You may know a lot of people who listen to music while studying, or perhaps you may be one of them! Think about this: you have a lot of work to finish off that you are dreading. But then, you imagine yourself listening to your favourite song while working on your tasks. For me personally, listening to certain songs feels rewarding and is something that makes me look forward to doing my work, whether it be my job, chores or studies.

But is there a scientific reason behind why people tend to or should listen to music while studying? Keep in mind that there must be the right type of music exposure to attain these benefits (more about this at the end of the article). Read on to find out how and when music can make your study sessions more productive, effective and enjoyable.

Benefits of Music While Studying

Keeps you motivated

Studying for many hours can be boring and tedious, but you have to keep going either way. The more you study and the more you revise, the better. So how do you do this? Add a little sparkle to your studies by accompanying it with your treasured tunes! Playing music while studying makes the process a little less lifeless and may help in keeping you on your desk, studying for longer.

Helps you concentrate and focus

Related to another benefit, music has stress-relieving qualities and may release dopamine (happy chemicals:))), reducing anxiety. This in turn allows your brain to better focus on what you are presently doing, rather than wander off to other worries. This helps with better concentration, ability to think more clearly and critically, solve problems effectively and therefore, produce better results. Furthermore, the extra sound of the right type of music blocks out potential background noises/distractions, allowing your brain to really zone into your studies, especially if you have an easily-distracted mind.

Aids cognitive development

There have been many studies done that prove that incorporating music into your study routine can significantly improve results and IQ. While this does vary from person to person, it holds for the majority of students. Apparently, introducing music to children from a young age aids brain development, perhaps because you are being exposed to a new language, making your brain pay attention, thus allowing your brain to undertake memorisation processes.

Improves memory

Listening to music is known to be beneficial for improving memory. It improves your overall mood and this positive emotional state leads to better memorisation. Brain cells can die from inactivity so listening to music is something that can boost brainpower, especially the process of learning and memorising lyrics and notes. Maybe this is a reason why those who study music are found to be doing better in maths too. To know more about music and its effects on memory, as well as other memorisation tips, check out this article.

Helps relieve stress

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us - Martin Luther King

Count the number of times you were too stressed and unmotivated to start studying or study for longer. Again, music boosts the brain’s production of dopamine, making you feel happier! Furthermore, music also increases serotonin and endorphin levels, which also aid in tackling stress. Music has multiple health benefits too! How does this work? Most of the times you listen to music, your heart rate matches up with the rhythm of the music. When you are stressed and your heart is beating fast, pop on some calm music to lower it to a normal rate. The more mentally and physically happier and healthier you are, the better you will be at performing tasks.

Sparks creativity

Yes, the right exposure to music can help you think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. The pleasant environment that music creates inspires imagination and ignites creative thinking. What a magical quality this is!

Maximising the positive impact of music

Okay so we discussed the numerous benefits of listening to music while studying, but with everything comes disadvantages. Even music can pose a threat to your academic life if it is not used “wisely”. This also ties in with the next big question, what kind of music is the best to listen to while studying? Here is a summarised list of the ways you should avoid listening to music as well as how to maximise its positive effects:

The choice of music truly matters. Listen to the right compilation of songs.
Don’t spend too much time creating your own playlists (use that time to study instead!). This may break your study flow. Streaming sites such as Spotify and YouTube offer a wide range of suitable study music, just use those.
Use different types of music for different purposes. For example, the music you listen to while doing your English homework may be different to the music that is helpful while studying for maths.
Personally, I find it extremely difficult to do any reading related work while some song is going on in the background. This could be because I am really needing brainpower to focus only on what I am reading and then process/imagine it. While music has its benefits, it does not mean it is always beneficial or necessary. You should avoid it if it is not helping or making it harder for you to concentrate on your studies.
Don’t keep changing the songs or adjusting the volume! Keep the volume low from the start. Your concern shouldn’t be the songs, but the content you are studying. Changing tracks frequently can have a bad effect on your studies.

What kind of music is most suitable whilst studying?

Mashups with longer repetitive songs or songs with repetitive rhythms.
Instrumentals. I did mention earlier that learning lyrics can help with memorisation but try sticking to lyric-less music to study with. Also, try to avoid instrumental tracks of your favourite songs. If you hear these tunes while working, you’ll probably start singing the lyrics in your head. This is good for memory function but it will divert your attention from your studies to the music.
Lo-fi (my absolute favourite while studying! This genre is so good for relaxation and very study-friendly)
Gentle music - classical or jazz music? Soothing melodies don’t negatively affect your concentration and/or comprehension of information.
No party songs! No dance numbers for study sessions. Give the metals, raps, pops and such a skip. Maybe use those during times you need a burst of energy (before exams?).
Motivational songs to keep you focused on the outcomes of your hard work.
Avoid songs with lyrics that don’t align with your values. This can also put you off your thread because you might be constantly thinking about the message of the song. For example, I also prefer listening to Christian worship music, it is a great source of motivation for me and has a very positive effect on me personally.
Avoid your absolute favourites that get you singing along (but do pick melodies you like to keep you motivated and place you in a calm state of mind), they can be distracting. Avoid catchy, relatable, well-known songs too. Sorry:(((
No nostalgic songs too. Nothing that is meant to stick in your head.
Try experimenting with songs in different languages. Since you don’t understand the lyrics, your brain will likely tune out that sound whilst still making the most of its benefits.
Interestingly, movie and video game soundtracks can be helpful too. They have been composed so that they add to the scene/gameplay and not change its centre of attention (e.g. minecraft soundtrack). They are also motivating yet very ambient in many cases which can help bring out the benefits listed above. Take advantage of this but for your studie.
Create your playlist if need be since not everything I suggested above works for everyone, experiment and pick out whichever songs get you in the zone. Find your personal preferences and curate a selection based on that. Anything that makes you happy and works for you is great!

I hope this article introduced some new and interesting things to you which will help make studying a bit more fruitful and fun. However, it is important to keep in mind that while most of the information in this article applies to a lot of people (with testimonies, surveys and scientific studies backing it up), the tips may or may not work desirably for you. Like with everything, music is also not a one-size-fits-all. In fact, some people favour absolute silence for a better focus and a productive routine. Every individual is a different type of learner so it really depends on your preferences. Get absorbed in your tasks, not the music which serves as a backdrop to facilitate it. Nonetheless, I hope you make the best out of your study time and get everything you need to have a great learning experience!