Have you ever wondered whether listening to music while studying helps you concentrate—or if it silently pulls your attention away from the task at hand? Or perhaps, have you thought, What kind of music should I listen to for maximum productivity? As technology rapidly advances, access to music platforms has become more widespread and convenient than ever before. In fact, from a survey filled out by 32 of Potomac’s Upper School students, an overwhelming majority of 56.3% believe “location influences whether or not you want to listen to music while doing homework” compared to only 18.8% who said no, and 25% who said sometimes. The top three places the Upper School students listen to music while studying include the following: at school, while studying in the library, and in their bedrooms (sitting at a desk). 

So, let’s dive into answering the questions. Does listening to music while studying enhance focus and motivation, or does it disrupt learning and memory? According to US students, the short answer to this is that listening to music can promote focus and motivation—but that it depends largely on the type of task being performed. So, exactly what kinds of study tasks benefit most from this practice? The survey shows a significant difference of 40.6% between those who listened to music while completing homework that required less concentration and those who did so during higher concentration tasks. Indeed, this aligns with the Yerkes-Dodson Law whose results show that music may help maintain alertness and motivation during low-stress, repetitive tasks. Still, it can become a cognitive burden during more demanding tasks that require deep focus and complex thinking. Thus, while music has benefits, its effectiveness depends heavily on the mental demands of the task at hand.

Potomac’s Upper School Students’ Listening Habits

Now to the survey’s second question: What kind of music provides maximum productivity? Much research has concluded that the Mozart Effect, defined as listening to certain classical music, particularly Mozart’s piano sonata K448, can lead to temporary enhancements in cognitive performance and spatial reasoning. But is that the most effective genre? According to Dr. Erin Hannon, a psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, “Classical music is a solid choice—but it’s not the only option.” The Upper School students chose Pop, Country, and Indie (songs that are more upbeat and lyrical than classical) as their top three favorite genres of music to listen to while studying, regardless of the concentration level. This aligns with the arousal-mood theory, which argues that music with a groove (the quality of music that makes you want to tap your foot or nod your head) increases mental agility. 

In conclusion, listening to music while studying can be effective for many people—to a certain extent. Specifically, listening to groovy or upbeat songs tends to have a positive correlation with improved performance on tasks that require lower levels of concentration. However, for tasks that demand deeper focus—such as studying for exams or writing essays—music, especially with lyrics, may become more of a distraction than a benefit. So, the next time you are completing homework, why not try some pop hits to spice up the experience?