Do you need to study but find the silence deafening?

If you enjoy feeding your ears with music while studying, here’s some good news. Studies suggest that listening to music while studying may be beneficial as it can help you relax and improve your concentration.

However, not all music is created equal. Bobbing to the sounds of Demi Lovato while trying to figure out chemical bonds is likely to interfere with your learning since your brain is trying to process both tasks at the same time.

So what songs should you tune into for optimum productivity? Here’s an extensive list of songs (with minimal to no lyrics) to make your revision session an effective one!

#1. De-stress to the sounds of classical music

If you’re someone who naturally gravitates to the likes of Beethoven, Chopin or Mendelssohn, you’re in for a treat!

Studies suggest that students who listen to classical music while learning may be more receptive to information, while another study suggests listening to this genre may lessen anxiety, or help you relax, even if you don’t pay attention to the music.

Get Bach to studying with these classical music playlists:

• Intense Studying: Piano Concertos Edition (Spotify) (7 hours)
• The Piano Guys’ Study Music Cram Jam (YouTube) (1.5 hours)
• The Official Vitamin String Quartet Study Playlist (YouTube) (45 minutes)

 #2. Get productive with atmospheric rock

Wait — atmospheric rock? Yes, you read that right!

Unlike conventional rock music, atmospheric rock isn't a head banger with screamo tones. Instead, this genre is melodic and peaceful and may help you keep calm and focused while studying.

Stay focused with these atmospheric rock playlists:

• Deep Focus (Spotify or YouTube) (10 hours)
• Calm Before the Storm (Spotify) (4 hours)
• Atmospheric Calm (Spotify) (7 hours)

#3. Tune out distractions with white noise

White noise is unlike an epic song that you’d want to dance to. Instead, it’s a sound that consists of 20,000 different tones — all at the same time. White noise is the sound you hear when there’s no signal on the radio and its purpose is to tune out all other noise.

According to one research, listening to white noise with a consistent “sh” noise may improve your memory. While more research needs to be done in this area, it serves as an interesting observation!

Block out distracting sounds with these:

• White Noise for Homework & School (YouTube) (10 hours)
• Coloured Noise Generator (Website)

#4. Boost your creativity and productivity with cafe noises

Cafes are cosy environments to study or work in, which may be why you or your friends seek them out to improve your creativity and productivity. From the sounds of distant conversations to the clinking of cups, the background noise of a cafe may invoke a sense of calm and focus in some.

This type of music, or rather sound, is filled with life, allowing you to temporarily escape into a make-believe cafe as you pore over your books in the comfort of your home or anywhere else that suits your fancy. 

However, as a cafe may not always be within reach, what with the bad traffic and budget constraints, why not bring a cafe to you?  

Bask in the ambient sounds of a cafe here:

• Coffitivity (Website)
• Coffee Shop Sounds for Study and Concentration (YouTube) (1 hour)
• Korea Starbucks Cafe White Noise (YouTube) (1 hour)

#5. Propel into action with cinematic music

If you love listening to instrumental movie soundtracks or theme songs, why not consider studying to a cinematic playlist?

Listening to music from a particular scene of a movie can instantly take you back to a time or a place, such as a victory scene in your favourite film, invoking emotions that will charge you up for a study session!

Get motivated with these cinematic hits:

• Wonder Woman - Theme Song (YouTube) (6 minutes)
• The Lord of the Rings - The Bridge of Khazad Dum (YouTube) (6 minutes)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - Theme Song (YouTube) (3 minutes)
• Ultimate Movie Instrumentals (Spotify) (11 hours)
• Cinematic Chill-Out (Spotify) (3 hours)

#6. Psych yourself up with EDM

Electronic dance music (EDM) has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in the new millennium, with artists such as David Guetta, Skrillex or deadmau5 becoming popular across the world.

Its catchy and uplifting beats may be one of the many reasons it has caught fire among listeners, but EDM fans will be happy to note that research also suggests that listening to EDM may improve your productivity. That works for us!

Get rolling with these uplifting beats:

• Study Playlist by EDM Sauce (Spotify) (5 hours)
• 8 Hour Study Mix (YouTube) (8 hours)

#7. Jazz up your study routine

Jazz is so much more than “elevator music” or a cafe lounge track.

Not unlike other genres, jazz has continued to evolve over the years, from captivating listeners with swing music in the 1930s to the modern improvisations such as electronic music and jazz found today.

Listening to jazz is not only relaxing, but it may also help you reduce your stress levels and enhance your ability to memorise new things. This bodes well for students as stress inhibits one’s ability to learn.

Propel into action with these jazzy tunes:

• Jazz for Study (Spotify) (6 hours)
• Relaxing Jazz Music (YouTube) (3 hours)
• Jazz Music for Work, Studying and Relaxation (YouTube) (3 hours)
• Electro Swing (Youtube) (50 minutes)

#8. Relax to the sound of raindrops

There’s something incredibly therapeutic about the soft pitter-patter of rain falling on the roof of our homes, creating a calm and peaceful environment that is ideal for studying and getting work done.

So, the next time it rains, why not review your notes or work on those algebra sums for Monday’s class?

While we can’t make it rain on demand, there are plenty of resources that can provide you with an uninterrupted recording of rain and other similar nature sounds.

Relax to the therapeutic sounds of nature here:

• Rainy Mood (Website)
• Tropical Rainforest Nature Sounds (YouTube) (1 hour)
• Ocean Waves (YouTube) (11 hours)

So there you have it  — an extensive list of music playlists to get you motivated to study!

At the end of the day, good music (whatever that is to you) relaxes the mind, so it’s worth exploring the idea of studying as you listen to your favourite jam.

However, it’s worth remembering that not everyone studies the same way. Some of us may need absolute silence when studying while others need a beat to induce their mood to hit the books, so don’t be afraid to try something new to see what suits your needs.

If you’d like to explore other ways to help you with your studies, check out how you can ace your exam using technology here!

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Anishkaa Rajasagaran

Enjoys hanging out with her dog while watching shows over human interaction.