Music is an element of life that courses through our entire planet. Every species, from insects to birds to humans, communicate with their unique version of music. Even our universe emits a sound that resembles a melody. In our modern age, music has become extremely accessible with our portable devices and countless music streaming services. Movies like Footloose and Step Up are proof that music has the power to heal and bring groups of people together that otherwise wouldn’t associate with one another. In a very similar way, music has the ability to enhance our learning because lyrics can be easier to memorize than sentences in a textbook. From personal experiences, I have encountered peers that insist on listening to their favourite tracks when studying, while others prefer silence. However, the genres of music listened to whilst studying vary greatly and I’ve noticed a correlation between the task at hand and the tempo chosen.

            For tasks such as memorizing quick facts, a memory of a young Miley Cyrus in the TV show Hannah Montana comes to mind. When her character was struggling to memorize the different bones in the human body, she decided to create a catchy song that rhymed, along with some dance moves, to help ace her test. A more common example would be learning the alphabet.According to an online survey, 67% of people sing the alphabet song when recalling the alphabet, 12% use rhymes, and only 7% simply use flashcards. It is far easier for us to recall information relayed in rhyme because of a phenomenon known as “acoustic encoding”, our ability to remember and understand something through hearing, otherwise known as Mnemonics. Our brains can easier encode information in rhymes, and when we see rhymes, we break the words into phonemes, distinct units of sound that help distinguish one word from another. This helps us memorize information by recognizing the sound structure of certain words. Depending on the subject one is studying, this approach may not be ideal. If I’m studying for a huge Statistics final, I might not have the time or the creativity to construct enough mnemonic devices to help me remember enough information to pass. In this case, music serves to help one focus on the task at hand.

            Walking through the library past scores of students grinding away at their notes, whispers of music coming from earphones can be heard, ranging in genre. Pop/hip-hop is a common choice, but for people like my friend, they choose to listen to more intense music. Clubs and raves have been popularizing Electronic Dance Music (EDM), also known as Dubstep, since the late 1990’s, making it a huge success in Western culture. It is known for its heavy, loud, metal-esque beats that anyone can bounce their body to, so it came to me as a surprise when I noticed it in a setting it wasn’t originally intended to be in: as part of someone’s studying routine. Many EDM songs are repetitive in nature and focus on a few melodies that are built upon as the song progresses. This repetition may actually help someone focus as the music can serve as background noise. According to a study done on the effects of music on productivity, background music (BGM) increased productivity when it was in major tones. This refers to music that sounds “happy”, like EDM. Music in major tones improves the mood of the listener, resulting in tasks being completed faster than without music. Noisy settings can dampen one’s productivity, and EDM can effectively block any unwelcome noises out. There are also several sub-genres, such as chillout and downtempo, that are less obtrusive and more sedative; less rave, more beach party. When my friend first told me she prefers listening to EDM when she studied, I was confused how she could possibly focus while listening to such loud music. Now I understand that for those who enjoy it, it can be beneficial in a multitude of ways.

            While loud, bumping music is a good energizer, there are times when silence is all one needs to detach from the outside world and focus on their work. For those that prefer silence, there are studies that suggest white noise can increase focus by blocking out the noises from the outside world. A stuffy, old library is not the most aesthetically pleasing setting to study or work in, so you might want to sit with your Iced Caramel Macchiato at your local Starbucks and study there. The loud noises of the public area can definitely be a distraction, especially for introverts. A study done by Adrian Furnham and Lisa Strbac of University College in London has shown that, “[…]both background music or office noises impaired performance of introverts in tasks involving reading comprehension, mental arithmetic, and prose recall,”. Both extroverts and introverts exhibited the same performance in a silent setting, thus proving that introverts have a special need for silence when studying. White noise is produced by combining the sounds of several distinct frequencies together, mashing 20,000 tones into one sound. White noise played at a low volume is an effective method of blocking out other surrounding noises because the human brain interprets it as a constant stimulus, hence creating an opportunity for other stimuli, such as seeing the images in a textbook, to have a bigger impact on the brain, rather than the loud noises of a cafe.

            Being in band during middle school gave me an excuse not to go outside for recess when the Canadian winters threatened my exposed face with frostbite. What I didn’t know at the time was that the classical music I played on my clarinet was a popular genre of music for studying. According to several studies done over the years, classical music can improve sleep-patterns, stress levels, and the immune system, a three-point strategy essential for increasing the effectiveness of one’s study routine. A study done in France showed that students were far more receptive to the information played during a lecture when classical music was played in the background as opposed to no music. Classical music puts people in a heightened emotional state, contributing to the ability to better absorb the information presented to them. It also helps stabilize blood pressure in stressful situations such as last-minute cramming for a test or final. Like any other genre, there are sub-genres within classical music, and some are more beneficial for your brain than others. Large orchestral pieces that range in dynamic are not recommended, but rather solo piano pieces such as Mozart sonatas.

            Like personality types, the spectrum of music genres is expansive. That is why I believe that there is no “best” music to listen to while studying. I have explored vastly different genres, from EDM to classical, and yet both have proven to be beneficial in some way to a student preparing for a test. The music you choose to listen to can also depend on the subject you’re studying for, how long you have been studying for, how soon the test is, etc. Personally, I opt for more upbeat and loud tunes when I’ve been slaving away at a desk for a couple hours, needing the stimulus to keep me awake and focused, while white noise is a better option when I have an important exam the next day. Everyone is different, and thus everyone will respond differently to different genres, so I encourage every hardworking student to find their rhythm, and finally study in harmony.

References

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