What should i listen to while studying

Or use those noise-cancelling earphones to create a silent space for study. Is some music more conducive to study than others? Clearly thrash metal played at full volume is going to be more distracting than gentle string concertos. But any music with lyrics, up-tempo beats or a catchy hook is likely to disrupt concentration. If you find yourself tapping your toe or humming along to a song while studying, you have chosen the wrong music!

If you're dancing and singing the chorus into your hairbrush - you've definitely chosen the wrong track! When it comes to unobtrusive background music, 'bland' would be the key word. Think gentle, accoustic, light strings, movie soundtracks, ambient water sounds - familiar, regular music with no surprises or break-out rhythm sections. Research by Dr Nick Pernham of Cardiff University in suggests that students might fare better listening to music they don't even like, instead of their favourite artists; research participants were asked to recall eight items, in order, while listening to music they either liked or disliked or to no music at all.

Performance in the disliked-music condition was significantly better than in the liked-music environment Various studies indicate that some people are better at studying with background noise than others.

Extroverts and multi-taskers juggle music and study the most efficiently, while anxious fidgeters benefit most from calming, relaxing music. Emotional recall. Music is extremely emotive and associative. When we listen to a piece of music, we remember the emotions we experienced the last time we heard it.

We recall information better in environments similar to those in which we learnt them. So, if the Ed Sheeran track you listened to while revising is playing in the exam room, well - bingo!

However, this is unlikely. Exam rooms are quiet. Get used to it! Trying to memorise information while listening to music may not be a great idea. But students can use the distracting properties of music to test their recall once they think they know their stuff. This is a trick used by actors trying to remember lines. The theory is that it's easy enough to recall information in ideal situations but if something throws your concentration off - eg nerves, a cough, a dog barking outside - your mind might suddenly draw a blank.

Once you think you know your Japanese vocabulary, your English literature quotes or your mathematical formulae, try recalling them with noisy, distracting music blaring out in the background. Way more difficult! If you succeed in that environment, it should be a doddle in the peace of the exam room. Topics: Teens , High School , Homework , exams. Enrol Contact Compass. Clicking the button below constitutes your express written consent, without obligation to purchase, to be contacted by Vaughn College including through automated technology, e.

Standard message and data rates apply. Contact Information. Need assistance with this form? Vaughn Forward: Important Information for Fall September 17, Student Life. Benefits of studying to music Do you listen to music while you study, or do you prefer total silence? Here are some benefits of listening to classical music: Improves test scores Reduces learning time Improves creativity and clarity Integrates both sides of the brain for more efficient learning Raises IQ scores Sounds of nature—Keeps your brain engaged by increasing concentration Have you ever tried studying in a noisy room?

Plus, it helps you plan your study sessions to meet your concentration level. Avoid listening to the radio. Dialogue between radio personalities and commercials can be distracting. Turn it down. Listening to music at a moderate level is best. Resources Need Financial Aid for College? Sign Up for the Vaughn Email Newsletter. Simply complete the form below to receive information about Vaughn and get connected with an admissions counselor.

First Name. Last Name. Verify Email. Street Address. Students are always looking for ways to improve their study habits and one of the most popular study aids is music. Unfortunately, the music you listen to on a daily basis may not be very effective for exam prep. On the other hand, there is no one genre of music that works for everyone. Volume is a major factor as well, as listening to loud music is much more likely to be distracting, regardless of genre.

Fortunately, there are certain genres of music that have been shown to increase concentration and motivation. The best music for studying still depends a lot on personal preference, but the six genres below are good places to start. However, there are a surprising number of benefits to listening to classical music. It can help reduce stress and even improve sleep patterns.

Some students will concentrate better with simple instrumentation, while others will prefer the power of a full orchestra.

We recommend experimenting to find the best music for studying. YouTube and Spotify have many classical music playlists , so take a look and find some that work for you. This broad genre includes everything from slow, atmospheric music to pulse-pounding electronic dance music EDM.

Electronic music has become very popular among college and university students in recent years and the good news is that much of it is actually great for studying.