Work smarter, not harder

College students have varying study habits. Some prefer listening to rock music when hitting the books, others like classical. Many don’t listen to music at all. Despite personal music taste, what kind of music will help students master the subject at hand?
Many studies have confirmed music can put people in a “productive” mood. A study by a large retail company found workers listening to music through headphones showed a 10 percent productivity increase. A similar study from the University of Illinois found a 6.3 percent increase compared to a control group.
Although music helps students study better, some music is better at the task than others. Light melody music with a constant, easy beat are recommended. This type of music works well for those wanting to focus on the task at hand. Classical music by Vivaldi, Bach, or Handel are great examples of helpful music to study with.
For those partial to popular music, rock music is found to have a similar effect. A report from the Journal of Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology found one’s ability to recognize letters and numbers is faster when rock or classical music is being played.
If students are looking to be more productive through relaxation, research supports that upbeat music can reduce stress hormones by 41%. “The Mozart Effect” is a concept known to many. It suggests college students perform math problems better when listening to classical music. This concept is not limited to humans. Supposedly, cows are able to produce more milk if Mozart music is being played.