Surprisingly, this can actually be a good thing, as you’re much less likely to be distracted by music you’re not highly engaged with. Much like classical music, there’s a good chance you may not like jazz music-or at least think you don’t. Even jazz greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane recorded some lower tempo songs that make for great study music. While it’s true jazz’s focus on improvisation has created a lot of roaring, complex music, it’s also given us many mellow tracks. Many people tend to think of jazz as being big, loud, and filled with musicians who are constantly trying to outperform one another. Jazz is a surprisingly misunderstood music genre. Spotify has an excellent playlis t of these tracks, though you can also find some great ones on YouTube. Many popular rock bands, such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, have also experimented with instrumental tracks over the years. These groups build soundscapes around non-traditional songs and often begin their songs with slow builds that rise to a crescendo. Bands such as Explosions in the Sky and Polyphia prove that catchy riffs can carry you far without a singer. This is why instrumental or “post-rock” music is a great study choice. In our experience, music with little or no lyrics works well for studying because it’s less distracting. We’re big fans of this Ambient Electronic Spotify playlist, which includes nearly 77 hours of music! YouTube also has a ton of great channels, such as Chillhop Music, which hosts live radio playlists for studying.ĭiscover: 5 Study Tips to Help Prepare For Exams Instrumental Rockīy this point, you have probably noticed a theme. Electronic music has become very popular among college and university students in recent years and the good news is that much of it is actually great for studying. We realize that this covers a very wide range of music, but that’s also kind of the point. This broad genre includes everything from slow, atmospheric music to pulse-pounding electronic dance music (EDM). YouTube and Spotify have many classical music playlists, so take a look and find some that work for you. We recommend experimenting to find the best music for studying.
Some students will concentrate better with simple instrumentation, while others will prefer the power of a full orchestra. However, this isn’t to say that listening to Mozart while studying is without merit-it just has to work for you. Mozart’s music is said to improve mental performance, although many studies have refuted this claim. As for which famous classical composer to listen to, many students will likely turn to Mozart due to the so-called “Mozart Effect.” It can help reduce stress and even improve sleep patterns. However, there are a surprising number of benefits to listening to classical music. Okay, when you hear the word “retro,” you probably aren’t thinking of music that is hundreds of years old.
Never doubt the power of a good retro playlist.
The best music for studying still depends a lot on personal preference, but the six genres below are good places to start. Volume is a major factor as well, as listening to loud music is much more likely to be distracting, regardless of genre.įortunately, there are certain genres of music that have been shown to increase concentration and motivation. Just like everyone has different study methods, one person’s music preference may not work for another. On the other hand, there is no one genre of music that works for everyone.
Unfortunately, the music you listen to on a daily basis may not be very effective for exam prep. Students are always looking for ways to improve their study habits and one of the most popular study aids is music.