Words and Images by Kelsey Roberts
Studying, can be such a mundane task, especially when it’s about something your not particularly interested in. But can music make that whole experience worth while?
YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music all have curated study playlists for you to play while preparing for exams, background noise for essay writing, and a motivator to get something completed.
YouTube has study with me videos where others around the world sit down and record themselves studying at their own desks, with chill music playing in the background as a way to body double with those who need the background noise and company. There are live streaming videos happening everyday by one particular channel. “Lofi Girl” has an animation running all day with a girl sitting at her desk writing in a notebook and her cat sits on her windowsill with chill lofi music playing in the background. Due to YouTube being free, it is the most accessible streaming service to go to a studying companion.
Music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have created playlists for studying with music ranging from piano tracks to mainstream music with a chill vibe. Searching for a study playlist can become quite overwhelming when picking what keeps you focused. It will take a lot of trial and error with music that helps you keep on track with the task at hand. Once found, you can then create your own by taking those particular tracks and putting them into a unique study playlist.
According to website Youth Music Network, around 60% of students tend to listen to music while they study. It was also voted to be one of the most popular “side activities” for teenagers. Academic research into background music when studying has shown that music characteristics like tempo and intensity have an influence on learning outcomes; only soft fast music had a positive influence, whilst loud fast as well as soft slow or loud slow music hindered learning. In addition instrumental music disturbs learners less than music with lyrics.
Overall, silence can be too loud for some when doing any boring task so having the option through many platforms to play music to make that task a little bit more manageable can improve students mental health, grades, and overall attitude to studying and school work.
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