Music for Studying from an MBA Perspective

“Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”

– Ludwig van Beethoven

As the semester comes to an end, final exams conclude the culmination of several intensive, academic weeks. Holiday and summer breaks are so close that it might make it harder to concentrate and focus on the task at hand: studying. While some would argue that the best way to study is in a quiet environment with no distractions, I personally find music a compelling source for motivation.

During my time as an undergraduate student, I had the pleasure to share a dorm room with
Allie McNay
(’11), a Board Certified Music Therapist. Allie is able to share her passion of music and people on a daily basis. I had the opportunity to consult Allie and her expertise in music therapy to better understand the direct benefits of utilizing music while studying for exams:

Does listening to music stimulate learning and enhance concentration? If so, how?


“There is research that supports this idea: listening to music engages the brain in multiple simultaneous ways, priming those brain areas for activity, and therefore heightening attention. However, much of the research associated with education or learning is focused on the effects of classical music in particular. The popular, yet controversial, Mozart Effect is a prime example of music’s effects on learning: specifically, the music composed by Mozart has been shown to increase spatial temporal reasoning. The field of music psychology is still young and further research is needed, but I personally believe (with my experience as a music therapist) that all types of music are applicable—but the effects are dependent on the individual. Each person’s brain has the same basic functions, but because music is also tied to emotions, different types of music can have different effects for different individuals. It may take trial and error to find the most stimulating (yet not too distracting) music for your study session. When studying, I personally prefer classical piano music, or other unfamiliar music, usually without lyrics as I tend to get distracted and sing along to songs that I know.

More information on cognition and music, check out this article on
How Music Can Reach the Silenced Brain
.”

As a music therapist, do you have any suggestions for those looking for music as not only a study outlet, but a relaxation or meditation outlet?


“There is also a great amount of research supporting the effects of music for relaxation and pain management. One of the ideas we use in music therapy for pain management is called the Iso Principle. In using the Iso Principle, the music therapist matches her music playing to the mood and heart rate/breathing of the patient. Once this is achieved the therapist can gradually change the music being played to reduce the patient’s heart rate and/or foster more positive mood. When listening to music for the purpose of relaxation, you can adapt this idea by starting with songs that might reflect your current mood, rather than starting out with a song you think is most calm and relaxing. For meditative purposes, I have also found that music with simpler instrumentation (fewer instruments used), slower tempo, and less dissonant melody/harmony tend to be most effective because this decreases the possibility of overstimulation by complex musical characteristics.”

Do you have any recommendations for what music to listen to at certain stressful (or non-stressful) times?

“Going off of the Iso Principle, starting with something more energizing and upbeat might help you release nervous energy, depending on what your needs might be. Sometimes it is helpful to incorporate physical activity with music to relax: such as a short run, stretching or even dancing around the room. Other times it is helpful to distress by finding a quiet, dark space to do some deep breathing. Music can facilitate the success of both of these situations, but you would probably pick different types of music for each. What will be most effective really comes down to preferred music and each individual’s experience: what might work for one person might cause someone else to become more agitated or stressed out. Finding what type of music works best for you might take some time, but once you can point out a couple of specific songs that really help you calm down, you can search for more songs with similar qualities. I recommend making a playlist of songs that you find most effective, and if you are having trouble finding more like it, try out one of the many music apps that can create a “station” around a song title or artist.”

Playlist Therapy

Pandora

Spotify

Photo credit: Donna Foronda ’11