The music you need to succeed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Akbar Reid

Staff Writer

As students scramble to study for finals, the search for the perfect music to help stay focused can become overwhelming.

Students and professors gave advice on the best music to listen to so you can ace your exams.  

 Mary Ann Gulyas, fine arts, theater arts and digital media department professor, shared her thoughts on how to utilize music to help the studying process.  

“Some students find that listening to music helps them focus on their work,” she said. “It can help them remain motivated and awake.”

Gulyas explained how each individual students’ mind is affected differently by music while studying.

“There are students that can only study in complete silence,” she said.

It is becoming more common to spot students studying with headphones on.

According to Gulyas, some of these students are using music as a way to block out distracting noises around them that may disrupt their focus.

Another way music can assist students when studying is through the positive moods, emotions and vibes that it can encourage.

“Music affects mood, so certain music can help [a] student feel empowered to complete a project or paper,” Gulyas said.     

Bobby McBride, individual studies major, found that music helps him study, especially when reading.

“Certain music when I’m studying helps a whole lot,” McBride said. “Certain music keeps my brain mellow and it keeps me up [while studying], instead of me reading in silence.”

Music choice for studying may work differently depending on the type of material you are studying and how your individual mind reacts to it. A music choice that does not match well with the study material can hinder your efficiency.

“[Music with lyrics] could be distracting if you’re getting more of the lyric than the information you’re actually studying,” Sarah Arceneaux, a biology major, said.

For some, including Gulyas, listening to music without lyrics may work the best.

“I personally listen to classical music like Mozart or Haydn symphonies,” Gulyas said. “The music is interesting enough to keep me motivated and the melodies are rather predictable,” she said. “There is usually not a huge range in tempo or dynamics to take me off task and there are no lyrics.”

Liberal arts major, Prince Ramnarine, however, uses music with lyrics to propel his studying experience.

“If I’m doing something repetitive, I’m going to listen to something with lyrics to keep my mind going, and it helps motivate me to keep going,” Ramnarine said.  

Asa Riccardi, human services student, uses different techniques for different environments.

“Music works for me when I’m in a public setting, but when I’m home I actually prefer absolute silence,” she said.

Gulyas said that it all comes down to what suits you.

“This is not a ‘one size fits all’ situation. It depends on personal preference,” Gulyas said. “Some students are motivated by rap music and others by Beethoven,” she said. “You need to listen to whatever motivates you.”