Pro: Yes
By Mark Tuttle, 11th
Say you’re in Math Class. You’re doing problems and jamming out to some music playing on your headphones when the teacher comes along and tells you to take them off. Suddenly, you’re disoriented, annoyed, and no longer able to focus on your work over the idle chatter of your classmates.
Based on a study from the Harvard Business Review one could determine that music helps with focus depending on the type of person you are. The study provides examples like extroverts picking upbeat and cheerful songs whereas curious and intellectual people focus best with jazz or classical, whereas non-conformist, rebellious types may gravitate towards heavy metal, hip hop, or punk rock. Another facet explored by the study was whether or not your experience matters when choosing whether or not to have music in the background. “When you’re comfortable doing something, because you are skilled, experienced, and are more or less in autopilot mode, background music is more likely to help you achieve greater focus.” However, they also say that if you are inexperienced then it’s more likely to distract you more than anything else. This all ties into how helpful music can be when you’re trying to focus, you just need the right music for the right setting.
Music can also be a powerful resource when studying. In his 2024 blog post, Mark Barrow writes, “Certain types of music, such as classical or ambient music, have also been shown to enhance focus and cognitive function, making them a great choice for study sessions.” Mr. Barrow also talks about how music is a good motivator for students as well as increasing their focus and productivity. He additionally states that it’s beneficial for the moods of students, their mental health, overall reduction in stress and anxiety, and boost in retention on the subjects.
In conclusion, music CAN be a useful tool for focusing if you know when to use it.
Con: No
By Courtney Brown, 11th
You’re in your English class finishing up some classwork that was assigned to you today. You have your headphones plugged into your ears and you just selected a playlist with all of your favorite tunes to listen to while you work. You’ve selected your top most favored song in the playlist and you’re immediately in the mood. As time goes on, you find yourself re-reading the same sentences over again while the lyrics are being recited in your head. The constant speed of the words from the song you’re listening to swirls in your brain and before you know it, the song’s over. That 3 minute and 45 second song is finished … but there’s nothing on your paper. You’ve been sitting at your desk, listening to the beat of the rhythm, staring at your paper, and you have yet to pick up a pencil to write or finish anything. Mhm, I thought listening to music helped you focus more?
Ah, yes, the classic “I work harder while I’m listening to music!” scenario. Of course, many students love to debate on if listening to music should be allowed while working. Of course, there’s different sides to every story. Some people do prefer listening to music to further their focus while others aren’t as productive with it.
So, of course, let’s start off with task performance. Let’s say you’re completing a certain task and you’re listening to music as you go. You may think you’re getting work completed because of the music you’re consuming, specifically music with lyrics. According to Daniel Levitin, a cognitive neuroscientist, “you’re having so much fun, that you feel more productive.” Another study, conducted by Dr Nick Parham, a lecturer at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Wales Institute, expresses that listening to music with lyrics while working or studying impairs productivity and concentration. Due to most students and teenagers listening to music that contains lyrics, the Schellenberg study shows that comprehension levels decrease whilst listening to music. A study from Thompson & Schellenberg states that “fast and loud background music disrupts reading comprehension” has varied effects of listening to music while studying. The study reveals that fast, loud, or loud and slow music hinders learning. Music with lyrics can hinder verbal memory, visual memory, and reading comprehension. Most students or teenagers also tend to wear noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones that limit their surroundings and have a high risk of hearing damage due to prolonged high volumes of the music. It prevents students from learning or hearing important instructions from others, limiting their ability to collaborate with others properly. Audiologists have even shared that prolonged usage of these noise cancelling devices can cause developing brains to process sounds differently, leading to auditory processing disorder.
So, if you ever think about if studying with music actually helps you, take these small factors into consideration. Who knows, you might just be “having too much fun.”