Best Music to Study To

What are you listening to? Photo: majdal

So you’re about to start a study session and you need some tunes to keep you going. What do you turn to? Here’s some suggestions of the best music to study to.

1. Classical music. Studies have shown that classical music, particularly baroque music (think Mozart or Bach), activates both sides of the brain, increasing the listener’s learning capacity and the retention of information. Baroque music causes the heart rate slows down for improve concentration.
2. Music in another language. If you’re like me and get distracted by the lyrics in music when you’re trying to write, opt for music in another language instead.
3. Jazz. If you hate classical music, jazz is another alternative. And Michael Buble and Norah Jones fall under that category.
4. Music without repetition. Says Dr. Ballam in a publication called Music and the Mind, “The human mind shuts down after three or four repetitions of a rhythm, or a melody, or a harmonic progression.” That rules out a lot of contemporary music.
5. No music at all. According to USA Today, a recent study conducted found that complex problems are better solved with no music in the background to distract. Additionally, if you’re studying for a test, it would be wise to duplicate the conditions that will be present in the exam hall. Since you won’t be able to listen to your iPod, no music while studying may not be so bad after all.
6. Anything you damn well please. Let’s be honest, since when do college students take advice because it’s good for them? Eff it and listen to whatever you want. (Because that’s what you’re going to do anyways.)
7. “Study? I don’t study!” Never mind then. This post has no inherent value for you.

If you’re not already tuned into it, Grooveshark.com allows you to plug in virtually any song and stream it online.