By Eve Perrins, Third Year, English and History
Many people often swear by certain types of music to improve their focus or their creativity when studying, but what kind of music actively helps your brain focus? Does such a genre exist?
For me at least, listening to music whilst studying only ever leads to distraction, especially certain genres Bristol is known for such as drum and bass and jungle! Studies on the topic are varied and often have inconclusive results, as whether or not music helps you study and focus is very personal and has a lot of variables.
With this in mind, trying out new study techniques when at university is a fun and important way of remaining engaged with your course, listening to music included. So, when choosing the sort of music that might help you stay on task, what factors should you consider, and what genres should you try?
When I studied for my A-levels, one of my friends swore that by listening to heavy metal music on repeat, she was able to completely lock her attention on our coursework. I, however, was sceptical of this. How could heavy metal music do anything but draw your focus away from Hamlet coursework and onto the screaming and raging happening in your ears? Strangely enough, she did have a point.
Certain studies suggest that unconventional music genres such as heavy metal tune out distracting background noise and increase awareness. The fast-paced rhythms act almost like caffeine, increasing alertness and warding off sleepiness and lethargy. This makes it a good choice for long study sessions. Perhaps this choice of music would work better for courses in which memorisation and active recall are key, as it keeps you absorbed in the material you are studying rather than encouraging creativity and giving you room to daydream.
Similarly, another unconventional type of music that may help sustain attention is video game background music. My personal favourite is the Stardew Valley soundtrack. Unlike heavy metal, it is much more soothing and is designed to blend into the background and allow you to focus. This sort of music works well for me when I am trying to plan an essay or develop some ideas for a project.
Classic for a reason (ha-ha!), classical music is also often associated with effectiveness in improved concentration and focus. Expectant mothers would sometimes put headphones on their bump and blast Mozart in the hope that the music would increase their baby’s intelligence. Classical music for studying definitely sets the right mood and the tone. Classical music engages both the left and right sides of your brain according to research, which helps improve memory.
Additionally, classical music is often very relaxing and allows you to tune out the outside world. Without lyrics, this sort of music blends into the background, creating a soothing work environment. Perfect for the stress of deadline season. There are wide ranges of playlists in all corners of the internet, whether on Spotify or YouTube, you don’t need to become an expert in classical music to reap its benefits.
Of course, your personal favourite sort of music could always be what is optimal for you when studying. Building your own playlist is an enjoyable way to spend your free time, especially if you create a one with studying in mind. Additionally, some studies suggest that there is a positive impact of listening to ‘preferred background music’ to sustain your attention when studying. Listening to music you like and choose can stop your mind wandering, this research says.
Hunter Grasdal
When creating a playlist for studying, I think it’s important to pick options that are relaxing and that you can listen to passively, rather than music that encourages you to get active or dance. I like to listen to some classic Bristol trip-hop like Massive Attack, or some shoegaze like Slowdive (although sometimes this can veer into the depressing). Overall, listening to your favourite music may help keep your mood elevated whilst studying and decrease the chances of your mind wandering onto other things.
To sum up, it is a highly personal choice what music works best for studying. Whilst there are a lot of options to trial and explore, it comes down to what feels right for you. Studying is hard and often boring, so selecting and curating a playlist might help to trick your brain into finding it more enjoyable. If you have one playlist you return to every time you settle down to work, you will eventually train your brain into associating these tunes with learning!
Featured image: Epigram / Ellen Reynolds
Do you listen to music while you study?
