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Best Study Playlists - Study Music, Focus Music

Everybody has their own routine for how to study for exams, do homework, read or focus on a particular task. Listening to a study playlist is a great way to center your attention and lift your mood. Listening to music can also reduce stress, which is a plus when it comes to balancing a busy schedule of work, school and family!

Music Therapy has proven that you can process a wide range of emotions from excitement to thoughtfulness depending on what type of music you listen to. When we’re studying, we’re probably aiming for thoughtfulness. Research has also shown music has the potential to boost memory, which can be a huge plus.  However, complex and distracting music might not be the way to go when choosing the right studying playlist for you.

We have found that the best genres of music to listen to while studying, reading or writing include minimalist, classical, piano and low-fi music. We’ve compiled some of the best lyric-free playlists that will act as brain food while keeping your attention on your studies so you can ace that test and earn that A.

Best Study Playlists on Spotify

1. This more than 24-hour playlist is full of piano and classical songs to help you focus.

2. Lofi Girl curates some of the most relaxing and engaging playlists. Her use of lo-fi tracks mixed with ambient pieces will keep you relaxed but never bored.

3. This playlist is all instrumental all the time!

Best YouTube Study Playlists

1. This is a deep-focus playlist so you know you’ll finish what you need to get done!

2. This Bossa Nova & Jazz playlist is a MOOD. It will transport you to a lovely cafe, on a rainy day. 

3. This extra ambient playlist describes itself as “brain power, focus concentration music.” You’ll feel like you’re in a sound bath.

Music is just one way to improve your mental health. See more tips on improving your mental health as an online student. 

10 MENTAL HEALTH TIPS FOR ONLINE STUDENTS

*Arizona Online does not endorse playlist creators. Music is not guaranteed to boost academic performance. 

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The 6 Best Music Genres & Types For Studying

Melissa Peterkin

July 4, 2022

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More

best music genre for homework

Music is always a great idea, even when studying. Since I thought it to be an intriguing topic and I am extremely excited about writing for this case, I found myself writing this post, which I am looking forward to. If you regularly read my writings, you may have noticed that I frequently provide concrete examples from my own experience. This time will be no different.

I found that music was one of the finest study aids when I was a student, so while I can’t claim I always had music on when I was working, the majority of the time I did. I was the type of student who spent much of the time studying while wearing headphones and listening to music, especially when I had to perform math assignments or research something involving numbers. It is clear that this is not always the ideal option for concentration as it relies on several aspects since when I had to study something crucial to recall, music did not aid me at all; instead, it distracted me.

Students are constantly looking for methods to focus more and get better outcomes; some do this by using music as a kind of motivation, while others use other tactics. As I told you, music was very helpful in the majority of my situations, but not always. Music could not help but distract some students, making it impossible for them to focus at all. It is clear that very little is known about this situation, thus neither “music aids with studying” nor “music distracts when studying” can be said.

But given that the majority of students presumably utilize music to motivate them to study, studies have been conducted that provide us with important details like the greatest musical genres for learning. Before we start introducing the genres, it is important to know that you should be using this as background music, and avoid loud music at any cost due to the deconcentration it can cause.

So it’s time to have a discussion and choose which genres are appropriate for listening to while learning.

Table of Contents

Best Music For Studying: Genres

I always say that your favorite music is the best music to listen to during study sessions or whatever you are doing at the moment. Still, I will go on and share below what I think is the best music to listen to while studying, and I believe that most of you will agree with me, bet you will find your favorite genre below.

Classical Music

I can state that this is the oldest kind of music, and experts, including scientists, agree that it is the most calming and effective at relieving tension. As a result, there is no need to refrain from listening to classical music while studying, especially because this is often the moment when we feel the most stressed out and under pressure. There are several advantages of listening to classical music, including improved sleep.

Due to the alleged “Mozart Effect,” the first name that comes to mind when asked which classical composer to listen to is Mozart. Mozart’s music enhances cognitive function. However, don’t take it as a given that it will work for everyone. Since everyone’s brain responds to stimuli differently, it’s possible that even if classical music helps some individuals focus, it won’t have the same impact on others. In order to determine which genre best suits you, you need to experiment with a variety of them.

best music genre for homework

Instrumentals

To be honest, I enjoy this style of music. I really love how much it calms me down and how good an impact it has. There are no voices or singing in this form of music because it just uses instruments. Success for an orchestra is everything. However, if the orchestra is not up to par, this kind of music could be terrible, therefore you should pick some lovely instrumental pieces performed by exceptional orchestras.

I can say that this style of music is one that students enjoy listening to the most, because there is no singing involved, so it won’t at all distract you. Consequently, you might improve your mood while studying by concentrating on the instruments. The devices can also aid in memory and cognitive skill improvement. In conclusion, I can say that listening to this style of music while studying is worthwhile.

best music genre for homework

Jazz music is always enjoyable. Without a sure, this musical style helps people relax intriguingly. Of course, I’m talking about fans of this style; for everyone else, it won’t do any good. Therefore, listening to jazz music while studying might be beneficial if you are a lover of the genre.

Smooth jazz soothes the mind and aids in focus because all you can hear are the instruments playing calmly. Jazz music is played at a slow speed, thus it follows that this style of music can be appropriate to listen to while learning. Therefore, if you haven’t yet discovered the music genre that best suits you while studying, don’t be afraid to give jazz a try.

best music genre for homework

Ambient Music/Electronic

This style of music has it all. From sluggish, ambient, or electronic music. One of the best genres for listening to while studying is this one. Since this genre includes three distinct musical styles, each will have a varied effect on certain listeners. Electronic music is popular among college students, which indicates that it has an impact on concentration levels. However, I must remind out that in this instance, listening at a lesser volume will be more beneficial.

best music genre for homework

I can’t say that this style of music is the best to listen to because it contains so many lyrics, and you might start singing them right away, which could be distracting. However, many R&B fans report feeling more relaxed, focused, and less stressed when listening to this style of music, which may have a positive impact on their ability to focus and learn. If you are lucky to find RNB music with little or no lyrics would be great.

best music genre for homework

Nature Sounds

Listening to the sound of mother nature can help you relax in stressful situations like studying and make you feel more at ease and focused since nature always offers us positive energy and removes the stress we have in our bodies. Rainfall and the calming sounds of the jungle are just two of the many sounds you may listen to in this genre. It’s time to give it a try if you haven’t already so you can determine if it truly helps or not.

best music genre for homework

Since I’ve covered so many different musical genres in this post, I’m confident that everyone will benefit from a decent set of headphones that are suitable for studying. So, here are the best headphones for studying , check out.

Final Words

Listening to music while studying might be more enjoyable. For that reason, I decided to write this post and provide you with some important details on the finest musical genres for studying.

I sincerely hope you like it and discover the ideal music genre to improve your drive and focus, but yeah make sure you avoid loud music and complex music, try to aim for atmospheric music.

Further Reading

Now that we are done with study music, as I mentioned the types of music, you guys know that rock and jazz are some of them. Well, you can find out the best subwoofers for jazz , as well as some great bookshelf speakers for rock music .

Now, if you are a guitar player, you can check out the greatest studio monitors for guitar , or some of the best headphones for bass guitar !

Melissa Peterkin

Composer & Audio Engineer

I’m a composer and audio engineer crafting sonic magic. Combining my skills in rhythm, harmony, and sound synthesis to create the ultimate auditory experience.

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COMMENTS

  1. Best Study Playlists

    When picking music for homework, you’ve probably heard how classical music can increase your focus when studying. There’s a theory dubbed “The Mozart Effect”that suggests this genre of music can enhance brain activity and arouse your brain to focus. There are also several studies done where students …

  2. What you guys think is the best genre of music to listen while

    Instrumental for sure. Lo-fi is great, deep house, classical. There's a cool podcast on Spotify called "the flow state" where the host curates "focus" music each week. It's like a pomodoro in …

  3. Harvard neuroscientist: The No. 1 type of music for focus and

    I have many favorites — hip-hop, rap, pop, country, folk, classical, opera. So it’s not about genre for me. As a musician and Harvard neuroscientist, I’ve found that “familiar …

  4. The Best Study Music: What to Listen to While Studying

    Listening to the right music while studying can make a big difference. Learn which type of music you should (or should not) be listening to while you study.

  5. 8 best music to study and concentrate for students

    What are the best music to study and concentrate? 1. Classical music. Classical music is one of the best music to help you study and concentrate. There’s a theory dubbed “The Mozart Effect” that suggests this …

  6. Best Music for Studying in 2024: Baroque & Classical …

    This article discusses several studies that support the positive correlation between music and effective studying. This guide also takes a look at the best genre for the task, and which baroque and classical music for …

  7. The 6 Best Music Genres & Types For Studying

    Best Music For Studying: Genres. I always say that your favorite music is the best music to listen to during study sessions or whatever you are doing at the moment.