By Vesa Bejleri with contributions from Staff Reporter Sufia Ali
Studying has become universal to all students around the world pursuing education, but something has become even more ubiquitous: music.
Some students enjoy studying in lots of light, others prefer complete darkness. Some like working individually, while others gravitate towards study groups.
But what about music?
According to a recent informal survey of seventeen BHS students, most preferred listening to something when burying their heads in a textbook. Whether it was background sounds, instrumentals, or personal music preferences, the factors affecting these numbers varied greatly.
“If my studying involves reading, I listen to piano music with no lyrics,” said Aoife Adsit, a freshman taking Biology and Geometry Honors. “If [what I’m] studying is math, then I listen to any music, usually just the playlist of what I am currently listening to.”
An article by the National University, located in San Diego, discusses the possible reasons as to why students seem to have preferences with music and studying. It suggested that music can help boost focus and memory during study sessions. Researchers also found that the best types of music are soundtracks that have no lyrics because they usually don’t compete for your attention.
Having music at a low volume and uninterrupted by ads or constant playlist changes is best in order to maximize a studying session, according to the article.
Many BHS students said that what they are studying impacts their choice of accompanying music.
Roughly 18% of participants in the survey said that the type of work and subject they are studying plays an important role in deciding the kind of music they are playing. A common trend shows that harder subjects, or ones where you have to read in, pair better with background noise or instrumentals rather than songs with lyrics.
The top recommendations for the background noise category are either lo-fi beats, soft piano instrumentals, or colored noise tones (white noise, brown noise, etc.).
Others, prefer setting a good mood by putting on their favourite songs of choice. Several BHS students said that they prefer to listen to indie rock or R&B while studying, and three share their preference in listening to pop.
“I listen to loud music because it gets me hyped up to study,” said freshman Mariam Mohamed to The Buzz.
Similarly, many of the respondents state that music helps them make the usual ‘broody studying environment’ more enjoyable.
The descriptions coming from Branford students show a pattern of music being preferred by those who want to or make the process of studying more enjoyable, or for many: more tolerable.
However, some students don’t agree. Roughly 18% of the participants of the survey report not being able to focus with music on as it is too distracting.
“I don’t listen to music because when I have a task to do, I need to focus on just that and I don’t want to get distracted,” shares senior Sophia Espinal.
The most common reason behind this preference is some students not wanting to split their focus on listening to music and trying to concentrate on work, but rather only focusing on the task at hand.
“If you’re reading or reviewing comprehension-heavy materials like textbooks or case studies, silence or subtle background sounds work best. Nature sounds, light ambient music, or brown noise can help you focus without overwhelming your brain,” the article stated.
Regardless of how you use the method, music can be a great way to block out background noise and get you in the mood for studying.
What type of music – if any – do you like listening to while you study? Let us know in the comments.
Buzz Chief Reporter Owen Lentner contributed to this article.
