Music may help students engage more in learning
As final exam week approaches, Central Michigan University students are hustling to gather their materials and their attention span.
According to a report from Boston University, studying for finals is third on the list of top ten stressors for college students. When it comes to studying for exams, which may be a large part of the course grade, it takes a lot of energy and focus.
Many students can be found on campus with headphones in, staring blankly at a book or computer screen. Listening to music while studying helps some students focus better on the material at hand, especially if they like what they are listening to.
Newaygo junior Ben Slocum said he sometimes keeps his headphones in even when he isn't listening to music. It helps him stay focused and keeps others from bothering him.
Classical music is the most popular genre among students who listen to music while studying.
Another study done at the University of San Diego suggests listening to classical music can also lower blood pressure, which in turn helps with feelings of test anxiety. Classical music can also soothe students into a sleep when they have insomnia due to increased anxiety.
"I listen to some classical piano music when I need to chill out and take a study break," Slocum said. "It really helps me avoid getting burnt out. I take a twenty-minute break, listen to some music and then get back to work. Sometimes when I'm studying for finals I'll take a nap to rejuvenate and then get back to my notecards."
According to Heriot-Watt University, different genres of music say different things about a person's personality. When it comes to studying, some students may like listening to different genres because it helps them personally. For example, reggae music is often associated with high self-esteem, creativity and being at ease, while country western music is associated with being outgoing and hardworking.
"I don't often listen to music when I'm studying," said Jeddo sophomore Chris Campbell. "But if I do end up needing an extra energy boost or feel like listening to something, it's usually something that I would normally listen to. I like a lot of heavy rock and alternative music."
Many students will listen to music that they specifically like while studying, either to drown out distracting sounds or because it helps them stay focused.
Middleton freshman Kalee Nicholson said her favorite genre is alternative, but she listens to classical versions of her favorite songs because the piano is soothing.
Other students may find music to be purely distracting. It is said that music at a moderate level increases processing difficulty and can also increase creativity. When it comes to memorizing notecards and equations, music can sometimes just be disabling to the learning process.
"I don't like listening to music very much when I study," said Burton freshman Mackenzie Ford. "I'm an auditory learner so noises really distract me when I'm trying to listen to my friends say definitions or remember certain concepts."
