Music and studying? Not the perfect "mix" when it comes to school

By Sophie Salem, Staff Writer

It was a tiresome Tuesday of online school and I was in need of a burst of adrenaline. Without thinking, I picked up my phone and started my playlist. As I studied biology, I listened to my favorite music in the background, only to notice I wasn't truly studying, just focusing on the music. Though I finished the assignment, I wasn’t able to retain any information and hadn’t genuinely understood the work I had done. It was almost as if I had never even done any work and my mind went completely blank. This made me realize that Harry Styles can wait until I can study and learn to the best of my ability.

Listening to music is an everyday ritual for most teenagers. From rock music to the slow sound of a piano, music is proven to reduce anxiety and stress. It improves memory and can even reduce pain, but is it beneficial to listen to while you study for that biology test?

Ever since school became more demanding, we would beg to listen to music as we work while our parents expressed that it would only make us distracted. Quite frankly, music can make you preoccupied, taking your mind away from the work you need to do. It is easy to see both sides, but the fact of the matter is that music can be really distracting, especially as we need to retain a lot of information in high school. Zcjean Ollesca (’22) has mixed emotions about listening to music, but works better in complete silence.

“It depends on what type of homework. I’m able to listen to music when I’m doing math but I need full quiet for English otherwise I won’t be able to focus,” Ollesca said.

According to a study conducted at Pennsylvania State University, those who study in complete silence work better and those who listen to music have a worse work ethic. Focusing on the sound of the music impairs students’ ability to think clearly. Though 97 percent of students listen to music while studying, it clearly doesn’t have a great outcome and will only negatively affect learning. As teenagers, music is a big part of most of our lives and has helped us get through these monotonous COVID-19 days. More than ever, we have relied on music to reduce our stress and unwind during these peculiar times. With less of an attention span and increased restlessness, it is harder to concentrate as it is and music often just makes it worse.

On the contrary, Guadalupe Torres, one of Samo’s pre-calculus teachers, believes that music can be beneficial when it comes to school work.

“I listen to music when I work. It helps me focus. So I say when you are doing your work, yes, listening to music is good,” Torres said.

Principal Antonio Shelton agrees that music is a good way to get your work done in many cases. In fact, he loves listening to music when he works.

“Yes, I do [listen to music]. It just makes you feel better. I have to have something. It is absolutely beneficial. I feel energized and motivated [when listening to music]. But if I have to write something, I can only listen to instrumental music,” Shelton said.

However, there are better alternatives to mix music and homework. As music is proven to lessen stress and ease your mind, one may benefit from listening to music beforehand to put them in a good mood. While studying, they can push through with their eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel; more music. Otherwise, students may even benefit from working with instrumental music such as jazz or opera. This way, students will be less distracted and thoroughly put their mind to their work while being in the best state of mind possible.