Focus Music: Does It Work?
Have you ever tried working out with no music and realised how much it affects your energy levels? Focus music does the same when studying or working on a cognitively challenging project. Or does it?
It is a kind of track we listen to while working on a task for those who haven't heard of focus or study music before. It can be done while studying, writing assignments, programming, meditating, or writing excellent blog posts.
However, it would be best if you experienced it before assuming this as a solution to your inability to concentrate for a few hours. It is not a go-to trick to study well and score good marks. Keep in mind this will not work for everyone and may even reduce your attentiveness. I will share a few facts backed by science and experiments done on people. It is totally up to you whether you want to use music as a tool or study in a quiet environment. I am just trying to provide suggestions and tips on studying well and efficiently.
What research has to say about focus music
According to independent research by the University of Seattle and the University of London, music played while studying was most strongly reported to relax, ease boredom and help concentration. Students said that they mainly played music while studying when they were happy or bored and that their mood was a determinant of their decision. Other factors such as culture and boredom were also responsible for their use of music while studying. The same may apply to you.
This is where it gets interesting. Belmont University researchers found that most test scores remained constant or improved while music was playing. For example, while classical music was playing, the average score for both males and females increased; the average male score increased by 0.64 points and the female score by 0.62 points, relative to the silent condition. On the other hand, while pop music was playing, male scores improved on average by 0.41 points, but the average female score decreased by 0.13 points compared to the silent score. In conclusion, the type of music you listen to also affects your focus while studying.
However, one study by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University concluded that there is no relationship between listening to music and the ability to study. There is no significant difference between the average test scores of individuals who listened to lyrical or instrumental music while studying and those who did not listen to music while studying.
This evaluation of implementing background music in a fourth-grade classroom, conducted by a Columbia College graduate student and teacher at Logan Elementary School, enabled a detailed review of how background music helped raise the students’ motivation to learn, stay on-task, and produce positive behaviours. The results suggest that background music in the classroom has a positive effect on the individual and the class. It’s confusing, eh?
Conclusion
Considering various research on this topic and the varied results we get, it is totally up to you. Experiment with multiple genres of music and check if it is working for you or not. I have used music during my days working as a graphic designer, which has helped me concentrate. I didn’t use it while studying, though. Complete silence worked best when studying for exams, in my case. It will indeed differ amongst different individuals. Again, this is not a magic pill and can even impair memory. The only thing to keep in mind is to experiment, study music and check what suits you the best.
What kind of music should I listen to?
My recommendations are:
- Sounds of Nature: Zen Nature Sounds by Various Artists
- Instrumental: Peaceful Piano by Spotify
- Lo-Fi Beats: lofi hip hop music — beats to relax/study to by ChilledCow
- Binaural Sounds: Binaural Beats by Spotify
Apart from the above playlists, a few apps you can consider are Brain.fm (Android, iOS, Web), Focus@Will (Android, iOS, Web) and Atmosphere (Android).
Leave a comment if you have questions or want to share your favourite focus music recommendation with us. Share this article with your friends and provide feedback for the same. Subscribe to my blog to get updates when I post new articles. Thank you for reading.
