How does classical music help you study?
Classical music is already known since the 19th century, thus, also denoting a certain era of developing music. It is characterized as heavy, as distinguished from jazz or pop, despite the same being inspired by these genres, yet, also lighter because it is less complex than a Baroque music. In this discussion, we will delve into the query on how classical music helps you study.
Classical is mainly concerned on the elegance and balance of melodies. That is, the adamant use of contrasting moods in composing a musical piece. Through this certain style of elegance and artistry, classical music is often associated with health benefits.
Some of which are decreased blood pressure, boosted memory, reduced stress levels, and relieved pain, and they can even induce sleep and fight depression.
How is this possible? Studies had it that listening to classical music as your background noise improves quality of life because of its capability of uplifting one’s mood, sparking creativity and motivating productivity into oneself.
In one study conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine, the researchers found that classical music helps brain better absorb and further analyze new information or facts easier than usual.
Relating this finding, a 2019 research concluded that music activates different parts of the brain that is responsible for things that we enjoy, and listening to our favorite music helps us feel motivated. We become more open to new concepts and ideas that we eventually learn over time.
It is a well-known theory that a good mood can improve oneself when it comes to learning. Since classical music can improve moods and reduce stress, there is a great possibility that we can boost our strategy in learning. We can make the study materials easier to digest and register them in our memories.
Considering all these, listening to classical music not just help you in studying but also to lead a happier and easy life, where all that is left is to enjoy our possible quality of existence.
Does classical music increase focus?
Classical music tends to be a great help in increasing one’s focus, thus, making learning and studying manageable.
In a 2007 study, it came out that classical music can help reprogram your brain into a template, where it can easily break down big pieces or complex information into small chunks to make it more comprehensible for you.
It is similar as training your brain to have a more focused attention span. When you listen, the brain function can easily comprehend new facts found in the materials.
Simply put, if one is having trouble understanding a complex concept, listening to a classical music can help the brain break down the concepts into small parts so you can better understand the idea being imparted.
This technique is also closely related to reasoning and logical thinking based on few to several predictions.
It is always a better deal to have quite reasoning skills or abilities because it can help you notice or think of certain ways to surface the needed answers i.e., exams or tests.
In another study conducted over 41 boys who were all diagnosed with ADHD, listening to classical music as a background noise in their classroom setting, though distracted some, it has been, nevertheless, effective to the majority.
Does classical music help your brain?
Classical music helps your brain big time because it can power the same into a more systematic and better cognitive functioning machine that is contributory in enhancing your memory.
Another study shows that a 20-minute listen and exposure to a classical music can regulate your genes that is in-charge of most of your brain functions and memory. In this experiment, they found out that the participants who listened to classical music depicted an increase in secreting dopamine and genes intimately related with learning and memory.
In that similar study, the researchers emphasized that the genes, that are responsible for neurotransmission, play an important role in the enhancement of cognitive functions and an easier registration of learnings through your long term memory.
Under the cognitive function, it is vital that you have been able to register the memories effectively so one can easily retrieve those pieces easily. And under the same concept, short term memory works only with seven (7) items in mind that one can simultaneously recall, Nevertheless, not all could better perform remembering as far as seven (7) items.
In this instance, where a memory or learning could get lost in the process and lost in the extent that you cannot be readily retrieve it if needed, there is a need to re-learn or re-register it in your memory again. This is one of the situations that you can lessen the likelihood of it happening by listening to classical music.
Effects of classical music on students
Researchers claimed that students who listened to classical music were put into a heightened state, making it possible for them to be more receptive to facts and/or information.
The reason is that the change in the circumstances in which they are learning from is actually influencing their motivation, thus, helping them on focusing more than usual during lectures. Owing to this, they perform better during their written exams.
In another study, they found that in reducing and managing anxiety, classical music can soothe it up. In this sense, students are more relaxed and confident during class discussions. As a result, they are more encouraged to be more open to idea of asking questions or clarifying on the things, ideas, and concepts that baffle them.
There is one study which noted that most students are susceptible on keeping their silence during discussions and lectures out of fear that insults can befall their teachers’ or professors’ mouths and they can be subjected to public humiliation.
Based on this foregoing, many researchers are still looking for answers to better help anxious students in resolving their conflicts with regards to classroom setting so that the learning can be more conducive to them, as similar to those students without anxiety problems.
Does classical music make you smarter in terms of helping you to study?
Classical music can make a difference in one’s IQ. In a 1993 study, a professor found that there is a spike in the IQ of his students after he made them listen to a piece of Mozart.
This became a ground-breaking experiment because it garnered both positive and negative comments from experts. This was known as the “Mozart Effect.” It is more elaborated in a sense that the professor believed that listening to Mozart’s music helps you on warming up certain parts of your brain that are concerned with abstract thoughts.
Another study investigated the effects of classical music on toddlers ranging from three to four years old. They found that these children have an increased spatial-temporal reasoning after being put into classical music.
As to the Mozart effect, the results were not proven and still is looking for more concrete ideas. Though there is no specific range of people having an increased IQ, the theory is still enforced as to how classical music can improve one’s memory and brain function.
Although the result of improved IQ after listening to classical music is not definitive, it does not necessarily mean that listening to classical music is short of any benefits. Fact remains that same brand sound can improve your pattern of honing your short and long term memory that have long time benefits both in academic and everyday life.
Is it better to study in silence or with music?
There is never a right way to study because you must consider first what type of learner you are and how you can better focus, whether if with music or none, with or without lyrics.
The most suggested one is to keep the silence since it is the very same circumstances in which you will take your exam, if not for the traditional concept of studying.
There is a concept of association in psychology, wherein, one can study by associating a thing with another. And when the time comes into retrieving those learnings, you can better recall what you have studied if you were in the very same situation when you learned it, that is, when you have kept yourself in a silent environment.
For instance, one who studied inside a classroom and in silence may be able to remember the studied concepts easier, than those who studied somewhere else, during an exam that was also held in a classroom.
However, there are some learners where they prefer to listen to music while studying to keep themselves awake and mood lifted. In this scenario, they are likely motivated, which are basically all the benefits the researches globally have provided.
This is also different if the music comes with lyrics because there are people whose focus may easily be disrupted when they’re hearing the lyrics of a particular song or when the song is too loud for such learner. Thus, considering certain factors is really important because everyone is not built the same.
Final Thoughts
As to summation, classical music is indeed helpful to you in your health coping and even to your mental health because of its proven effect on reducing stress, pain and anxiety.
This gives the impression that by listening to classical music, it is capable of giving you a breather in your complex and packed life. As they say, taking breaks as necessary to keep your sanity in check.
Not only classical music can help you in achieving your peace but there are abundant of ways and we should not shy away on those opportunities. We should all grab the chance while it is still there.
There is no harm in believing with the benefits of listening to classical music. There is a lot by which we can enjoy learning and studying, it is that listening to classical music is one of those ways that we can adopt.
This does not follow that since we adopted one way, we cannot consider another. It really is up to use what shall we do, how we study, when to study and under what circumstances should we do it. Learning is for all. In the same note that classical music is for everybody that desires it.