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

As the Coppell Student Media says, the effectiveness of music during study sessions depends on the person. The University of Maryland also claims that although students can benefit from music to help their academic performance, they need to find proper music to help them concentrate on their studies, recommending instrumental and ambient music. And this claim is the same as this article in the Coppell Student Media, in that they acknowledge that music is effective for study and then argue that not all types of music are applicable to have the effect. 

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

Comments

I think that this answer could improve more if you found more studies similar to this and compared them, instead of finding just one other. I also think it would be good to have a least a few quotations from your sources in your answer.

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This was an effective response. I agree with the University of Maryland that the type of music does matter and also the person along with their methods. I liked how you used two sources and mentioned how certain music had to be ambient or instrumental in order for listening to music while studying, to be successful. I would like to see you try and bring some credibility to your sources, specifically the authors of your articles. Great response and keep up the good work.

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I like that you give good evidence and give your URL but I would try to write this a little more argumentatively. you never said if you think its true false or misleading. because of that readers can't quite grasp where you are coming from.

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Addressing the University of Marylands article was great but I noticed that you only referenced that. The level of authority they have is slightly questionable in this case. What I mean by this is, is this more of a suggestion based on common knowledge, or do they use research that's peer reviewed. Also adding multiple sources will help back up your claims.

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You make a strong case for the kind of music being essential when you are studying, and instrumental music is better than the rest. It's also true that humans don't respond to music in the same way, so personal taste is a significant factor as well. Both your sources seem to agree that music can aid learning when used appropriately. I also like the way you compare the two sources succinctly. Did the University of Maryland resource supply studies or just general tips?

Answer 2

This claim is not totally correct. Although it might be more enjoyable to study with music, it has seen to be more distracting than helpful. But music that is just instrumental is a better option than one with words. It is also dependent on how your mind works and how you study, and everyone is different. Others might be able to have two things going at once better than someone else. It is also hard to replicate the same exact situation during a test, as most test taking doesn't allow headphones to be worn during tests. So if you are used to knowing the information while music is playing, than you may not do as well during the test because you have no music.

https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/

Answer 3

The claim that music helps people learn is partially supported by research. While certain studies do show that listening to 'groovy' music can help increase a person's mood or motivation, there is no direct evidence leading to the claim that it helps people learn as a whole. As an article from Healthline mentions, "different music is going to have different effects on your study habits." However, the article also mentions that music can be distracting and can have a negative effect on your working memory-as your brain is overstimulated with many things at the same time. Another article published by Texas A&M University backs up this idea, suggesting that our brains may be putting to much effort into focusing on many things at a time, which can have an impact on your study habits. In retrospect, music can be helpful for motivation and inspiration however can be harmful in the long run. Both of these arguments both mention that each person has a different strategy towards studying, and recognize that if you find one that works for you, you should stick with it!

Overall good claim, just slightly exaggerated!

sources: 

Music and Studying: Do They Go Together?

Does Listening to Music Really Help You Study? – The College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University

Answer 4

The claims suggested in the Coppell Student Media article are partially true but with such an individualistic topic like this, its hard to differentiate fact from opinion. An article from the University of Maryland Global Campus suggests how different genres of music can have more or less effect on studying. Instrumental music can be more beneficial since it doesn't have catchy lyrics that you might already know and that can be a major distraction. They also suggest the use of ambient noise or binaural beats to help hone in relaxation and focus. When talking about music and studying, we often think of high school or college students but The Coppell article does bring up two distinct songs, The Alphabet song and the Periodic Table song, which are directed towards lower grades and education. This use of music in school can be extremely beneficial for promoting the memorization of important figured used in everyday life. 

Answer 5

The idea that music can help with studying and learning is partially supported by research — but it’s not always true for everyone or every task. A study mentioned in The Times found that listening to upbeat instrumental or “groovy” music improved task performance by 7% and boosted mood, likely because the rhythm helped participants stay engaged. However, the effect of music while studying depends on individual differences and the type of task. A study in Frontiers in Psychology found that people with high working memory capacity benefited from background music, but those with low working memory performed worse. So, while music can be helpful for certain people or simpler tasks, it can also be a distraction if the work is complex or requires deep concentration.

• Coppell Student Media Article
   

• Frontiers in Psychology — Background Music and Working Memory Effects
   

• The Times Study on Groovy Music and Task Performance
   

Comments

Always add hyperlinks to all your sources, as the first source has a link while the others do not. Thanks!

Answer 6

After researching this topic more extensively, I concluded that studying with music can be beneficial to some. Music has been recognized for a long time as relaxing and helpful to meditation. According to the University of Maryland's Global Campus, "One needs to think about what music they enjoy..." Everyone has a type of music they enjoy the most, and which can be beneficial to them. In another article from National University, Dr. Marsha Godkin says, Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory,” Ambient and calmer music was studied as the best because it will still keep you awake and engaged but youre not singing and moving to the more upbeat sounds. 

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

https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/ 

Answer 7

Music throughout the years has been commonly used to relax the mind and body. While this is true, different music helps people differently. For some, listening to jazz might be a distraction and for some it might be good background music to learn to. Phyllis Medina, PhD, program director of psychology at University of Maryland Global Campus says that “The right choice of music, such as instrumental or ambient music, can help block out distractions, improve concentration, and maintain attention during study sessions.”(Schempp & Sanders, 2024) Additionally, Florida National University claims that music activates both sides of the brain, leading to more engaging studying and a better memory.

FNU User. (2019, August 13). The Benefits of Studying with Music - Florida National University (FNU). Retrieved April 24, 2025, from Florida National University (FNU) website: https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/  ‌

Schempp, T., & Sanders, M. (2024, September 16). How Music Can Help You Study | UMGC. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from University of Maryland Global Campus website: https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study  ‌

Answer 8

This article, written by Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar for Coppell Student Media, outlines music's effect on our study habits; eventually concluding that music does help with aspects of studying. For example, listening to upbeat non-lyrical music allows the subject to stay driven; music triggers the release of dopamine, which improves motivation; and using a catchy song to assist with memorization. Kumar also links several articles to support her claim, such as an article published by Stanford Medicine. Upon first glance, one can quickly conclude that Kumar's claim is misleading. A number of the articles she links don't have any relation to her claim that music helps studying habits; instead, they primarily address what she is stating at that exact moment, for example, linking Spotify playlists to instrumental music or an article published by PubMed Central that discusses the effects of dopamine release and music. The article published by Stanford Medicine never mentions studying. Instead, the article mentions how music helps the brain stay engaged. One piece of evidence highlighted by Stanford Medicine is that a listener's attention differs according to the stage of a musical piece. Only this doesn't mention the relationship of music to studying. There is an abundance of information online that music aids study habits, which is a subjective experience, and it can help. However, Kumar's citations and evidence did not directly support her definitive claim.

Answer 9

Here is the link to the original article: https://coppellstudentmedia.com/131890/lifestyle/studying-with-song-how-music-can-help-you-learn/

The article comes from a high school newspaper and is written by a high school student. We should be more skeptical of this piece because it doesn’t come from a reputable source. The main issue comes from how vague the claim is. “You” could refer to anyone in the world reading the article. “Music” could refer to any kind of music. Although there is some evidence by the NIH the 15 Hz Binaural Beats can improve working memory function, this is only one study and the results were only positive for a specific kind of music. I couldn’t find any other studies that strongly showed listening to music helps all people learn better. I did find some evidence in the form of a Texas A and M article and a Frontiers in Psychology study that say listening to music while studying actually decreases working memory function. There is too much conflicting evidence by researchers to say that this claim is undeniably true.

Sources:

Does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5125618/

Answer 10

The claim that music can help work is somewhat true. Music can uplift mood and work ethic so that helps. Music can also increase productiveness on repetitive and simple tasks. On the other hand, writing and more comprehensive tasks can be hard with this, especially if the music is lyrical.

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

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