is it better to listen to music while doing homework

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Drowned in sound: how listening to music hinders learning

In his series of articles on how psychology research can inform teaching, Bradley Busch picks an academic study and makes sense of it for the classroom. This time: listening to music while studying

• Read more Lessons from Research

There is a wealth of psychology research that can help teachers to improve how they work with students, but academic studies of this kind aren’t always easy to access or translate into the realities of classroom practice. This series seeks to redress that by taking a selection of studies and making sense of the important information for teachers, as we all seek to answer the question: how can we help our students do better at school? This time, we consider growth mindset.

Many students do their homework and revision while listening to music. Many of them will swear that listening to their favourite songs makes them study better . But does music help or hinder learning? And does it matter what type of music you listen to while revising?

Researchers from the applied psychology department of Cardiff Metropolitan University led a study to answer this question. The authors, Nick Perham and Harriet Currie, assigned students into one of four groups: the first revised in silence, the second revised while listening to music with lyrics they liked (which included songs from One Direction and Katy Perry), the third group revised to music with lyrics they did not like (which comprised of very heavy metal bands), and the fourth group revised listening to music without lyrics.

The participants then took a test on the passages they had been revising, rating how distracting their environment had been, as well as writing down their predictions for how well they thought they had done.

What are the main findings?

• Students who revised in quiet environments performed more than 60% better in an exam than their peers who revised while listening to music that had lyrics.
• Students who revised while listening to music without lyrics did better than those who had revised to music with lyrics.
• It made no difference if students revised listening to songs they liked or disliked. Both led to a reduction in their test performance.
• Students who revised in silence rated their environment as less distracting and accurately predicted that this would lead to better performances in subsequent tests.

Related research

There are some benefits to listening to music while performing certain tasks. It can be quite motivating and it can improve mood (listening to your favourite song tends to make people smile, for example). But it does not help people learn new or complex material.

The misconception that music does help us learn stems from a series of studies linked to the “ Mozart effect ”, which found that people performed better on a series of cognitive tasks after listening to 10 minutes of Mozart. Participants in these studies appeared to be getting smarter and performing better in tests.

However, further research has since revealed this is not the case. While listening to music before a task can make someone feel better, listening to it while trying to learn something new tends not to help. This is because music – especially tunes with lyrics – can take up processing space. This conflicts with the material you are trying to learn, effectively creating a bottleneck in your memory, as there is less space to process what you are revising.

What does this mean for the classroom?

It is important that students are made aware of the pitfalls of listening to music when revising. Perham and Currie’s study found that students rated the quiet environment as less distracting and better for them, yet many students continue to listen to music during their homework. Why? Perhaps they’re doing so out of habit, or they confuse what improves their mood with what leads to good revision, or it alleviates boredom. Perhaps it’s simply because everyone else is doing it.

Students need to know how to revise well. There may well be a time and place to listen to music during the course of their revision, but not when they are learning new and complex material. After all, silence is golden.

Bradley Busch is a registered psychologist, director at InnerDrive and author of Release Your Inner Drive . Follow @Inner_Drive on Twitter, and get advice on improving memory and a visual summary of this research on his website

Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach , like us on Facebook , and join the Guardian Teacher Network the latest articles direct to your inbox

Looking for a teaching job? Or perhaps you need to recruit school staff? Take a look at Guardian Jobs , the education specialist

• Teacher Network
• Lessons from research
• Higher education

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

March 3, 2020

Does Music Boost Your Cognitive Performance?

The answer depends on your personality

By Cindi May

Getty Images

Music makes life better in so many ways. It elevates mood , reduces stress and eases pain . Music is heart-healthy , because it can lower blood pressure , reduce heart rate and decrease stress hormones in the blood. It also connects us with others and enhances social bonds . Music can even improve workout endurance and increase our enjoyment of challenging activities .

The fact that music can make a difficult task more tolerable may be why students often choose to listen to it while doing their homework or studying for exams. But is listening to music the smart choice for students who want to optimize their learning?

A new study by Manuel Gonzalez of Baruch College and John Aiello of Rutgers University suggests that for some students, listening to music is indeed a wise strategy, but for others, it is not. The effect of music on cognitive functioning appears not to be “one-size-fits-all” but to instead depend, in part, on your personality—specifically, on your need for external stimulation. People with a high requirement for such stimulation tend to get bored easily and to seek out external input. Those individuals often do worse , paradoxically, when listening to music while engaging in a mental task. People with a low need for external stimulation, on the other hand, tend to improve their mental performance with music.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

But other factors play a role as well. Gonzalez and Aiello took a fairly sophisticated approach to understanding the influence of music on intellectual performance, assessing not only listener personality but also manipulating the difficulty of the task and the complexity of the music. Whether students experience a perk or a penalty from music depends on the interplay of the personality of the learner, the mental task, and the music.

In the study, participants first completed the Boredom Proneness Scale , which is a personality test used to determine need for external stimulation. They then engaged in an easy cognitive task (searching for the letter A in lists of words) and a more challenging one (remembering word pairs). To control for practice and fatigue effects, half of the subjects completed the easy task first, while the other half completed the challenging one first. Participants finished both tasks under one of three sound conditions: (a) no music, (b) simple music or (c) complex music. All of the music was instrumental, and music complexity was manipulated by varying the number of instruments involved in the piece. Simple music included piano, strings and synthesizer, while complex music added drums and bass to the simple piece.

The data suggest that your decision to turn music on (or off) while studying should depend on your personality. For those with a high need of external stimulation, listening to music while learning is not wise, especially if the task is hard and/or the music is complex. On the simple task of finding A’s, such subjects’ scores for the music condition were the same (for simple music) or significantly worse (for complex music) than those for the silent condition. On the complex task of learning word pairs, their performance was worse whenever music was played, regardless of whether it was simple or complex.

For those with a low need of external stimulation, however, listening to music is generally the optimal choice. On the simple task of findings A’s, such participants’ scores for the music condition were the same (for simple music) or dramatically better (for complex music) than those for the silent condition. On the complex task of learning word pairs, the participants showed a small but reliable benefit with both simple and complex music, relative to silence.

The results suggest that there are substantial individual differences in the impact of music on cognitive function, and thus recommendations regarding its presence in the classroom, study hall or work environment may need to be personalized. Students who are easily bored and who seek out stimulation should be wary of adding music to the mix, especially complex music that may capture attention and consume critical cognitive resources that are needed for successful task completion. On the other hand, students with a low need for stimulation may benefit significantly from the presence of music, especially when completing simple, mundane tasks.

Before students decide to slip in their earbuds, though, they should carefully consider both their musical selection and the nature of the task. All of the music used in the present study was instrumental, and lyrical music will likely be more complex. Complexity appears to increase arousal, and the Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that a moderate level of arousal produces optimal performance. When there is too little or too much arousal, performance drops. Thus, the benefits of music for those with a low need for external stimulation that were observed here could diminish or even disappear with the added complexity of lyrics.

Similarly, increases in the complexity of a cognitive task might also reduce or eliminate the benefit of music. Although the “complex” task used in this study (learning word pairs) was only moderately challenging, the increase in complexity, relative to the simple task, was enough to reduce music’s positive effect. With a highly challenging cognitive task (e.g., text comprehension or exam preparation), even those with a low need for external stimulation may fail to show such an effect with music.

With the right (low-need-for-stimulation) personality, the right (instrumental) music and the right (low-to-moderately-difficult) task, the presence of music may significantly improve cognitive functioning. Given the many other physical, emotional and psychological benefits of music, that subscription to Spotify just might pay for itself!

Cindi May is a professor of psychology at the College of Charleston. She explores avenues for improving cognitive function and outcomes in college students, older adults and individuals who are neurodiverse.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

• Media Centre

Is it OK to listen to music while studying?

October 17, 2019

UOW researcher answers this tricky question as NSW students start written exams for the HSC.

It’s a good question! In a nutshell, music puts us in a better mood, which makes us better at studying – but it also distracts us, which makes us worse at studying.

So if you want to study effectively with music, you want to reduce how distracting music can be, and increase the level to which the music keeps you in a good mood.

Read more: Curious Kids: Why do adults think video games are bad?

Music can put us in a better mood

You may have heard of the Mozart effect – the idea that listening to Mozart makes you “smarter”. This is based on research that found listening to complex classical music like Mozart improved test scores, which the researcher argued was based on the music’s ability to stimulate parts of our minds that play a role in mathematical ability.

However, further research conclusively debunked the Mozart effect theory: it wasn’t really anything to do with maths, it was really just that music puts us in a better mood.

Research conducted in the 1990s found a “Blur Effect” – where kids who listened to the BritPop band Blur seemed to do better on tests. In fact, researchers found that the Blur effect was bigger than the Mozart effect, simply because kids enjoyed pop music like Blur more than classical music.

Being in a better mood likely means that we try that little bit harder and are willing to stick with challenging tasks.

Music can distract us

On the other hand, music can be a distraction – under certain circumstances.

When you study, you’re using your “working memory” – that means you are holding and manipulating several bits of information in your head at once.

The research is fairly clear that when there’s music in the background, and especially music with vocals, our working memory gets worse .

Likely as a result, reading comprehension decreases when people listen to music with lyrics . Music also appears to be more distracting for people who are introverts than for people who are extroverts, perhaps because introverts are more easily overstimulated.

Some clever work by an Australia-based researcher called Bill Thompson and his colleagues aimed to figure out the relative effect of these two competing factors - mood and distraction.

They had participants do a fairly demanding comprehension task, and listen to classical music that was either slow or fast, and which was either soft or loud.

They found the only time there was any real decrease in performance was when people were listening to music that was both fast and loud (that is, at about the speed of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, at about the volume of a vacuum cleaner).

But while that caused a decrease in performance, it wasn’t actually that big a decrease. And other similar research also failed to find large differences.

So… can I listen to music while studying or not?

To sum up: research suggests it’s probably fine to listen to music while you’re studying - with some caveats.

It’s better if:

• it puts you in a good mood
• it’s not too fast or too loud
• it’s less wordy (and hip-hop, where the words are rapped rather than sung, is likely to be even more distracting)
• you’re not too introverted.

Happy listening and good luck in your exams!

Read more: Curious Kids: Why do old people hate new music?

Timothy Byron , Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wollongong

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.

You may also be interested in

M usic is an indispensable part of our life and you will hardly meet a person who doesn’t like listening to it. Of course, it can be a music of different genres, with or without lyrics, modern or classical, but people enjoy listening to music and can combine a variety of activities with it.

Young generations are also fans of music and every second student has always his headphones. Students listen to music everywhere: on-the-go, in public transport, in the shower and even when they do their homework. However, the last habit is quite controversial as scientists have different opinions about the effect music produces on studying. Let’s analyze the viewpoints of different scholars and decide whether pros or cons of listening to music while you do your homework will outweigh.

How can music be beneficial?

It is not surprising to see different studies about the influence of music on learning and their results are sometimes opposite to each other. Some scientists claim that music can influence the brain work positively as well as provide a learner with some huge advantages including:

• Useful for creative and reflection activities The study done at John Hopkin’s University confirms the viewpoint that music can be a great boost in writing , brainstorming, project work, problem-solving activities. It can improve productivity as well as be a perfect solution for several minutes of rest to recharge for the next activity.

Negative impact of music on doing homework

At the same time, many students still call music a distraction. Why does it happen? The answer is simple, students speak about absolutely different styles of music.

It goes without saying that listening to the song with words you will be more likely to distract from studying by repeating the words of the singer. This fact was confirmed by the University of Phoenix where researchers have proved that lyrics activates language-processing centers of the brain and that results in a lack of concentration and difficulties to recall the memorized information .

The last fact was described in the book “ Educational Psychology ”. Context-dependent learning means that people will recall information better in the same environment how they were memorizing it. If it was a music background at home, there are few chances that this background will be at school too, so information recalling will suffer greatly as well.

One more apparent point is a huge difference in people’s learning styles. Some people will have a much better productivity studying in silence, the others chewing a burger and one more group watching a TV. Music can be beneficial only to some of the students as any sound can affect the performance of others negatively. Consequently, it is impossible to make the only right conclusion about the ultimate benefit or the toughest negative impact of music on student’s performance of the home assignment. The only conclusion is apparent: everything depends on the person and his study environment .

• Latest Posts

Latest posts by Noplag ( see all )

• Periodix: intelligent job matching for freelancers | Noplag review - March 30, 2018
• Hard Work VS Talent: Who Beats Whom? - December 15, 2017
• Listening To Music While Doing Homework: Is It A Good Idea? - December 12, 2017

Share the post "Listening To Music While Doing Homework: Is It A Good Idea?"

Post navigation

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured on

4 best music for homework that’ll dramatically improve your productivity

Choosing the right music for homework can help you focus better and learn faster.

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.

While we may prefer different genres of focus music, we can all agree that the right playlist has the magical ability to boost concentration.

This is because music activates the most diverse networks of the human brain. It’s been proven that people with ADHD focus better with the right music.

This is on top of  existing research  that has found listening to music reduces anxiety, blood pressure, and improves sleep quality, mood, and memory.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have done work on jazz performers improvising inside an fMRI machine to see which areas of the brain light up as well.

They found that jazz musicians make unique improvisations by turning off inhibition and turning up creativity.

In short, if you find the right music for homework, you can elevate both brain power and creativity.

While there isn’t a one-size-fit-all approach to this, let us help you narrow down some of the best genres for you to try:

Here are the five best music for homework to help you increase your productivity:

Having the right music matters, even for top athletes. Source: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

1. Classical music

When picking music for homework, you’ve probably heard how classical music can increase your focus when studying.

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. 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, preventing 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 music for studying” on YouTube
• Choose favourites from this list and create your own playlist!

If you’re someone who easily gets distracted, RnB may not be the best music for homework for you. There’s a high chance that you might spend too much time jamming to the lyrics of the song instead of focusing.

Though music under his 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.

• “Study R&B Smooth Songs ” on Spotify
• “Chill R&B Beats Mix – Beats to Relax and Study (Vol.1)” on YouTube

4. Nature sounds 

It’s been shown that nature sounds relax our nervous system. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  have also 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, so feel free to explore if nature sounds aren’t the right music for homework for you. 

Relaxing Nature Sounds for Sleeping – Natural Calm Forest Waterfall Music Meditation Sound for Study on YouTube

“Nature Sounds For Concentration” on Spotify

Popular stories

Feeling eepy here’s how to get more sleep during university.

Babysitting, lawn-mowing, and more: The best jobs for teens that pay more than US$15/hour

10 powerful body language examples to look and be more confident

The ultimate chow down: 10 universities with the best cafeteria food

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

This is the ultimate focus music for students, according to research

These are the best music types to engage your brain

• Ask A Question
• Change Location

Can Listening to Music While Studying Help Students Study Better?

• June 23, 2023

Background noise—like the chatter in a coffee shop or raindrops on a window–might help students to study better.

For many students, studying in complete silence can be challenging, leading them to seek alternative methods to enhance their focus and productivity. One approach is listening to music or having background noise while studying. 

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of CSU Global , an online university, explored the correlation between music and studying. The findings revealed that students who listen to background music while studying achieve higher GPAs and show improved reading comprehension skills. 

The Study: Background Music While Studying

The survey involved 2,000 respondents and examined their study habits in relation to music. Approximately half of the participants (49%) reported listening to music regularly while studying, with 60% stating that they found studying more effective with background sound rather than in silence. The study also explored other preferred sounds for studying, including nature sounds (30%), real-life noises (26%), and podcasts (24%).

Dr. Christina Agvent, the program director of teaching and learning at CSU Global, highlighted the availability of various platforms to cater to different study styles and preferences. Whether it’s an instrumental music playlist on Spotify or Apple Music, a calming meditation session on Calm, or rain sounds on YouTube, students can enhance their educational experience.

Impact on Academic Performance

The survey results revealed a positive correlation between listening to background music while studying and academic performance. Those who listened to music were likely to achieve a GPA above 3.2, indicating that music can contribute to higher grades. Plus, students who listened to music reported finding the learning experience more enjoyable (81%) and feeling more prepared for their classes regularly (80%).

Benefits of Background Music While Studying

Listening to background music while studying offers several benefits, according to the survey respondents . Around 80% of participants agreed that music was therapeutic, while 75% believed it helped them absorb information more effectively. 

Music listeners were also better at creating notecards and other creative tools to aid memorization. Additionally, students tended to spend more time studying each week, with some dedicating upwards of seven hours to their studies.

Background Noise and Reading Comprehension

A separate research study by the National Research University Higher School of Economics examined the impact of auditory and visual noise on reading. Surprisingly, the study found that background noise, such as the chatter in a coffee shop, fan noises, or passing traffic, did not significantly affect readers’ ability to comprehend written text.

The study proposed two language processing models to explain these findings. The first, the “noisy channel model,” suggests that the brain compensates for noise by focusing more on the meaning of individual words rather than the entire sentence. The second model, the “good enough model,” suggests that our brains prioritize a “good enough” understanding of the text rather than analyzing every detail.

Dos and Don’ts of Background Music

While background noise while studying can be helpful, the wrong background noise can be a distraction. These tips from Healthline can help students choose the right music:

• Keep the volume low.
• Choose music with unfamiliar lyrics to prevent signing along
• Avoid uptempo, fast songs
• Choose slower, instrumental music
• Select a playlist that is longer than your study session so the playlist ending won’t interrupt you.

Build Stronger Study Skills with GradePower Learning

GradePower Learning is here to help. Our tutoring programs for study skills help students of all ages develop stronger study habits and routines.

Recent Posts

• Report Cards

Grade Inflation Might Be Affecting Your Child’s Grades

• May 03, 2024

Nine Reasons Kids Struggle With Paying Attention In Class

• Apr 26, 2024

Study Skills Unlocked: The Feynman Technique

• Apr 19, 2024

Understanding & Dealing With Student Procrastination

• Apr 12, 2024

Related Reading Resources

• High School , Studying

5 Tips to Prevent Freezing On Exams

• Jan 26, 2024

10 Essential Study Tips Every Student Needs

• Mar 23, 2023

Five Tips to Help Students Study Effectively

• Nov 18, 2022

Find a GradePower Learning Location Near You!

Tutoring Subjects

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

College Prep

Subject Areas

Study Skills

Homework Help

Tutoring Programs

Little Readers ®  

Beyond Tutoring ®

Advantage™  

College Success Program

Cognitive Learning

Lifelong Cognitive Results

The GradePower Learning® Difference

How We Help

• United States

747 Hyde Park Rd. Suite 230. London, ON N6H 3S3

Copyright © 2024 GradePower Learning Centers, All rights reserved. Privacy & Terms Legal Notice Careers

GradePower Learning and the GradePower Learning Logo are registered trademarks of OX Royalties Limited Partnership, used under license.

Would you like to explore a topic?

LEARNING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Or read some of our popular articles?

Free downloadable english gcse past papers with mark scheme.

• 19 May 2022

How Will GCSE Grade Boundaries Affect My Child’s Results?

• Akshat Biyani
• 13 December 2021

The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today

• Joseph McCrossan
• 18 February 2022

Does Music Help You Study? Or is Silence Better?

• June 8, 2021

You walk into the room and your child is listening to music while they study. Do you tell them to turn it off so they can focus? Or do you encourage them to keep on listening? Read on to find out how to decide what to do.

In my house, we often have music on in the background while we play or do chores. But when I’m working, I can’t turn it off fast enough. I need quiet to focus! 🙉 But is that true for everyone?

Some of my students swear they need music to help them focus while studying. It’s hard to tell sometimes if they are really focusing better, or if the music is actually making them get off task. It begs the question: does music help or hurt when it comes to studying? 🎶

Is it better to study with music or silence? 

You may have heard of the “ Mozart effect ” - the belief that listening to classical music, like Mozart’s, can help students become smarter. It turns out that it’s not as straightforward as that, but there can be some benefits to listening to music during certain types of work.

Music improves students’ moods, meaning it’s good for mental health . Students are better able to focus on academic tasks when they are calm and happy, so listening to music that boosts their mood could be just what they need. 🤗

Music while studying is not for everyone. It seems to help more for students who have an extroverted personality  - introverts get overstimulated easier and might not be able to focus with music playing (ahem, me🙋🏻‍♀️).

If you find that music helps your child’s mood, but is too distracting during actual studying time, you can play music for 10-20 minutes before they start work. Then you get the benefits of a great mood without the distraction!

Does music help you concentrate better?

Sometimes. 🎵

Is your student studying in a loud environment? Background noise like other kids, street noises, etc. can be pretty distracting. A student’s brain is more easily pulled away from their task by noises that are startling, uneven, or sudden, which is how background noise can be. So music can help muffle those sounds and help keep them focused. 

Music is also great for when students need to do repetitive tasks . It’s easy to get distracted when the work doesn’t change much - think typing up a written essay or cutting and pasting for a presentation. In this case, music might help your student stay on task by providing just enough extra stimulation that they don’t get bored and wander away. 

What type of music is best for studying?

Okay, so you are ready to try some music while studying. But hold on, not all music is created equal. Choose the wrong type of music and you might accidentally decrease your student’s focus! 🙅

Studies show things like reading comprehension decrease when stimulating music is playing, so make sure you choose the right type of music for your activity.

For most work, like homework or practising for maths exams , your student needs mellow music that doesn’t change too much. Classical music can be a good choice, but not all students like it! You can also try easy listening or some slower-paced favourites. Experiment with what works and then put those songs in a playlist for next time.

If your student is doing something more repetitive, then the issue is more likely to be boredom. It’s okay to play more fast-faced music for this kind of work. Music can also help when kids are doing chores around the house! 

🚀 Music or no music, sometimes your student needs a little extra support with their studying. Let a GoStudent tutor help! With flexible scheduling experts in a wide range of subjects, we have just the help you need. Book a trial lesson today! 

Popular posts

• By Guy Doza

• By Akshat Biyani

• By Joseph McCrossan
• In LEARNING TRENDS

4 Surprising Disadvantages of Homeschooling

• By Andrea Butler

What are the Hardest GCSEs? Should You Avoid or Embrace Them?

• By Clarissa Joshua

More great reads:

Helping Your Child with Telling the Time

• By Natalie Lever
• September 4, 2022

How to Teach Your Kids Times Tables + Free Times Table Chart!

• April 20, 2022

Making a Splash! What’s the Best Age to Start Swimming Lessons?

• By Sharlene Matharu
• April 13, 2022

Book a free trial session

Sign up for your free tutoring lesson..

Curious Kids: is it OK to listen to music while studying?

Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wollongong

Disclosure statement

Timothy Byron does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Wollongong provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

I am in year 11 and I like to listen to music when I am studying, but my dad says that my brain is spending only half of its time studying and the other half is distracted by listening. He says it is better to leave my phone out of my room and concentrate on studying rather than listening to music. Is it OK to listen to songs when I am studying? – Robert, Year 11 student.

It’s a good question! In a nutshell, music puts us in a better mood, which makes us better at studying – but it also distracts us, which makes us worse at studying.

So if you want to study effectively with music, you want to reduce how distracting music can be, and increase the level to which the music keeps you in a good mood.

Read more: Curious Kids: Why do adults think video games are bad?

Music can put us in a better mood

You may have heard of the Mozart effect – the idea that listening to Mozart makes you “smarter”. This is based on research that found listening to complex classical music like Mozart improved test scores, which the researcher argued was based on the music’s ability to stimulate parts of our minds that play a role in mathematical ability.

However, further research conclusively debunked the Mozart effect theory: it wasn’t really anything to do with maths, it was really just that music puts us in a better mood.

Research conducted in the 1990s found a “Blur Effect” – where kids who listened to the BritPop band Blur seemed to do better on tests. In fact, researchers found that the Blur effect was bigger than the Mozart effect, simply because kids enjoyed pop music like Blur more than classical music.

Being in a better mood likely means that we try that little bit harder and are willing to stick with challenging tasks.

Music can distract us

On the other hand, music can be a distraction – under certain circumstances.

When you study, you’re using your “working memory” – that means you are holding and manipulating several bits of information in your head at once.

The research is fairly clear that when there’s music in the background, and especially music with vocals, our working memory gets worse .

Likely as a result, reading comprehension decreases when people listen to music with lyrics . Music also appears to be more distracting for people who are introverts than for people who are extroverts, perhaps because introverts are more easily overstimulated.

Some clever work by an Australia-based researcher called Bill Thompson and his colleagues aimed to figure out the relative effect of these two competing factors - mood and distraction.

They had participants do a fairly demanding comprehension task, and listen to classical music that was either slow or fast, and which was either soft or loud.

They found the only time there was any real decrease in performance was when people were listening to music that was both fast and loud (that is, at about the speed of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, at about the volume of a vacuum cleaner).

But while that caused a decrease in performance, it wasn’t actually that big a decrease. And other similar research also failed to find large differences.

So… can I listen to music while studying or not?

To sum up: research suggest it’s probably fine to listen to music while you’re studying - with some caveats.

It’s better if:

• it puts you in a good mood
• it’s not too fast or too loud
• it’s less wordy (and hip-hop, where the words are rapped rather than sung, is likely to be even more distracting)
• you’re not too introverted.

Happy listening and good luck in your exams!

Read more: Why do old people hate new music?

Hello, curious kids! Have you got a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to [email protected]

• Music therapy
• Curious Kids
• effective studying

Scheduling Analyst

Assistant Editor - 1 year cadetship

Executive Dean, Faculty of Health

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Earth System Science (School of Science)

Sydney Horizon Educators (Identified)

Education resources › Blog › The one about listening to music while studying: Studies every teacher needs to know

The one about listening to music while studying: Studies every teacher needs to know

• Becoming evidence-informed
• The science of learning

Written by the InnerDrive team | Edited by Bradley Busch

Why this study?

Many students listen to music while studying and doing their homework. Many of them will swear that listening to their favourite songs helps them study.

But does it actually increase or hinder learning? And interestingly, does it matter what type of music you listen to whilst revising?

To answer this question, researchers  Nick Perham and Harriet Cure from the Applied Psychology department of Cardiff Metropolitan University recently ran a study.  They assigned students of a range of ages to one of four groups:

• The first revised in silence;
• The second revised whilst listening to music with lyrics they liked (which included songs from One Direction and Katy Perry);
• The third group revised to music with lyrics they did not like (which comprised of very heavy thrash metal bands);
• The fourth group revised listening to music that did not have lyrics.

The participants then took a test on the passages they had been revising, rating how distracting their environment had been, as well as writing down their predictions for how well they thought they had done.

The main findings

#1  Students who revised in quiet environments performed over 60% better in an exam than their peers who revised listening to music that had lyrics.

#2  Students who listened to music while studying without lyrics did better than those who had listened to music while studying with lyrics.

#3  It made no difference if students revised listening to songs they liked or didn’t like. Both led to a reduction in their subsequent test performance.

#4  Students who revised in silence rated their environment as less distracting, and accurately predicted that this would lead to better performances in subsequent tests.

Related research

There are some benefits to listening to music whilst performing certain tasks. It can be quite motivating and it can improve your mood (i.e. listening to your favourite song tends to make people smile). This is  why many people listen to music in the gym . However, despite improving your arousal levels, it does not help people learn new or complex material.

The misbelief that it does stems from a series of studies that have been dubbed ‘The Mozart Effect’. Participants in these studies appeared to be getting smarter and performing better in tests. However, further research has since revealed that this is not the case.

Whilst listening to music before a task can make someone feel better, listening to it whilst trying to learn something new tends not to help. This is because music, especially with lyrics, can take up processing space. This conflicts with the material you are trying to learn, effectively creating a bottleneck in our memory, as there is less space to process what you are revising.

The authors of the study are in no doubt when they comment that “ despite liking certain lyrical music, it is as detrimental to reading comprehension as listening to disliked music. Music without lyrics was shown to be less detrimental but, as expected, performing reading comprehension was best in quiet conditions ”.

Classroom implications listening to music while studying

It is important that students are made aware of the pitfalls of listening to music while studying. What is interesting to note is that this study found that students rated the quiet environment as less distracting and better for them, yet many students will continue to listen to music during their homework.

Why would this be the case? It could be for a number of reasons, that include doing so out of habit; they confuse what improves their mood with what leads to good revision, it alleviates boredom, and because everyone else is doing it.

Therefore, students need to know not just what they need to revise, but  how they should revise  as well. There may well be a time and place to listen to music while studying, but not when they are learning new and complex material. As the old saying goes, ‘silence is golden’.

This study is from our book, “The Science of Learning: 99 studies that every teacher needs to know”.

• Find out more about the book
• Order a copy

Reference: Perham and Currie, 2014, Applied Cognitive Psychology

About the editor

Bradley Busch

Bradley Busch is a Chartered Psychologist and a leading expert on illuminating Cognitive Science in education. As Director at InnerDrive, his work focuses on translating complex psychological research into accessible, practical strategies. Over the past 13 years, he has delivered thousands of workshops for educators and students, helping improve how they think, learn and perform. Bradley is also a prolific writer: he co-authored four books including Teaching & Learning Illuminated and The Science of Learning , as well as regularly featuring in publications such as The Guardian and The Telegraph.

Jump to section:

Recommended The science of learning reads

4 tips for better PowerPoints in the classroom

Translating Cognitive Science strategies to teach young children

4 ways to get students to use Desirable Difficulties in independent study

How much do students overestimate their abilities and what can you do about it?

Does good classroom design lead to better learning?

Implicit vs Explicit memory: How do we remember things?

Universal practices of effective teaching: Formative assessments, examples and feedback

4 types of activities that maximise Retrieval Practice and Generative Learning

Be the first to know about the key Teaching & Learning research and how to apply it. Sign up to receive our free resources directly in your inbox.

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Should I be concerned about my teen's constant multitasking during homework?

Many teens multitask with media while doing their homework, and most of them think this has no effect on the quality of their work. Consider the stats :

• 51 percent of teens say they often or sometimes watch TV during homework.
• 50 percent often or sometimes use social media while doing homework.
• 60 percent often or sometimes text during homework.
• 76 percent often or sometimes listen to music during homework. (In fact, 50 percent of teens think listening to music helps their work vs. 6 percent who think it hurts.)

But, despite what kids think and do, frequently using several devices at a time affects the ability to focus. Productivity suffers when switching rapidly between different tasks because the brain has to re-focus every time it switches to a new activity . Over time, heavy multitaskers can also have trouble with face-to-face conversations.

The challenge for parents is figuring out what's normal (but frustrating) teen behavior and what are truly unhealthy study habits. Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks, but that more "zen-like" and classical music does not. But if your teens' academics are slipping, that's a red flag. Discuss your concerns and talk about ways to structure homework time, such as turning off cell phones and TV for a certain amount of time or allowing kids to check their texts only after they complete each assignment. Consider asking your kids to write down assignments and have them check each off as they finish them. Maybe offer rewards for finishing in a timely manner, since multitasking tends to make homework time drag on.

If your kid is really having a tough time blocking out distractions and staying focused, you might need some technical assistance. If your kid's school uses a 1-to-1 device program, ask the teacher if it comes with some time-management software or other controls that allow you to restrict access to non-homework-related sites. If your kid is using your home computer to do work, you might consider a parental-control program such as OpenDNS or KidsWatch that lets you separate homework from playtime.

Common Sense Media offers the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.

• Food & Dining
• Coronavirus
• Real Estate
• Seattle History
• PNW Politics

The Effects of Music on a Student's Schoolwork

Related articles, advantages & disadvantages of online options for high school students, poverty & illiteracy in schools, what do teachers do with students' dibels reading assessment results.

• Does After-School Work Affect School Performance?
• What Is Evidence-Based Reading?

Today’s teens find it hard to resist listening to music while doing homework. Those who choose to listen while they study could see grades dip as a result. Teens need to choose wisely if they decide to listen to music and study at the same time. Soothing music can help some students focus, while any choice of music can be a distraction for other students.

Many teens listen to music while they study. In fact, many juggle their listening and studying with other tasks such as emailing, instant messaging and watching television. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 53 percent of teens 12 to 17 do something else while studying. At 87 percent, listening to music was the most popular side activity for those who balanced studying with another activity. This generation of teens is growing up multitaskers, and the lure of computers, televisions and iPods is too great for today’s teens to ignore even while doing homework.

Distraction

Trying to do more than one thing at a time means you’re not entirely focused on anything. A University of Toronto study found that fast, loud music hinders reading comprehension. The music agitates rather than focuses the studier, and researcher Glenn Schellenberg likened it to trying to learn while riding a roller coaster. A University College London study found that both introverted and extroverted undergraduate students performed worse on a reading comprehension test when pop music was played. A memory test for adult participants at the University of Wales met with similar results: Listening to music hampered the test takers.

Mozart Effect

But not all music is bad for all students. Sometimes, soothing music or classical music can help a student focus. One British study claims listening to Mozart for 10 minutes produced a “Mozart effect” where test-takers’ IQ scores went up 8 or 9 points. A Bulgarian psychologist employed the method of playing Baroque era music, which plays at a tempo of 60 beats per minute, to help students learn foreign languages. After the 30-day course, the average retention rate per student was 92 percent. Even four years later, when students had not reviewed the material, most remembered the foreign language lesson.

Individual Predispositions

The effect of music on students varies depending on the music and the student. The "Journal of Communication" studied whether listening to music affected eighth graders’ homework performance. The results were inconclusive. The U.S. Department of Education has concluded that quiet background music can help some children focus, but tells parents to turn off loud music from CD players, radios and televisions when their children study. The potential for distraction is too great from these music sources, according to government experts.

• “Los Angeles Times”: They All Do it While Studying
• “New York Times”: Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction
• “USA Today”: Should You Listen to Music When You Study?
• Applied Cognitive Psychology: Music While You Work; The Differential Distraction of Background Music on the Cognitive Test Performance of Introverts and Extraverts
• CNN Health: Music May Harm Your Studying, Study Says
• Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine: The Mozart Effect
• Cerebromente: Music and the Brain
• U.S. Department of Education: Helping Your Child With Homework

Rudy Miller has been writing professionally since 1996. Miller is a digital team leader for lehighvalleylive.com, a local news website and content provider to the Express-Times newspaper in Easton, Pa. Miller holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Miami.

Does Listening to Music While Doing Homework Affect Your Grade in School?

Kids in school with music vs. kids in school without music, does background noise affect memory study, statistics on how poverty affects children in schools, what are the positive & negatives of iq testing, music's effect on concentration as a science project, does the time of day affect how students focus on their reading, separate-gender classes and schools, does the guided reading model really work, most popular.

• 1 Does Listening to Music While Doing Homework Affect Your Grade in School?
• 2 Kids in School With Music Vs. Kids in School Without Music
• 3 Does Background Noise Affect Memory Study?
• 4 Statistics on How Poverty Affects Children in Schools

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Ticket Sales
• Promoted: What to Watch on Prime Video

Recommended

Breaking news, students who listen to music while studying have a higher gpa: poll.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

If you’re someone who listens to music because you can’t study in silence, you probably have a high GPA, according to a new study.

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of online university CSU Global looked at the correlation between music and studying and found that those who listen to music were more likely to have a GPA above 3.2.

Half of the 2,000 respondents recalled listening to music regularly while studying (49%), and 60% said they studied better with sound in the background rather than in complete silence.

Some other sounds people enjoy listening to while studying include nature sounds (30%), real-life noises (26%) and podcasts (24%).

“There are a variety of platforms students can tap into to aid their studying habits, whether it’s an instrumental music playlist on Spotify, a soothing meditation on Calm or rain sounds on YouTube,” said Dr. Christina Agvent, program director of teaching and learning at CSU Global.

“There is something out there to fit every student’s preferences and study styles.”

The percentage of those who studied with music is larger for younger students, with 58% of 18 to 25-year-olds listening to music while studying versus just 41% of 58 to 76-year-olds.

Eighty percent of those who listen to music while studying agree that it’s therapeutic, and 75 percent said it helps them absorb information.

Those who listen to music also concede that it helps them enjoy their learning experience more (81%).

The survey also found that of the two-thirds of respondents who said they were focused in school, 58% of them still listened to music while studying.

Music listeners were most likely to use mnemonic devices, notecards or other creative tools to help them memorize information. They were also more likely to spend more time studying every week — upwards of seven hours.

Sixty-four percent of those who listen to music said they had an easier time taking tests, and 80% felt more prepared for class on a regular basis.

Listening to background music goes beyond the classroom.

Two in three Americans said they listen to music while they work, with 89% of respondents saying they feel more productive at work when listening to tunes and 84% saying music helps them look forward to work more.

Respondents’ favorite songs to listen to while they study included “Riverside” by Agnes Obel, “Against the World” by Bob Seger and “God’s Plan” by Drake.

Classical music (31%), R&B (28%) and country (28%) were the top genres people listen to while studying.

More than half (58%) of respondents said that schools should consider letting their students experiment with background music to help them focus.

“Listening to music while studying can be an extremely helpful tool for some students in improving their focus,” Agvent said. “I encourage all to explore different genres or other sounds to discover what may be the best fit for them in aiding their educational experience.”

Share this article:

Advertisement

• Alternative
• Popular Music Videos
• Amazon Disclaimer
• DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

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

September 29, 2021 by Admin 0 Comments

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.

Products You May Like

Articles you may like, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• T.H.E – Podcasts

Why to Listen to Music While Doing Homework

Music is a proven tool that can help you concentrate. However, it’s not easy for some people to focus when even a light sound reaches their ears. Some people can even forget instantly that they were looking for essay writing help by Essayhub.com and remember about it when it’s too late. It can be also a sign of irritability but can be fixed with the help of music as well. The trick is to test what music your mind perceives better.

Psychologists constantly repeat that a person should adhere to the schedule and strict regime to increase their work efficiency.

It is important to create the same work environment while doing your homework. Your table should be free of distracting things, and you should have enough light not to strain your eyes. Besides, your chair should be comfortable enough not to cause tension in your muscles. And you should turn on classical music in the background if you want to completely focus on monotonous work and immerse yourself in implementing your tasks. Besides, they recommend putting on “special” clothes for homework and making a certain “ritual” before the beginning. All these stereotypical, permanent things allow you to get ready for doing your mental work and increase your efficiency. If you turn on music every time you start doing your homework, it becomes one of these stereotypes that triggers your mental activity. Thus, when I am going to write my essay , I turn on the same musical composition every time, so my brain tunes to exactly this task. So, what benefits can you get from listening to music while doing your homework?

It helps quickly relax before learning

Specialists from the US Department of Homeland Security conducted a musical experiment and confirmed that music helps cope with stress. The study was based on combinations of different frequencies, durations, and amplitudes of tracks, which their test subjects were listening to; they watched their state and ability to relax. Most of the soothing compositions were variants of classical pieces close to Chopin’s music. Such music reduced the level of cortisol in the blood, had a sedative and analgesic effect. Thus, if you want to relax after classes and distract yourself a bit, you can turn on appropriate music for about 10 minutes. Another option to reduce stress is to order an essay paper to meet a deadline.

It helps concentrate

If you find it difficult to force yourself to start doing your homework, you should try to find motivation and create the right conditions for comfortable brain activity. Scientists have found that Mozart music and similar compositions increase alertness and improve concentration. According to a Stanford University Medical Center report, music affects areas of the brain associated with concentration and memory development. Scientists conducted a study using MRI. They tracked which parts of the brain are most active. Experts have concluded that Baroque music, written in past centuries, helps people gather their thoughts and process a rich flow of information.

It improves memory

Mozart music helps significantly improve memory and activate neural connections that affect cognitive performance. Scientists divided the participants into several groups, and each of them was listening to Mozart and Beethoven’s compositions. As a result, it was noted that those who listened to Mozart’s sonatas had increased intellectual indicators. People remembered new information better and were less biased about solving an unfamiliar problem. Another group of participants that was listening to Beethoven didn’t show such obvious changes, so the results of the experiment were called the Mozart effect. Thus, if you want to improve your memory and learn everything faster, play Mozart compositions in the background.

It helps deal with noisy roommates

It often happens that people who coexist in the same space interfere with each other’s work. Thus, you can live with a roommate who is fond of talking and who doesn’t care about your presence and necessity to keep silent. So, you can get distracted by such a person, their endless phone calls, and conversations. Noise-canceling headphones and music can help solve this problem. While doing your homework, music can become the only possible way out if you don’t want to go to the library, of course.

But in addition to homework, students often have to write essays on various subjects. Someone does not have free time, and someone does not have enough writing skills to perform such a creative task. Online services for students write test papers, essays, dissertations, etc. Written papers are interesting to read, they always correspond exactly to the task at hand. But how to choose a proven service? On essaysadvisor.com , you can find detailed reviews of companies that specialize in student help. This way, you will save a lot of time on the search.

It helps increase creativity

Suppose you don’t want to die from boredom while working on some monotonous assignments. In that case, you can put on headphones, set the desired volume, choose your favorite playlist, and immerse yourself into the process with bigger pleasure. Be that as it may, loud music is unlikely to help when it comes to work that requires activation of the right hemisphere. It turns out that the average noise level is a kind of creative catalyst. By complicating the process of processing information, background noise stimulates abstract thinking and tunes the human brain into a creative work mode. That is why public places, such as cafes, dams, and parks, attract creative people.

It helps feel blue without consequences

Music psychologist Stefan Kelsch has concluded that listening to sad music positively affects empathic qualities and helps a person cope with problems. He believes that the listener associates themselves with the performer and empathizes with them. Currently, the brain regulates emotions, allowing you to let out negative emotions. Such sadness does not cause consequences on a par with real sadness that arises in difficult situations. Thus, sad music promotes the experience of pain without harm to a student’s psychological health.

It helps boost dopamine production

The hormone dopamine is produced as a reward for achieving goals and helps create a good mood. A study with a tracing of neural mechanisms using tomography showed that the subjects experienced an increase in blood flow during the experiment, activated parts of the brain responsible for emotions, excitement, and motivation. Listening to music that you like activates the brain’s reward system on a par with eating sugary, fatty foods, or socializing with loved ones.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Great News For Swifties As Taylor Swift Breaks Record With “Tortured Poets Department”

How To Transform Voices Effortlessly With lalal.ai Voice Changer: A Step-By-Step Guide

Eras Tour – London: 4 Things You Must Take Along As A Certified Swiftie

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Neo Tokyo Records, Shogun And Tyler Hooks Bring The “Afterglow” Vibe To Their Listeners

Martin Garrix Unveils Eye-Catching Line-Ups For Ushuaïa Ibiza Residency

Ashley Paul & Luv Foundation (UK) Deliver With Hands Up Summer Smash ‘Hearts Up’

Blak Likorish Presents Guestmix Of His Favourite Tracks

• Advertise your Music
• R&B Artists
• R&B Videos
• Song Guides
• Best Guitar Lessons Near Me
• Best Singing Lessons Near Me
• Live R&B Radio
• Submit Music

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.

Related Posts

10 Best Otis Redding Songs of All Time

15 Best Rock Bands of All Time

10 Famous Singers from Hawaii

10 Best Linda Ronstadt Songs of All Time

“unholy” by sam smith: deciphering the song’s profound meaning, 10 best pokémon earbuds for gaming and music.

100 Best Worship Songs of All Time

Worship songs are a powerful form of music that serve to uplift, inspire, and connect people with a higher power...

50 Best Southern Gospel Songs of All Time

The Soul Train Award winner for "Best Soul Site," Singersroom features top R&B Singers , candid R&B Interviews , New R&B Music , Soul Music , R&B News , R&B Videos , and editorials on fashion & lifestyle trends.

Trending Posts

• Greatest Singers of All Time
• Best Rappers of All Time
• Best Songs of All Time
• Karaoke Songs
• R Kelly Songs
• Smokey Robinson Songs

Recent Posts

• 15 Best Heavy Metal Songs of All Time
• 15 Best Folk Music Songs of All Time
• 15 Best Jazz Songs of All Time
• 15 Best Rap Songs of All Time
• 15 Best Christian Songs of All Time
• 15 Best Hiphop Songs of All Time

Good Music – Best Songs by Year (All Genres)

• Best Piano Lessons Near Me
• Best Music Gear

Musical Equipment

• Accessories
• Audio Equipment
• Musical Instruments

© 2023 SingersRoom.com - All Rights Reserved

Best Homework Music: Music To Listen To When Doing Homework

February 24, 2023 93 Songs, 2 hours, 40 minutes ℗ 2023 Add This Music, LLC

Select a country or region

Africa, middle east, and india.

• Côte d’Ivoire
• Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
• Guinea-Bissau
• Niger (English)
• Congo, Republic of
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Tanzania, United Republic Of
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia (English)
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Malaysia (English)
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Solomon Islands
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• France (Français)
• Deutschland
• Luxembourg (English)
• Moldova, Republic Of
• North Macedonia
• Portugal (Português)
• Türkiye (English)
• United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina (Español)
• Bolivia (Español)
• Virgin Islands, British
• Cayman Islands
• Chile (Español)
• Colombia (Español)
• Costa Rica (Español)
• República Dominicana
• Ecuador (Español)
• El Salvador (Español)
• Guatemala (Español)
• Honduras (Español)
• Nicaragua (Español)
• Paraguay (Español)
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• St. Vincent and The Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos
• Uruguay (English)
• Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

• Canada (English)
• Canada (Français)
• United States
• Estados Unidos (Español México)
• الولايات المتحدة
• États-Unis (Français France)
• Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
• 美國 (繁體中文台灣)