LOS ALAMITOS, Calif– Music can have a strong impact on studying, both positively and negatively. Listening to music while studying can help reduce stress, improve mood, increase motivation and even boost memory for some students. However, music can also be distracting, especially when it has loud beats or lyrics that compete for attention. Because of these mixed effects, music during study time is more than just background noise — it can influence how well students focus and learn.
Music has been commonly known for generating a more positive impact than a negative one. For example, while listening to music, people experience stress reduction and a lower heart rate. When studying or cramming for a test or just trying to get “locked in,” music can help reduce anxiety and make work feel more manageable. When doing a task for a significant amount of time, music can make it feel less boring.
“I don’t listen to music when studying, it makes it harder to learn and stay focused,” said Los Alamitos High School junior, Audrey Delgadillo.
On the other hand, music can also distract people from tasks or affect their emotions negatively. Music can make people feel less connected to the real world and cause them to depend on it for emotional connections. Despite music sounding good, it isn’t always helpful. Songs with lyrics can make it harder to concentrate. When needing to read, write, or memorize, the addition of lyrics.
There are many types of music, some more beneficial than others for studying. According to Vaughn College, different types of music will benefit studying habits.
Firstly, classical music is one of the most beneficial types of music to listen to when studying. Classical music has fewer lyrics, creating fewer distractions. The calm tempo can help with focus and memory, making it easier to absorb information. Baroque music can help reduce stress. Lo-Fi music, with the steady beats maintaining focus and creating a good amount of background noise without pulling attention away from work. Additionally, nature sounds, with the calming background noise of waterfalls and rain, can make it less of a distraction. Finally, Jazz music can improve focus and creativity.
“When I listen to music when studying, I choose to listen to upbeat music so it motivates me to keep going,” said Los Alamitos High School junior, Sophie Ward.
When studying for different subjects, different types of music can help or hurt for that specific subject. When studying math, students need to be able to have precise memory and be able to focus on doing a problem over and over again to grasp the concept. Math topics also have lots of follow-ups on ideas and problems. However, when reading, students have to be able to retain information by understanding the deeper meanings of stories and analyzing them effectively.
It is also important to note that everyone studies differently and some can multitask better than others. For some, music can be a distraction because of over-singing, checking songs, skipping songs, etc. If you want to study with music, a few small changes can make a difference. When matching the music to the task, keep the volume low and use the same playlist to build a routine.
This article was originally published in the Griffin Gazette: Insight magazine in a condensed version. You can read the magazine version here.
