Does Music Actually Help You Study?
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Ainsley Benbow
Greek philosopher Plato once stated that music can be “a more potent instrument than any other”, recognising its importance in life and even for study. Through modern research and data, music has been proven to help people study, depending on the type of music and how it is used. When used correctly, music can improve focus and motivation; in contrast, if used poorly, music can become just another distraction.
One of the biggest advantages to studying with music is the way it can improve one’s mood and motivation. Let’s be honest, studying in silence isn’t always inspiring. Some people can study for hours without any music or noise, literally my dream; however, for many others, they need music or sounds like rain to keep them focused.
Music can make the whole experience of studying feel less stressful and a lot more enjoyable, helping people to stay focused for longer periods of time, if the atmosphere is amicable. It also stimulates the brain in a similar way to the body being stimulated during exercise, engaging areas linked to memory, attention and processing, thereby helping people to process information more easily and quickly. Further, background music can help to block out distracting noises, making it easier to concentrate in busy or loud environments, such as when you go to study at a cafe or other public spaces.
That said, not all music works in the same way. Classical music, from multiple studies, is seen to be the most effective option for studying due to its instrumental aspects, which don’t compete with the brain’s language processing. This helps to improve concentration, maintain attention span and can even help with absorbing new information. This can be seen through a 2014 study, which drew a conclusion that older adults who listened to classical music performed better on memory and processing tasks than those who worked in silence.
Similarly, other instrumental styles like ambient or lo-fi music can be just as helpful. These genres create a calm, steady background sound that supports focus without overwhelming the brain. They’re especially useful during long study sessions as they provide consistency without being distracting or repetitive in a noticeable way, including nature sounds like birds chirping or wind, rain and much more.
On the contrary, music with lyrics is usually less helpful, especially for tasks like reading or writing. This is because your brain tries to process the words in the song at the same time as information you’re studying or trying to write down, which can reduce comprehension and memory. This is known as the “irrelevant sound effect” where background speech or lyrics interfere with thinking and recall.
However, how someone uses music matters just as much as what you listen to. For example, volume is a key aspect that determines focus, as when it is lower, music stays in the background rather than taking centre stage. Loud or overly complex songs can quickly disrupt concentration and make it harder to think clearly. In fact, when working on difficult or unfamiliar material, silence is sometimes the better option.
Overall, music can be a powerful study tool when used intentionally and effectively. Although it can improve memory, attention and overall performance, results vary depending on the person, the task and, in all preference, people study and work better under different circumstances. However, according to research and science, the best approach is to stick with slow, instrumental music at a low volume and avoid anything too loud or lyric-heavy, where music should be used to support one’s focus, not compete with it.
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