Most high school students listen to music regularly. Whether it’s taking the bus to and from school, taking a long family road trip, or reading and studying. Music has always been a way to lose oneself. Even if a student is cramming for a big test the next day, their headphones and electronics will be nearby.
Most teachers might say that listening to music while reading or studying, is distracting. However, In contrast, listening to music may help improve studying, but only when done in a way that is suits the needs of the individual student such as listening to a particular type of music.
In this article, MyStudentKit team will list the 10 best music for studying. Carefully read through.
Why Should I Study With Music?
Studying with music helps us relax and optimizes our cognitive processes. When we study with our headphones ringing out the perfect tunes, we concentrate and process information better, and retain new information more quickly and efficiently. Ideally, our brain loves balanced, harmonic musical stimulation. There are actually frequencies that can help our brain work better.
According to Verywellmind, research suggests that background music, or music that is played while the listener is primarily focused on another activity, can improve performance on cognitive tasks in older adults.
Take advantage of our 10 best music for studying the next time you are preparing for an exam or any other mental task.
Top 10 Best Music For Studying
1. Binaural beats
Binaural beat therapy is a relatively new type of sound wave therapy. It takes advantage of the fact that each ear receives a slightly different frequency tone, but the brain perceives these as a single tone.
This uses your brain’s natural ability to fill in sensory gaps via two distinct frequencies in each ear (through headphones). It causes the brain to detect the difference and generate its own frequency.
According to popsci.com, what makes binaural beats interesting is their ability to synchronize, or entrain, your brain’s electrical response to stick to a certain rhythm, making it nice music for studying.
According to Healthline, binaural beats are said to:
- relieve anxiety
- boost focus and concentration
- reduce stress
- increase relaxation
- foster positive moods
- promote creativity
- help manage pain
2. Isochronic tones
Isochronic tones are regular beats of a single tone used in conjunction with monaural and binaural beats in a process known as brainwave entrainment. At its most basic, an isochronic tone is a tone that is rapidly turned on and off. They produce sharp, distinct sound pulses.
Isochronic tones are used in the brain wave entrainment process. Brain wave entrainment is a technique for synchronizing brain waves with a specific stimulus. This stimulus is usually in the form of an audio or visual pattern.
According to Healthline Isochronic tones are beneficial for a variety of purposes:
- attention
- promoting healthy sleep
- alleviating stress and anxiety
- perception of pain
- memory
- meditation
- mood enhancement
3. Meditation music
This type of music is not only popular for stimulating the brain, but it is also excellent for de-stressing. Entering a state of meditation will calm your body, allowing you to tackle difficult assignments.
The sound of rain rattling on a window, a flowing river, and other soothing sounds of nature can have a cathartic effect on our bodies. It improves our level of focus and liberates us at the same time, making it one of the best music for studying.
READ ALSO: When Is The Best Time To Study? Day or Night | Expert Advice
4. Nature and rain sounds
Nature sounds have been shown to relax our nervous system. This could be done through the sounds of rain, ocean waves, or even the jungle. According to Everydayhealth, the whoosh of wind through a stretch of forest, birds calling to one another as they land on branches, and the gurgle of a brook over a rocky bed — are the kinds of sounds that are not only calming but could have profound health and well-being.
Once you settle on a nature sound you find pleasant, it will help you improve your focus and concentration while studying..
5. Classical music
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘classical music’ as “music written in a Western musical tradition, using an established form (for example a symphony). Classical music is generally considered to be serious and to have a lasting value.”
Studying can be stressful, especially if you don’t completely understand the material. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, listening to classical music can help you relax and work more effectively.
The Mozart Effect is a famous method used to study. Why? Listening to classical music when you study arouses your brain to focus. According to a study, classical music can help your brain absorb and interpret new information more easily.
Recommended: How To Prepare For IELTS Exam At Home | Expert Advice
6. Instrumentals
Instrumental music is the simplest way to go about studying with music. Music without lyrics helps to not distract from studying.
With Instrumental, you won’t mistakenly type lyrics since the only voice you’ll hear is your own. The background noise will keep you from becoming bored while reading a novel for English class or memorizing math equations.
This is where video games and movies come in. Video game music is designed to keep you absorbed and focused — which is also great for memorizing. 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.
READ ALSO: 13 Effective Time Management Tips For College Students
7. Soft rock
Soft Rock music has a fast tempo, which helps release positive energy that stimulates the brain, allowing the student to become more attentive and study for longer periods of time. Rock deals with more real-life issues and students can feel inspired even when confronted with difficult issues such as college assignments.
This type of music stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that boosts mood and positive emotions. Listening to rock music while studying can have the same effect as listening to metal music for students while studying.
Below is a soft rock music playlist on Youtube you can stay glued to while studying.
8. Upbeat
According to a study, playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed, while both upbeat and downbeat music led to benefits in memory. It also helps improve and retain focus. Check out this upbeat study music playlist on Youtube.
YOU MAY WANT TO SEE: Lagos State University (LASU) | Courses, School Fees, Cut-off Mark
9. Jazz
Jazz music relaxes the body by activating alpha brain waves, which aids in anxiety reduction and promotes mental clarity. In addition to alpha and delta waves, jazz music can stimulate your theta brain waves, which encourage higher levels of creativity.
According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, listening to jazz can improve your memory, mood, and verbal abilities.
SEE ALSO: What Is A Good GMAT Score? Expert Advice
10. R&B
Aside from providing entertainment, R&B songs can also heal the brain, improve memory, and relieve stress. Check out the R&B Youtube playlist below for chill and study.
Benefits Of Studying With Music
Here are a few benefits of studying with music:
1. Studying with music helps you relax
It is no longer a secret that music can be an excellent stress-relieving therapy. Researchers have even experimented with music genres to see which ones can help your nervous system relax in the shortest amount of time. They used different combinations of track durations, frequencies, and amplitudes to determine what type of music would help participants calm down and relax.
The most soothing compositions were variations on classic works reminiscent of Chopin’s music. As a result, such formulations reduce cortisol levels and have a relaxing effect. You can also listen to your favorite music that has no negative connotations.
2. It helps students concentrate
Many students procrastinate a lot. And I understand how difficult it is for students to get back on track with their studies after the holidays. I used to look for someone to write a paper for me after Christmas when I was a student because I couldn’t focus on most assignments. And if you want to meet this challenge, motivation alone will not suffice. You should create optimal conditions for your brain to work efficiently and effectively.
Researchers discovered that Mozart’s music and similar compositions improve concentration by influencing brain areas responsible for memory enhancement. The most intriguing aspect is that peak brain activity occurs when sounds cease and a relaxed mind immediately begins working. Furthermore, researchers have concluded that if you need to gather your thoughts and process a large amount of data, you should listen to Baroque music, which was created several centuries ago.
3. It can increase focus
According to a 2007 study, music — classical music, especially— can help your brain immerse and interpret new information more easily.
The researchers discovered evidence that music can engage your brain in such a way that it trains it to pay more attention to events and predict what might happen.
It is also important to note that your brain processes the abundance of information it receives from the world around you by separating it into smaller segments.
4. It improves the brain functioning
Our brain is obsessed with music. We know, for example, that beginning to play an instrument at a young age helps our brain development and even improves our mathematical performance. Relaxing music is like a vitamin for our brains.
It puts us in the best mental state for reasoning and tasks that require our spatial-temporal abilities. At the same time, the connection between our two brain hemispheres improves, allowing neurons to communicate more quickly.
READ ALSO: 13 Business Ideas For College Students With Little Or No Capital
5. Music can improve your memory
Many students enjoy listening to music while studying, but is this such a good idea? Some believe that listening to music while studying improves memory, while others argue that it simply serves as a pleasant distraction.
According to research, it may be beneficial. However, it is dependent on a number of factors, including the type of music, the listener’s enjoyment of that music, and even the listener’s musical training.
How To Create A Music Playlist For Studying
It may seem obvious, but research has shown that listening to music and sounds may affect brain function, making it difficult to focus and concentrate. So, select music and sounds that make you happy. Here are some tips for creating your playlist:
- Create your playlist in advance so you’re not struggling to find a new song every few minutes.
- Keep your playlist to around 40-50 minutes—this is also a notice to take a study break when it’s over. Plus, it helps you arrange your study sessions to meet your concentration level.
- Keep the volume at a moderate level.
FAQs On Best Music For Studying
Some research suggests that music can help reduce stress during an academic task and may aid memory and processing during cognitive tasks. This, however, may vary depending on the type of music and the individual.
The best type of music for studying is determined by the individual. There is evidence that classical symphonies or relaxing music are effective stress relievers, but that upbeat music may improve a person’s thinking processes. Because lyrics can be distracting, instrumental music may be preferable to songs with lyrics.
Each individual can choose whether or not to listen to music while studying and what type of music is best for them. Songs, fast and loud music, and music that elicits strong emotions in the listener are examples of music that may not be beneficial.
Yes, it does. Music and musical training have also been shown to protect the aging brain and keep it healthy.
Conclusion
You’ll feel an inner calmness, manage stress better, and have more focus when you study with the right music. Need any more motivation to start listening to relaxing music?
References
- exploringyourmind.com – 10 Benefits of Listening to Relaxing Music
- healthline.com – Music and Studying: It’s Complicated
- studyinternational.com – These are the best music types to engage your brain
- thegroovecartel.com – Psychology of Music: How to Tune Yourself to a Certain Mood Using Different Genres
- wthspatriot.com – Benefits of Instrumental Music
