Do you listen to music while you study?

The soundtrack to your life.

As you walk around campus, you’ll see students studying as they nod their heads to the latest tunes. Headphones and textbooks often go hand in hand, and we all love listening to our favourite music jam.

But did you know music can be beneficial as well as enjoyable?

Some prefer listening to their favourite podcast, picking up on tidbits of information while they work. Almost everyone is listening to something while studying or trying to write that paper that’s almost due!

There are many benefits of listening to music, but let’s explore the motivations around why students listen to what they do. I know I can attest to its positive effects in my academic journey.

We asked students all over the Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore campus this very question, and this is what they had to say.

Ash Klaver

Image of a student looking into the camera for a photo. — *Picture by Musie Semere*

Ash Klaver has a wide array of musical tastes that really shone through when they talked about which artists they enjoy and how music is beneficial for them in general when it comes to focusing on tasks.

Getting into the writing mood is important for them, and when asked about whether they listen to music to study, Ash said it depends on their mood.

If they want to explore a more artsy and poetic spectrum, Ash listens to artists like Hozier. However, they usually finds themselves pontificating more than actually producing their best writing when listening to this music.

“Really, I’ll listen to anything that is acoustic and relaxing; Bon Iver and Mitski for instance. I have ADHD so having something going on in the background in general, such as music or ASMR, helps me to focus,” Klaver said.

Will Hollew-Hine

Image of a student looking into the camera for a photo, from the shoulders up. — *Picture provided by Will Hollew-Hine*

Will Hollew-Hine has an eclectic taste in music, with a wide variety of genres that he enjoys. Will said that background music doesn’t have to be genre specific as long as it serves its purpose.

“Sometimes I listen to music while I study, and I like having background noise to help me focus. I play my entire playlist on shuffle, so the genre isn’t exactly specific,” Hollew-Hine said.

Will listens to alt rock, hip-hop-folk, rap and many other genres. He particularly enjoys Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Pavement, as he finds their songs relaxing. Will focuses less on the lyrics and more on the melody and beat of the songs.

Michal Fiszer

Image of a student looking into the camera for a photo, with a hoodie and hat on and a thumbs up sign. — *Picture provided by Michal Fiszer*

Michal Fiszer is our first connoisseur of podcasts! He thoroughly enjoys listening to them while studying, as it provides him with the needed background noise. Michal usually listens to health and fitness podcasts.

“I don’t absorb information that well, but while I’m doing homework I can pick up some things here and there from the podcast,” Fiszer said.

“They also relax me a little bit more and put me in a learning environment. When I listen to music, I can find it distracting as I can find myself singing along.”

Ben Sanders

Image of a student looking into the camera for a photo, with a silver chain on and the background of red and brownish bricks. — *Picture by Musie Semere*

Ben Sanders listens to a combination of both music and podcasts, and each are used for a specific purpose.

When choosing songs to study, Ben doesn’t have a specific preference. He listens to anything that comes up in his playlist. On the other hand, podcasts unrelated to his work can actually be beneficial.

“Anything but country music works for me, and background noise helps me focus. Writing and music can go hand in hand for me; it can help me when I’m coming up with stuff,” Sanders said.

Liam Tulk

Image of a student looking into the camera for a photo, he is smiling and has a black and green hoodie on. — *Picture by Musie Semere*

Liam Tulk is a fan of a particular genre of music that isn’t typically championed by students (but is a favourite of mine) — jazz!

He listens to jazz while studying because there are no words for him to follow. The flow also makes it easier for Liam to stay focused.

“The beats keep the energy up without being too disruptive and they help to keep me on task. Also, because a lot of the jazz pieces are long, I don’t have to change tracks as often,” Tulk said.

Liam enjoys Dave Brubeck in particular. For him, the instruments help to drown out the noise and help him focus.

“I think, when you’re sitting in silence you can get into your head, and it can be distracting. If you use the same musical tracks, it can make studying easier,” Tulk said.

What is your soundtrack?

Regardless of the genre, music can play an integral role in our lives. We know music can help you focus, but did you know it can also boost memory and mood?

It’s never been easier to connect with your favourite artists or bands or to find a podcast that caters to your specific taste. From true crime to Ancient Civilizations, there is definitely a podcast out there for you.

We all have our own unique taste in music that doesn’t have to be defined by someone’s specific genre. Whether it’s Travis Scott or Taylor Swift, we all have our favourites and music can define our lives in a way nothing else does.

There has never been a time when audio content has been more accessible, and let’s face it, studying in silence can get boring and monotonous.

Do you find that your musical tastes fall in-line with any of our interviewees? Let us know @shareignite!

Many thanks to Ash Klaver, Will Hollew-Hine, Michal Fiszer, Ben Sanders and Liam Tulk.

Feature image courtesy of Adrian Korte via Unsplash.

Do you enjoy music and are looking for other ways to boost your mood? Check out five easy mood boosters you can do in 10 minutes!