The next time you see someone in the hallway with their AirPods in, know that they are most likely getting in their zone for their next class.

While it may not be for everyone, many students love listening to music while doing their schoolwork. Music can help students block out distractions, improve concentration, and maintain attention during study sessions, which leads to getting homework done more effectively and improving test scores. 

“I always listen to music when doing my homework,” Maddie Mclane ‘25 said, “it helps me stay focused and get the work done without procrastinating a lot.” 

Studies have shown that music activates both the left side and right side of the brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and even improve memory. 

“I feel like listening to music helps me not only stay focused but also remember what I am studying because I am not getting distracted with other things going on around me,” Anna Murphy ‘25 said. 

Studies also indicate that music has a big effect on our mood, blood pressure, and heart rate. Listening to positive music while studying can cause you to be in a more calm mood when trying to study. The less anxious you feel, the more you can concentrate. The more you concentrate, the better your studying will be.

“I believe music improves my grades because I concentrate on my studying better when I am listening to music,” Mclane said. 

Music is a way to process emotions and strengthen their resolve while being overwhelmed. People often turn to the music they can relate to as it helps them deal with stress this way. 

This means that there is not a particular type of music that will get students in the right headspace. It depends on what works for each individual. Some students find that listening to instrumental music, music with no lyrics, helps them stay focused because it reduces the likelihood of getting caught up in the lyrics. But others will rely on hip-hop to provide that steady beat. It can even depend on what school subject is the focus. 

“I listen to a different artist for each class,” Mclane said. “I listen to Gracie Abrams and Taylor Swift for microeconomics; Led Zeppelin, Guns and Roses, and Metallica for math; Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, and Chris Stapleton for environmental science.”

Many students also find it important to change the type of music they listen to so they remain engaged and focused on the schoolwork they are getting done. 

“I switch what songs I listen to weekly so I don’t get bored and still get my schoolwork done,” Murphy said. “I listen to music with little to no words so I can focus.”

Like so many other things, the specific type of music doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you find what works for you and go with it. And if you don’t need music to pump yourself up, that’s totally fine, too.

Sources: UMGC blog and National University.