Learning More Concentrated and Effective with Music

Do you like listening to music while learning? Then you’re doing just the right thing! Because more and more studies are taking place: With music you can learn more concentrated and effective. There are no limits to the choice of songs. From classical music to pop music to hard rock – you hear what you like. And, of course, what best boosts your own ability to think.

But suitable music not only promotes concentration, but also helps to increase your mood and motivate you. Your learning process is facilitated and you are much more productive. Overall, music is regarded as a motivator and learning aid. Memory expert Markus Hofmann also knows this: “The brain is more receptive when stimulated by sounds. Music enables learning with different senses and thus accelerates the recording process.

Which music is suitable?

Songs with 56 to 64 beats per minute are particularly helpful, since this corresponds approximately to the heartbeat of a person in a relaxed state. Based on this insight, many scientists recommend listening to quiet music while learning. Techno and heavy metal are less suitable because the hard, fast beats can either upset us or drive us crazy. We are also advised against rap, especially in our mother tongue, as the many lyrics only distract us. Music for learning must therefore have the right tempo – not too fast, but also not too slow. You shouldn’t fall asleep at your desk.

But there is another reason why experts recommend even, quiet music: many years ago, an American study showed that classical music, such as Mozart, increases spatial perception. Surprisingly, this phenomenon is called the “Mozart effect”. It does not only apply to pieces by the composer of the same name, but to the genre in general. Beethoven, Bach and Co. can also contribute to productive learning. However, it has not yet been possible to explain exactly how this effect works.

It depends on your taste

Even if Mozart helps you learn, that doesn’t mean that each of you must have “The Magic Flute” (Who didn’t have to endure it in music lessons? on your shelf. After all, it’s up to you to choose the right learning music. American psychologists have also discovered that rock music can also trigger the Mozart effect. In addition to classical music, fast, fun music is also suitable for learning – as long as you enjoy listening to it in your free time. The findings of psychologists suggest that musical taste and perception are more decisive for the Mozart effect than classical music itself. Accordingly, one can also try out one’s favorite songs for learning purposes.

The difficulty lies only in the selection of the right songs. There are no guidelines for this. However, to make your choice easier, you’ll find a few tips below on how to choose the right music for learning.

The criteria:

Find music that you like and enjoy listening to in your spare time. (Classical music is an exception: not necessarily your taste, but certainly unbeatable when it comes to learning.

The songs should have a relatively quiet beat of 56 – 64 beats per minute. If you don’t know which songs this applies to, you should contact a music expert or try a “beats-per-minute counter”. But don’t waste too much time searching for the right music, after all, you still have to learn.
The songs shouldn’t have too much lyrics to distract you.

Choose music that you find pleasant and where you don’t fully concentrate on the vocals. It should only be “background music” for you. If you don’t even notice that music is playing while learning, your song selection was right.

Start by creating a playlist of your chosen “learning songs” so that you don’t have to play DJ while learning. If you’re unsure or don’t have enough songs, you can also search for finished playlists on Spotify or iTunes.

Ideally, your playlist should not run longer than two hours. When the music ends, you know there’s time for a break.
Remember not to turn up the volume too loud. After all, the focus is on learning.

You shouldn’t let the radio play while learning. All that chatter and advertising will only distract you and eventually annoy you.

Try it nevertheless simply times out

No matter whether you are a student, high school graduate, graduate or distance student – you always need concentration and motivation when learning!