Exploring the Impact of Music on Student Homework and Creativity

Did you know that music affects brain plasticity? Not only this, but it also has a profound impact on emotions, cognition, and general well-being. Despite its advantages, listening to songs also has negative effects on studying. For example, it makes it challenging to focus and prevents you from absorbing information. So, which should you choose? Should students listen to music while learning or not? This article will explore music’s impact on creativity and how to get the most from it. 

Should I Do My Homework or Learn by Listening to Music?

Music is a universal language that transcends generations and cultures. It has different effects on people. At the end of the day, the impact ultimately depends on the student and the type of song. Many studies have shown that quiet background music helps some children focus. In contrast, loud songs distract them from concentrating. Still, some students find the assignment process daunting, with or without songs. 

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The decision to do student homework in a quiet environment or while listening to songs depends on various factors. They include your preference, learning style, and the nature of the task. Let us explore them below: 

Preference 

Every student has a preference. Some find music relaxing. Hence, they use it to channel their concentration and get into a productive mindset. In contrast, songs make it hard for some people to concentrate. If it enhances your productivity and helps you focus without hindering your comprehension, listen to songs when studying. 

The best way to know how music affects your study time is to experiment. Try doing your assignment with songs for a while and compare it to working in a quiet environment. Then, assess the quality of your work, retention, and productivity under each condition. 

Type of Task 

Tasks are different and require varied levels of concentration. Experts recommend that undergraduates work in a quiet environment for complex or intellectually demanding homework. It minimizes distractions and allows you to focus and think critically. However, repetitive or less cognitively demanding tasks don’t need high levels of concentration. As a result, you can listen to music. Music stimulates and creates an enjoyable atmosphere for homework like memorization and simple problem-solving. 

Ability to Multitask 

Undergraduates perform differently under similar conditions. Some find music with strong beats or lyrics a distraction, as it draws their attention from the task. The inability to multitask effectively causes them to lose focus. If you belong to this category, we recommend you work in a quiet environment. 

What Kind of Music Helps Improve Student Productivity?

There are different types of songs you can listen to while doing assignments. The best types are instrumentals or ambient music without lyrics. Song lyrics engage the language centers of the brain. As a result, they could potentially interfere with your focus. In contrast, calm and non-distracting genres improve concentration. Some examples include classical, jazz, etc. Check out our list of music that aids productivity below: 

• Instrumentals: Songs without lyrics won’t engage the brain’s language centers or distract you. 
• Classical music: Classical songs promote a sense of relaxed alertness that enhances concentration. Some examples include Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. 
• Ambient music: They feature repetitive patterns, gentle melodies, and atmospheric sounds. The songs promote a sense of calmness via a soothing background. Explore electronic ambient, instrumental ambient tracks, and nature sounds to increase productivity. 
• Video game or movie soundtracks: Video game soundtracks enhance immersion. Hence, they can help you maintain motivation and a steady rhythm while studying. 
• Baroque music: These songs have regular and structured compositions that uplift and energize listeners. Examples of composers in the genre include Vivaldi, Handel, etc. 

Conclusion

Listening to music stimulates dopamine release and regulates mood. It also improves memory performance and affects language development and brain plasticity. Songs alleviate pain by distracting the brain and reducing anxiety. They also improve motor coordination and cross-model processing. But despite their advantages, every human is wired differently. At the end of the day, it comes down to preference. Each person’s brain reacts differently to songs. If music helps you focus, choose any of the genres above. If it does not, we recommend you do your assignment in a quiet area and avoid distractions.