You hear all sorts of tales about which genre of music is best to listen to while you're studying, but Spotify has actually researched it and found out for you.
Teaming up with psychologist Emma Kenny, Spotify has come up with the perfect school day playlist. Organised by times of day and based on the right tempo, lyrics and emotional impact of the songs, it's supposed to help you ace class.
Why not give it a try?
And here's the science behind it all..
Before school
Mentally preparing for the day ahead is key when facing a day of learning in order to avoid cognitive overload. Listening to fast-paced music that makes you feel happy and elevates your mood ensures that you start the day with a positive mental attitude. Songs with beats per minute of 80 or above will ensure you arrive at school both feeling good about life and in the ideal mental state susceptible to learning.
Recommended Songs
· Pharrell Williams - Happy
· Ed Sheeran - Sing
In between morning lessons
Memorable and culturally popular music can keep your mood positive at the same time as increasing your performance in lessons. Studies have suggested that cognitive function is improved, whilst students in high-pressure situations cope more successfully after listening to catchy and upbeat tunes.
Recommended Songs
· Disclosure - Lividup
· Sam Smith - Money on my mind
Lunchtime
Lunchtime is a great opportunity to relax, unwind and recharge for the afternoon ahead. Choosing relaxing and rhythmical music can release tension and actually alter brain-wave activity – offering the same benefits as meditation, such as increased serotonin production and emotional energy. This ensures returning to afternoon lessons refreshed and invigorated.
Recommended Songs
· Capital Cities - Safe and Sound
· Daft Punk - Revolution 909
In between afternoon lessons
Listening to music in between afternoon lessons can help keep energy levels up, with faster-tempo melodies shown to improve motivation and increase work rate. Switch to a playlist with pumping tracks that fill you with positive energy to ensure those last hours in school or uni are productive ones.
Recommended Songs
· Ben Pearce - What I Might Do
· Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt
Evening
Chilling out and preparing for a really good night’s sleep is key to feeling rested and re-energised: young people learn better after a good night’s sleep with music proven to significantly improve sleep quality. Songs with 50-80 beats per minute have a calming effect, thus enabling the brain to learn and remember new facts. Music is also proven to reduce anxiety and stress, which makes listening to certain tunes doubly effective for helping with mood.
Recommended Songs
· Ben Howard - I Forget Where We Were
· John Legend - All of Me
Finally research has shown that classical and uplifting music, at a rate of around 60-70 beats per minute, can really affect our feelings when we are lower in mood – so students should ensure they have a selection of music to play whenever they feel less than positive about learning the next day.
Recommended Songs
· Ludovico Einaudi - I Giorni
· Andrew Bayer - Closing Act