How to be a Successful Adult Student - Mixing Music and Homework

Many people like to listen to music when doing homework, particularly homework in a subject they do not like. Others prefer silence. The question arises, which is better? The answer is part personal, part scientific. Music and the Mind It has been scientifically proven that music, or rather the right kind of music, can improve the mind. It can make the mind more flexible, more creative, and more open to new ideas. Music can inspire a person to see more connections between ideas. The music which seems to work best is of a soft, mostly classical genre, often interwoven with natural sounds like rain, wind, and birds. Also, the music in the experiments which worked was instrumental music, music without words. This does not mean it works this way for everyone. Scientific studies are on groups of people. Individuals, however, can vary dramatically from the group behavior. Just because music has been shown to make people in a group more productive does not mean it makes individuals more productive. Personal approaches matter a great deal. Music and the Individual People who like to work with music point to two major benefits. First, the music relaxes the person, which is a major benefit. A relaxed mind is more receptive, more intuitive, and more retentive. Second, music allows the person to concentrate more effectively by blocking out the small distracting noises in the environment around the student. By listening to the music, the student is not interrupted by these other noises. However, many students find the music described above as soporific, causing them to nod of and, in some cases, fall asleep. These students, when they listened to music, prefer music which energizes the listener, which inspires the listener to action. Personal Music I find music to be helpful with my ability to concentrate without getting headaches. However, I listen to different kinds of music depending on what I am doing. When I am writing, I prefer softer, more instrumental music, either with or without nature sounds. However, when I am reading, I prefer a more upbeat style of music, still instrumental though. Finally, when I am creating a plan or a mind map, I go for really energetic music, and the vocals can inspire me with new ideas. I find that music does block out the rest of the world, allowing me to focus on my task more effectively. By listening to the music, I find my mind can ignore other factors, such as room temperature and the small sounds of my pets. Making the Choice In the end, it comes down to personal choice. If you prefer silence, then by all means work in silence. If you prefer to listen to music, then do that. The mind is more powerful when in comfortable surroundings. Do not do something because everyone says so. Find your own environment. I would encourage you to experiment, particularly if you are having trouble focusing on schoolwork. Find a way that allows to get the job done to the best of your ability.