Studying with song: How music can help you learn

Question

The claim that music can aid learning, as presented in the Coppell Student Media article, is only partially supported by scientific research. The effectiveness of music during study sessions depends on a plethora of different factors.​ A study published in The Times found that listening to upbeat instrumental music, or "groovy" music, can enhance cognitive performance and mood. Participants who listened to such music completed tasks 7% faster without compromising accuracy and reported an improved mood. The researchers attributed these benefits to the rhythmic qualities of the music enhancing both mood and mental agility.​ However, other studies do suggest that the impact of background music on learning is influenced by individual differences and the nature of the task. If it's a mindless piece of homework, it's easier to knock it out with some music playing. But if it's an assignment that requires lots of focus and thinking, music can be a distraction. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that background music's effect on learning outcomes is moderated by the learner's working memory capacity. Specifically, individuals with higher working memory capacity showed improved comprehension when studying with background music, whereas those with lower capacity performed better without it.

Answer 1

The claim that music can help one study is partially correct. Depending on what music you chose, you can either be more or less focused and engaged in the work you are trying to complete. According to the University of Maryland Global Campus website, benefits of music and the art of listening to it while at the same time paying attention to something else, have been proven to be somewhat beneficial. Instrumental music has been chosen as the most helpful kind of music because there are no words to potentially distract the brain on. There are no other vocals that could confuse in your head. So the claim although hard to prove, is somewhat true when listening to specific kinds of music. 

https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study

Answer 2

Music’s effect on studying is complex and depends on several individual and contextual factors. For some, music can enhance concentration, while for others it may serve as a distraction. One major determinant is working memory capacity. According to Frontiers in Psychology, the brain must process first auditory stimuli before engaging with visual or other inputs, meaning that background music can compete with the primary task. However, individuals with higher working memory capacity still have cognitive resources to focus effectively, and may even benefit from background music as a motivator or mood enhancer. The type of music—such as instrumental or lyrical, upbeat or slow—also plays a role, although findings have been inconsistent. Although classical or upbeat music is most often recommended, the most effective type of music may ultimately depend on the individual (Li and Hu). Other studies have found that “familiar music was associated with faster response times and less frequent mind-wandering episodes than unfamiliar music,” especially during repetitive or mechanical tasks (Kiss and Linnell). For complex tasks that require deep concentration, even subtle background noise can be counterproductive regardless of working memory capacity. In conclusion, the claim that music can help you learn is mostly true, but its effectiveness varies widely based on the individual’s cognitive capacity, the characteristics of the music, and the demands of the task. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5671572/ 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8357712/ 

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10044637

Answer 3

The claim that music can help you study is not a definite yes or no, as the scientific research that has gone into this claim has showed little benefit when in comparison to those without music, however, I still do not think the claim is entirely wrong. Similar studies have shown that playing classical music for babies help with development in areas such as language, cognitive ability, and well-being, all of which are definitely benefits to a person when they study. On the other hand, research shows that music can be a distraction or overstimulating for others who would rather focus completely on the task at hand. Researchers suggest surrounding yourself in an environment similar to where you would take an exa, you are studying for, or if you really need music, to play instrumental music as you wouldn’t need to focus on lyrics. I agree that music CAN be beneficial to some, but it is not fact that music is beneficial to all. 

More info on the pros and cons of music while studying can be found at https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/

If you wanted to read up on the study of classical music and babies you could take a look at this article: https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2024/07/31/benefits-of-classical-music-for-babies

Comments

Listening to music can be a valuable tool for studying and learning according to an article from Florida National University. But it can most definelty come down to personal opinions and how people tend to focus better awhile studying because many people like to stay focused in a silent environment but some like to have music for example to positively impact the mind in several ways. When studying while stressed, music can help reduce anxiety and create a sense of calm. I agree music can aid learning and when someone listens to music while working or studying, which can help someone stay more focused and attentive. Research from Stanford University shows that certain types of music activate the part of the brain involved in maintaining attention. Overall, music can be an excellent aid for studying, helping you stay engaged and absorb information more effectively.

Answer 4

The claim that music can aid learning is partially supported by scientific research, depending on several factors such as the type of task, the individual’s cognitive profile, and the kind of music being played. Some studies show positive effects, one mentioned in The Times, which found that participants who listened to upbeat instrumental music, sometimes called "groovy" music, completed tasks 7% faster without losing accuracy, while also reporting an improved mood. Researchers attributed these benefits to the rhythmic nature of the music, which may enhance both mental sharpness and emotional state. However, other research complicates the idea. Studies published in Frontiers in Psychology note that background music can be either helpful or harmful depending on the learner’s working memory capacity. Those with higher capacity will tend to benefit from background music during study, while those with lower capacity tend to perform better in silence. Additionally, the usefulness of music while studying can depend on the nature of the work, routine, or repetitive tasks and some tasks might be easier to complete with music, but more complex assignments that require deep thinking may suffer from the distraction. So, while music can support learning in some cases, its effectiveness varies from person to person as well as task to task.

Sources:
https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study
https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/
https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study

Answer 5

This claim originates from an article published by Coppell Student Media, a news site of Coppell High School. This exact article was written by a student claiming that music is a tool that can be used to aid against distractions while studying. This article uses no real scientific sources, this article comes more from the authors personal experience and uses of music while studying. While this article does a good job explaining how some people might use music to study it in no way proves the claim "How music can help you learn" Therefore making this claim false.

Sources: https://coppellstudentmedia.com/131890/lifestyle/studying-with-song-how-music-can-help-you-learn/#:~:text=For%20some%2C%20music%20can%20be,us%20absorb%20and%20retain%20information.

Answer 6

The idea that music can help with studying is kind of true, but it really depends on a bunch of things like what kind of music you're listening to, what you're working on, and even how your brain works. For example, a study I found covered in The Times showed that upbeat instrumental or “groovy” like music helped people finish tasks 7% faster without making more mistakes, and it put them in a better mood. The researchers said this kind of music boosted both focus and energy because of its rhythm. But not all research agrees with this I also found a study in Frontiers in Psychology found that background music can actually affect learning for some people especially if they have a lower memory capacity. Basically, people with stronger working memory could focus better with music, while those with lower capacity did better in silence which makes sense because everyone thinks and functions differently. 

sources: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01902/full 

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/groovy-music-boosts-brainpower-as-well-as-mood-t9vvlpx8x

Answer 7

Music can be a helpful tool for when you need to study or when your learning. According to an article from Florida National University, Music can have several positive effects on the mind. During stressful times music can be used as a way to lower stress and anxiety. While if your listening to music while you are doing work or during a study session, it will lower your stress levels making you more attentive to your work. Additionally, from an article from Stanford, listening to specific types of music engages the part of your brain that is responsible for paying attention. Overall, music is a very helpful tool you can use while your studying and it can help you learn more as well.

https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/

Answer 8

The claim that music can aid learning, as presented in the Coppell Student Media article, is only partially supported by scientific research and lacks important context. While the article cites a study from The Times suggesting that upbeat instrumental music can improve performance and mood, that source seems more like a media summary rather than a peer-reviewed scientific study which makes it difficult to verify and confirm. However, a study published in Frontiers in Psychology provides credible evidence that background music’s effect on learning depends on the task and the learner’s working memory capacity—some students perform better with music, while others do worse. Additional sources, such as the University of Maryland Global Campus, support the idea that instrumental or ambient music can block out distractions and help with concentration, while also noting that music with lyrics can hinder focus. I was also able to locate this article from Edutopia that explains that music can prime the brain for learning, but only if it’s used intentionally and matched to the task. Overall, I think that while music can support studying for some people in certain contexts, the claim oversimplifies a more complex reality. Music’s effectiveness depends on the genre, the cognitive demands of the task, and individual learning preferences—so the claim is not false, but it needs to be presented with more information in order to be proven true. I do agree however that the effect of music will differ from person to person and that what they are doing also plays a huge role on that effect. 

https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-music-primes-brain-learning/

Answer 9

This claim offers a thoughtful take on how music can support learning, however its impact varies based on several factors. The idea that working memory capacity influences how music affects learning is only partly supported, since there’s limited evidence to support it. “Research suggests, however, that listening to music can reduce working memory capacity. If you already have a hard time manipulating multiple pieces of information, listening to music could make this process even more challenging,” says Healthline.

Source:

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study#:~:text=A%20high%20working%20memory%20capacity,this%20process%20even%20more%20challenging.

Answer 10

The article from Coppell Student Media suggests that listening to music while studying helps with concentration, eases stress, and can even improve how well someone learns. This idea is partly backed by research, though the full picture is a bit more complex. Studies show that music—especially calm or instrumental kinds—can support focus and mental clarity, but how effective it is really depends on the person and what they’re trying to do. While the article shares a perspective many students relate to, it doesn’t cite scientific studies or expert sources. Since it’s written by high school students, it’s better seen as a personal take rather than definitive advice. On the other hand, sources like Harvard Health and peer-reviewed journals provide deeper insight, explaining how music influences brain activity in ways that can help with memory and learning. So, while the article isn’t wrong, a more complete view comes from looking at it alongside proven research and expert analysis.

https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study?

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062?