find Music to Study to?

Now that you have a clear idea of music that helps focus on studying, you still have to know where to find them. Many online sites provide lists of songs of various genres. The good thing about these sites is that most of them are free and only require internet access. They have unlimited old and new songs that can satisfy your preferences. You can either play or download them on your phone. In other words, you can create a playlist of the best music for studying that suits your needs. Some popular platforms where you can access unlimited songs include Youtube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Worldstar, and Genius. Do not forget to pay attention to your nutrition as it is an integral part of your study life. Make time and look through a guide about easy college meals . It will be useful for every student.

Final Thoughts on The Best Study Music

In conclusion, there are examples of best studying music that students can utilize to enhance their focus. Some of the best music genres for studying that can satisfy the needs of different students include jazz, nature sound, electronic, low fi, timed tempos, instrumental, ambient, classical, and those without words. Going through and listening to the catalogue of songs we have provided above will answer your question of what kind of music is good for studying. These songs will not only relax your mind but also enhance your concentration and energy level while studying. All you have to do is go through the list and decide which one works for you.

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What is the BEST Music for Studying?

You may have heard of the supposed ‘Mozart Effect’, claiming that listening to classical music, or specifically Mozart, will make you smarter. Over the last years many studies seem to have debunked this myth, saying that if you hate Mozart then listening to Mozart won’t do anything for you! While some researchers claim that all music during studying is bad, others say that music can help create the perfect mindset for studying – so listening to music just prior to studying, or while doing ‘easy’ homework, can be a big boost! So, what specifically is that music? Let’s check out some of the main features. Stay until the end to see our recommendation of the type of music that checks all of the following boxes!

Consistency or Repetition

According to the following study , the musical genre that you listen to while studying has very little effect on your ability to focus. The key feature that contributes to higher levels of focus and concentration, though, is music with a steady beat and repetitive pulse. Stay away from overly complex music that changes up rhythms every 5 seconds in favour of slightly more ‘consistent’ beats. 

Additionally, the volume of the music plays a big part in how easily it allows you to concentrate! Ideally your music should be at around ‘coffee-shop’ levels, where you can theoretically have conversations with another person over it. This will allow you to hear your own thoughts as you’re writing that essay.

Uplifting Music

When we sit down to study many of us typically feel demotivated, lacking the drive to work with any real passion. Music can dramatically change our mood, inspiring us to achieve greatness! That’s why most pro athletes listen to music right before they go out onto the field. Similarly, listening to inspiring music can pump us up before, or during, a study session giving us that extra push! 

So, although your favourite music might be low-tempo, acoustic covers, or Billie Eilish-esque sad tunes that make you want to cry, your best bet is sticking to slightly more upbeat, energetic music. Think along the lines of house or electronic music, or even movie scores! Both of these have the power of building up tension, making you excited for the ‘drop’. 

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Consider the tempo.

When you’re out running you typically want a song at around 100-130bpm (beats per minute), depending on how quick your steps are. The reason we like these tempos is it allows you to directly match the beat to your steps. Similarly to how you match the beat to your steps when out running, we want to match the beat to the type of assignment you’re working on . Of course it’s not quite as easy to match music to your mind as it is music to your steps, as your brain doesn’t take steps in the same way that your legs do, but we mean that when working on certain assignments you want quicker beats than others!

If you’re listening to a song at an extremely high tempo, say 160, while doing a math problem, you’re undoubtedly going to become stressed. It will feel like your brain should be rushing at 100 miles a minute to finish that problem, when in fact we usually best understand math when we take a step back and allow our brains to take their time. So, when doing difficult math homework, we might want to bring that tempo right down. On the other hand, when doing an easy task that you want to get over with as soon as possible, upping the tempo may allow you to work, think, and act quicker! 

Songs without Lyrics

The one agreed-upon feature of songs that consistently seem to impede academic performance for students seems to be the content of lyrics. If a song is dense with lyrics, or even has any lyrics at all, your brain will naturally want to listen to those. If you happen to be working on an essay, or any word-based assignment, your brain will be conflicted between the words you’re trying to write and the words your brain is hearing. How many of us have had that experience where we find ourselves writing out the lyrics to the song we’re listening to rather than the words we actually mean to write!?

Stick to instrumental tracks. Don’t even venture into the world of instrumental covers of famous songs, because you will still undoubtedly be singing the lyrics in your head. This will allow your brain to easily focus on the words you’re trying to read/write, and the music will simply serve as a mood-setter, rather than a dominant sound. 

Ideal Music

So, what is the ideal music to study to according to these key features? Well, we asked our expert graduates at Lanterna (who all absolutely smashed the IB) what their go-to music is, and the overwhelming favourite was lo-fi study beats . This musical genre has crept up over the last 10 years as the perfect studying music. It combines most of the features mentioned in that it’s typically instrumental, consistent beats and mid-tempo. It serves as perfect background music for you to get into that meditative trance of studying. Check out our favourite 3 playlists from Spotify full of some great lo-fi study beats!

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The Best Music to Listen to For Optimal Productivity, According to Science

Oftentimes we have innumerable distractions at work competing for our attention. Luckily, music can help put us back on a more productive track. 

Studies out of the University of Birmingham, England , show that music is effective in raising efficiency in repetitive work - so if you're mindlessly checking email or filling out a spreadsheet, adding some tunes will make your task go by that much faster.

But when it comes to tasks that require more brainpower, finding that perfect playlist is not so easy. Luckily, we have science at our disposal to help.

Based on some of what we know about how music affects productivity, you should try funnelling this kind of music through your headphones the next time you're feeling unproductive:

Songs that include sounds of nature

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute recently discovered that adding a natural element could boost moods and focus. 

Sounds of nature can mask intelligible speech just as well as white noise while also enhancing cognitive functioning, optimising the ability to concentrate, and increasing overall worker satisfaction, the researchers found. The mountain stream sound researchers used in their study also possessed enough randomness that it didn't distract test subjects.

You could try simply listening to recordings of nature sounds, or check out this tranquil background music that incorporates sounds of water:

Songs you enjoy

Listening to music you like can make you feel better. Teresa Lesiuk, an assistant professor in the music therapy program at the University of Miami, found that personal choice in music is important, especially in those who are moderately skilled at their jobs.

Generally participants in her studies who listened to music they enjoyed completed their tasks more quickly and came up with better ideas than those who didn't because the music improved their mood. 

"When you're stressed, you might make a decision more hastily; you have a very narrow focus of attention," she told the New York Times . "When you're in a positive mood, you're able to take in more options."

Songs you don't really care about

Different research suggests, however, that music you're ambivalent about could be best.

Researchers from Fu Jen Catholic University in Xinzhuang City, Taiwan , studied how listener's fondness for music affected their concentration. They found when workers strongly liked or disliked the music they heard in the background they became more distracted by it. 

Songs without lyrics

Words are distracting. According to research from Cambridge Sound Management , noise in general isn't to blame when it comes to lost productivity - it's how intelligible the words are that forces us to shift focus from our work to figuring out what someone is saying. Speech distracts about 48 percent of office workers according to Cambridge's 2008 study. 

When masking your neighbour's conversation with music, it follows then that you not do so with music that has lyrics - your focus would simply shift from the conversation to the words in a song.

This playlist of lyric-less music may provide the productivity boost you need:

Songs with a specific tempo

Music tempo can have varying affects on your arousal. One study by Canadian researchers found subjects performed better on IQ tests while listening to up-tempo music. If your work requires you to be more upbeat, you could try listening to music that matches this tempo. Baroque music, for example, is a popular choice for many needing to get work done.

In fact in a small study by researchers at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Harbour Hospital in Baltimore, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, the radiologists they studied reported an improvement in their work and mood when they listened to baroque music. This playlist offers a nice sampling: 

Another study by researchers from BMS College of Engineering in Bangalore, Malaysia , saw subjects report a dramatic reduction in feelings of stress and an increased sense of physical relaxation when they listened to music that played around 60 beats per minute. In classical music terms, you would refer this as 'larghetto', which translates to not very fast or somewhat slowly.

If you prefer to feel more relaxed while you work, you could try one of Focus @ Will's playlists dedicated to concentration:

Songs played at medium volume

Noise level matters. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, found that moderate noise levels are just right for creative thinking.

While both high and moderate noise levels have been found to open people's minds to more abstract thinking, high noise levels decrease the brain's ability to process information.

This article was originally published by Business Insider.

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The Best Study Music: What to Listen to While Doing Homework

Students and music cannot be separated because they all love music and some can keep their players on an entire day. Music can help lift mood even when the student is alone in their rooms, relaxing outdoors, or walking. In the study room, not all music will be good when you are doing your homework.

You need to concentrate on getting the answers right because some types of music will just keep distracting you and you might lose an important point. The following music is good to listen to during homework time.

Hip hop is generally called hip hop culture because its lovers believe it promotes a music culture globally. Being one of the oldest music genres, Hip hop blends several tunes and vocals into one piece of a song that is vibrant, confronting, and celebrating life.

This is one of the styles of music a student can listen to while doing homework because it mostly speaks about real-life experiences and encourages a listener when they realize they are not the only ones experiencing a challenging moment. It can help encourage a student do homework even when they feel like the task is too difficult for them.

Other type of Homework help

If you want to do well in college, always make an effort to do all the homework your teacher assigns you. It helps improve learning and you will reap the good fruits of education. Despite your efforts to do your best and complete all academic work, sometimes you feel you need help. You don’t have to worry because Edubirdie can do your homework while you concentrate on your study. You can get help from their professional writers any time because they help every student according to their needs.

Country music

Country hits are mostly associated with things that touch on independence and freedom. The artists sing about situations they went through yet overcame. Some sing about terrible adversities like alcoholism, fighting, rejections, and such incidences and how they eventually overcame. Doing a ton of homework is not always easy because some assignments can be tough and complex. The student might feel it was not meant for them but if they can tune and listen to several country hits, they can start feeling encouraged and go on with their assignments.

Jamaican reggae is characterized by features such as amplified guitars, offbeat quavers, electric guitars, and a large number of drums. It is a genre that is more masculine than feminine and male students love this genre. Although it doesn’t have a unique rhythm, reggae reflects culture, values, and spirituality. Some researchers say listening to reggae can help students do better in math because the spirituality in reggae can help condition the mind to learn. If a student has some math to do in their homework subject, they might consider listening to reggae.

Classical music forms a combination of sophisticated tunes and vocals and this is what makes this genre popular. Researchers believe classical music nurtures the soul and helps grow the mind. Other studies say when a student creates a habit of listening to classical music, their language skills develop fast. They also benefit from improved spatial skills, reasoning skills, and better intelligence. These are benefits that can help a student do their homework better.

Instrumental

Instruments-only music was traditionally used as a substitute for vocals and to create music for dancing. Listening to this genre can help an individual learn better about other cultures and appreciate the expertise of instrumentalists. When used by a student, it can help boost critical thinking and improve development for creativity. These are important skills needed for higher student productivity.

Nature sounds

According to recent data, listening to recorded sounds of nature has many benefits to the mind. It helps reduce stress, pain and increase mood. The study further says listening to natural sounds helps an individual create a sense of safety and they can stop worrying about what is happening outside and concentrate on what is before them. A student can do their homework better when listening to recorded natural sounds.

Music has immeasurable benefits to students while at school, commuting, or relaxing. A student can listen to music to improve cognitive skills and enhance their memory. Students who create a habit of listening to music when doing their homework may enjoy doing their assignments without feeling stressed. Currently, there are over 1,000 music genres in the market and this gives a student freedom to choose which genre is best for them .

Author’s Bio:

Robert Everett is a leading writer and works for a marketing agency where is known for marketing collateral, brochures and PPT designing skills. He’s equally good in his freelancing job, where he helps students do their homework and essays on time and effectively. In his free time, he loves cooking Korean food, watching sports shows and learning digital art.

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Music for ADHD: Benefits & Types to Improve Focus

Certain types of music may improve focus and reduce hyperactivity

Carol Yepes / Getty Images

Benefits of ADHD Music

The load theory of select attention.

• Music Genres to Try

Listening to music isn't just a fun hobby or enjoyable way to pass the time. Evidence suggests that it can help people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to improve focus and general well-being.

Music can improve emotional regulation, self-development, and relaxation, but that's not all. Research has also shown that music can help decrease inattention, reduce negative mood, and promote reading comprehension for those with ADHD.

Many people with ADHD gravitate to instrumental music because it generally has a very structured rhythm that helps people focus. Because instrumental music doesn't have worse, many find it less distracting. Other kinds of music with consistent and repetitive rhythm patterns, like electronic music, may also be helpful. 

At a Glance

ADHD brains think and process information differently, and struggling to focus is a common problem for people with this form of neurodivergence. One thing that might help you hone your attention: music! Cranking up the tunes (at least certain ones) can positively affect the areas of the brain associated with mood, visual-spatial recognition, motivation, and action. However, not all types of music have the same effect. Binaural, rock, classical, and lo-fi might be particularly beneficial, but experts recommend listening to what you enjoy most. Experiment to find what works best for you! If you have ADHD—or just want to improve focus—read on to find out how listening to music might help you and get suggestions for what to listen to.

Many people with ADHD typically have dopamine deficits. That means they need dopamine to get work done. Music can provide that much-needed hit of dopamine so they can focus their attention and get things done.

The part of the brain that feels a reward from music—the nucleus accumbens—is the same one that psychostimulant ADHD medications work on. The nucleus accumbens can be thought of as the brain's control center between motivation and action.

Music may also help improve mood in people with ADHD. Research shows that music significantly reduced sadness and hopelessness. (The good news: it also helped people who *don’t* have ADHD!)

It has also been found that keeping a stable rhythm and musical beat can be calming. This helps with a sense of security and stability that can lead to emotional well-being and regulation of stress hormones—something people with ADHD may have a hard time doing.

Music can be really helpful for people with ADHD because it can provide a singular background noise rather than twenty.

A concept called the load theory of select attention states that maintaining attention in a given circumstance depends on the balance between late-stage attention and early-stage attention.

Early-selection attention involves deliberately concentrating your focus on something; late-selection attention involves being "directed involuntarily" (i.e., distracted) to something.

The idea of using music to help people with ADHD is that it suppresses the brain's ability to direct itself toward irrelevant stimuli . This allows the attention to be better directed towards the early-selection stimuli. 

In people without ADHD, however, there is no need to redirect that late-selection attention. In fact, this may actually create a distraction for them, diverting resources from the earlier-selection stimuli.

Types of ADHD Music

Just as music in general can be such a personal preference, so can music for ADHD. While many people prefer to listen to music without words to focus, it may work for others. 

Similarly, "for some, it can come down to familiar music versus unfamiliar—which may also vary by person," says Barkholtz. 

Furthermore, according to Barkholtz, familiar music for some people can be distracting because the temptation to hum or sing the lyrics will be too powerful. For others, listening to music you've already heard before can be more easily tuned out.

Here are some types of music you might want to check out to help you focus if you have ADHD, and why.

Binaural Beats

Binaural beats work by stimulating both sides of the brain, forcing them to work together to communicate with each other to create the singular wave that is sensed by your awareness.

If you are searching for binaural beat music on your own, you can usually just search something like "binaural beats for ADHD," but if you are looking for something more specific, you’ll want to look at music in the Alpha frequency (9-13Hz).

Listen to this music style on YouTube .

Though it may be hard to believe, rock music has been proven to help people with ADHD improve their rates of task completion. Rock music can also help with hyperactivity because the repetitive beat reduces the muscle tension common in those with ADHD.  

Classical Music

One reason classical music may help those with ADHD is that it increases arousal and puts brains in the alpha state, which leads to improved cognitive performance. Mozart, in particular, has been proven to help.

With its predictability and steady rhythm, lo-fi music helps the frontal brain lobe focus by reducing outside distractions.

It has been shown to increase memory recall, and the quality of the music can almost be described as white noise. Many playlists exist specifically meant for studying or working. 

Or, You Can Listen to Whatever You Want

Ultimately, just because a study says that a certain type of music helps concentration doesn’t mean that it’s the only type of music that can feel helpful —or even enjoyable—to you. 

“And maybe you notice different things are helpful for different situations,” says Barkholtz. “Personally, music is great for helping me focus on administrative tasks but podcasts keep me more focused [when I'm] cleaning or [going] on a long run.” 

So, depending on your musical tastes, you might want to listen to rock, pop, hip-hop, or even smooth jazz. You might even want to listen to house music. Just choose whichever genre feels right for you. You can also try switching back and forth between genres.

If you find that you're still having difficulty concentrating, reach out to a mental health professional .

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By Theodora Blanchfield, AMFT Theodora Blanchfield is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and mental health writer using her experiences to help others. She holds a master's degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University and is a board member of Still I Run, a non-profit for runners raising mental health awareness. Theodora has been published on sites including Women's Health, Bustle, Healthline, and more and quoted in sites including the New York Times, Shape, and Marie Claire.