There is a never-ending question in schools and homes with school-age children everywhere: does listening to music help students focus?
Years ago, when my younger kids were doing their homework, there was a constant battle in my house. Do I let them listen to music while doing their homework? Or do I make them finish their homework and then listen to their music? I wanted to make sure that they were doing their best on their homework.
And for years, I would just say no without even listening to an argument in favor or against listening to music while studying. But then one day, as I was listening to music while working (I know, the hypocrisy is real here!), I thought that maybe it is true that listening to music could help students to focus.
So I started looking online and talking to fellow moms and teachers about it. And I really learned a lot!
As it turns out, because of the power of music on the brain, it actually does help with recall and several other aspects of study. And as far as being harmful to studying, there are ways to work around those with little pain from students, parents, or teachers! Let’s take a look at all of these issues.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Listening to Music to Help Students Focus
Better Memory Recall
The reason for this advantage is something we can all recall from our own experience. Think about how often you remember something based on a song that you heard playing at the time. Often a song will come on the radio (or Pandora–do we really have radios anymore?) and it instantly took you back to some event in your past.
It is the same exact thing when you are listening to music and it helps you to cement what you are working on in your memory. The only difference is that generally the event you remember when listening to the song on your playlist is usually bigger than the math concept you are trying to reinforce.
However, it can still work well as a recall tool upon taking tests later, especially if you tend to listen to a very narrow type of music.
Music Can Help Improve Students’ Moods
This is also a concept that is evident in normal life. When we are in a bad mood or need a pick-me-up, we often turn to music.
Having soft music playing in the background while studying is proven to lift moods. And that will, in turn, help students to perceive the work they are doing in a more positive light. And that, in turn, can help them to get a better grade on their work in the long run!
It sounds like a pretty good benefit to me. And parents will be happy with that result as well!
Not only will their improved mood help their studying and grades, it will also affect their home life and attitudes toward others in the home. If music can do that with a preteen or teenager, it is a very powerful tool.
It can Drown Out Other Distracting Noises
Have you ever been trying to concentrate on something critical with a deadline looming, and a neighbor is having an unusually loud party? Or maybe a sibling has friends over and they are playing and singing to loud music in the room next to you?
Those sounds may not even be unbearably loud, but they are absolutely distracting. And in those cases, it is a perfect time to crank your own music up–a little bit! Not too loud or you will drown out your own studies.
Having your music just loud enough to hear it instead of the distracting noises around you is a perfect way to get some good studying accomplished.
Disadvantages of Listening to Music that Keeps Students from Focusing
Music That is Too Loud
If the music is too loud, it becomes hard to figure out what students are reading or listening to. All they are hearing is the music pounding into their ears and beating on their body. And that has the exact opposite effect of softer music playing in the background.
They will have to fight to be able to concentrate on what they are studying because the music is taking up too much real estate in their environment.
Music That Has Distracting Lyrics
Most studies have specified that music without lyrics is beneficial to studies while music with lyrics actually hinders productive study.
We probably didn’t really need a study to reveal that knowledge. We have all experienced it. Our favorite song comes on (and on a playlist, aren’t they all our faves?) and we immediately start singing along with the lyrics. Five minutes later the song is over. But we are now singing to the next song. And checking Snapchat.
Not only are the lyrics themselves distracting, they actually tend to help our distraction branch out to other distracting habits. Getting a snack, checking out what’s on tv, calling or texting a friend…the list goes on.
The best practice is to prevent distractions from being able to happen in the first place.
Negative Influence
Sometimes a song comes on the radio (or your playlist) that actually has a negative impact on your mood. It could remind you of a bad experience, or have a sound in it that just grates on your nerves.
Whatever the reason for the negative reaction, it can also have a negative impact on studying as well. It could give the student a sour taste in his/her mouth upon hearing that song, or reviewing the work that he/she heard the song while studying.
Generally speaking, in order for this to be a huge issue, it would have to be a really large negative experience they are relating to that song. And having a playlist that they can control will help to eliminate this problem.
Healthy Ways to Implement Listening to Music into Study
Remember that Every Student is Different
Some students will thrive in their study time with music. But some students need absolute silence while they study. Generally their study needs will guide their desire to listen or not listen to music. But for some students that find focusing in general difficult, you may have to impost some limits that they would not prefer.
The Type of Music Has a Significant Bearing on Benefits or Drawbacks of Studying
Studies have been done on which types of music are the best for promoting studying, as well as distracting from studies. Honestly, I think most of us intuitively know this based on our own experience of how music made us feel during various activities.
The list (not comprehensive) of types of music that are beneficial to study are classical, instrumental jazz and rock, and ambient music. I found this article to be very helpful in referencing why these types of music are beneficial.
On the flip side, the types of music that would be harmful to productive study would, of course, be heavy metal, blues, pop music with lyrics, country music with lyrics, or basically any loud music with lyrics that can cause your brain to try to go into two places at once.
Keep it in the Background
While we now know that listening to music does help students focus, we can rest assured knowing that we aren’t contributing to academic difficulty for them.
But we also need to make sure that it isn’t drowning out their studies. Keeping the volume low will allow it to stay in the background, where it can work its magic the best. It will be heard, but not be the focus of the room.
Conclusion
So this is what my study revealed on the issue of whether listening to music helps students study. The bottom line is that it isn’t necessarily the music itself that benefits the student. It is how the music makes the student feel that really contributes to the benefit.
It helped my family’s home life amazingly well once I looked into it and realized the benefits and drawbacks and adjusted accordingly. My kids were no longer irritated with me for what they considered a useless rule. And I noticed that their grades were not negatively impacted at all once I started letting them do it!
So how has it worked in your homes/schools? Please share with us in the comments below!
Resources:
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I have always found music to be a big help in keeping me focused. I listened to music while in school, and I still listen to it today while I do my work.
I think that many of us that listened to music in school carried it on to our adult work/lives. Thank you for sharing your perspective!
I am not used to listening to music while working or studying but you’re right, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
This was so interesting! I am a huge music fan and am always listening to music no matter what I’m working on or doing. Except for reading, that is the one thing I always found music doesn’t go well with for me.
Kileen
cute & little
I agree, Kileen, unless it is classical music with very low volume. Then I can read and listen to music at the same time. It has to be very much in the background.
When I was a student I did listen music while doing school stuffs because it helps me to motivate also right now I’m working on the office I do listening music while doing my work because I love music and music is big part of my life.
I agree, Maysz! Sometimes I play the music just to distract me from how much I don’t enjoy what I’m doing at the moment! Sometimes it goes even further than the fact that I enjoy the music. 🙂
This is an interesting read. I sometimes find listening to music offputting and prefer total silence if i am trying to concentrate on an important task.
It really depends on my mood as well, Emily. Thank you for sharing your perspective!
I agree that music without lyrics can help with focus. I remember reading that classical music has complex rhythms that activate our brain in unique ways. Sometimes I like to use it and sometimes not!
I agree, Samantha. I am the same way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
For me, from the time I was young and all the way through university, I was never able to multitask with school work and listening to music. It’s far too distracting for me, even if only nature sounds.
My sister is the same exact way as well as a few friends. They preferred absolute silence! Thank you for sharing, Emily!
Yes, I agree that this can help students focus. We just have to make sure to choose the appropriate one. Something not too loud and not too relaxing that you’ll fall asleep.
Personally, I tend to work better once I play music.
Yes, Clarice! It does have to be a really good balance. Thank you for sharing.
I’m very musically motivated and I find it to be such a helpful tool (even when I’m writing articles for my website!) I think we’re all different – but like you shared, it can be so helpful! Thank you for sharing the pros and cons and ways to make music work for you.
I agree, Sara. Not even does it depend on the person, it can even depend on our moods.
Music does help! I have recently discovered binaural beats and listening to 432Hz sounds. It doesn’t contain any lyrics that could be distracting and can really help zone you in for focus.
I will have to look into these, Lucy! Thank you for sharing! ♥
I use classical music when I study and it really helps me laser focus and stay awake. Sometimes I listen to orchestral movie and video game soundtracks as well.
My kids love video game and movie soundtracks too!
I had a teacher that used to play classical music during tests and that always seemed to help. However listening to my favorite music tends to distract me more than help with focus.
My experience is exactly the same as yours. I love listening to classical music to work with or for better atmosphere/ambience. But when I’m listening to my regular favorite music, I am way too distracted to be productive.
great post. as a student, i loved listening to music while i was reading or writing for school assignments. i will be honest that sometimes the music was way too distracting because i’d be singing along. LOL. i like your diagram with the pros and cons.
I agree, sometimes I let the music distract me way more than I should have! Actually, I still do that to this day, lol! Thank you for sharing your perspective!
Hey I think having music as an option for the classroom is a good idea, like other technology and media. The decision will come when they have to use the music or not – classroom management.
Very true, Nkem. Much of their decision will need to be based on their students’ needs and abilities. Thank you for sharing.
It actually depends. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn’t. I think it helps relax but eventually, you need silent times also.
I agree, Emman. Mood has almost as much to do with it as personality and preference. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
I think it depends on the person. For me, listening to YT videos help me focus more. When I was a student, it was music. Know your learning skills so you can maximize how you can be more productive.
You are exactly right, Kathy! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Contrary to what others might think, I love listening to music a lot so when I listen to it while studying, it distracts me. But again, to each his own.
You are right–to each his own! There is no one right way! Thank you for sharing, Ambuj.
I used to enjoy music while learning back to my high school days. However, it didn’t workout for me when I was in the university.
I wonder how it has translated into your adult life/work. Did you go back to it, or did your university experience change your routine for good?
Music is very helpful! I know I used to listen to music when I was in school because it helped me center my attention on what I was trying to learn. I was able to grasp the information much better.
I agree, Jasmine. There are certain forms of music that really helped me to keep my mind steady.
I know for me, it really depends on what I am trying to focus on. In some cases it helps me focus, in other cases, it is a hindrance and I need to turn it off. It is amazing how powerful music can be though.
i can’t really listen to the music ad study at the same time, I pay to much attention to the music and can’t keep the focus on subject but I do know people who find music very helpful
Interesting article. I remember when I was a student, music helped me with focus but now, seriously, I can’t stand any noise when I’m working and need focus.