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In this article, Haddix Blackmon speaks their opinions on the effects of listening to music in class and study environments.
Music's Effects on study environments
Music's Effects on study environments
By Haddix Blackmon
By Haddix Blackmon
Many of us have had a teacher tell us to take out our earbuds in class. Although you might object, using the words, “But it is helping me!” educators put their foot down and take the earbuds away. It never seems fair, especially for students who actually seem to focus better when listening to their own music. However, the teachers could have a point to their argument, as well. After all, they are pretty knowledgeable about teaching and studying. It would be nice to have some proof for either side and, today, your favorite extravagant entertainer is here to provide just that.
Music is often used when studying for students to focus. However, will having a sound in your ear truly help? In an article on the Edugage website, meant to create engagement for education, is stated that “Music helps you concentrate by blocking out distracting noise.” Through this way of thinking, the answer is yes. The music helps you to block out the noise created in the environment around you. Pencils scratching at paper, students whispering to each other, backpacks being opened and closed. These are all sounds that need to be blocked out because of how distracting they can be. However, with one solid sound in a kid's head, it would help for there to be less auditory sensory intake.
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Another upside to the student’s side of this argument is the ability of music to change mood. In an article by the University of Wollongong, Dr. Timothy Byron writes about research in which scientists have discovered something called the “‘Blur Effect’ in which kids who listened to the BritPop band Blur seemed to do better on tests. The Blur effect was bigger than the Mozart effect, simply because kids enjoyed pop music like Blur more than classical music.” Byron meant to show how music that is enjoyable to a student can help them do better in a learning and testing environment. It also demonstrates a problem within classrooms that will play music from a speaker that is just one form of music. Each student may have a different preference in music. If you play one genre that some students like and others dislike, that may cause the students who favor that music to get an unfair advantage in their classwork. This is the importance ofallowing students to use earbuds and headphones in class for their own music. By giving them that choice and that freedom, you can boost their mood, which may result in more positive scores for classwork.
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Of course, I would be lying if I were to say that there were no downsides to pairing music with school work. An article by Healthline highlights the pros and cons of music. It is stated that, “Certain types of music, including fast music, loud music, and music with lyrics, can make it harder to understand and absorb reading material.” In this case, it can be see that, when listening to wilder music, we may have difficulty reading or taking in the information we are supposed to be learning. Obviously, this causes some issues, as it goes against the entire purpose of schooling and studying. However, taking another look at that quote may reveal that Healthline specifies very heavily on the type of music causig that issue. Later, in the same article, it is said, “If you prefer to study with music, there’s no need to give it up.” The author then goes on to list many tips and types of music that may be helpful for studying such as: instrumental, slow, keeping volume low, and songs that produce no strong feelings.
Overall, music is not always going to be bad for studying or school environments. That being said, there is one more quote that is very important to remember in this discussion: “Music doesn’t affect everyone in the same way, so the answer to this question is more complex than a straightforward 'yes' or 'no.' ” Obviously, no question can always be simply black and white. There are many pros and cons to using music while working on schooling. However, students should be allowed to use music in class. When it comes down to it, students will truly be the only ones able to figure out what is good or bad for them. If some use music when they know it will hurt their grades, there is no use in forcing all students to get rid of music when it helps others. A lot of students don’t want to use music because they know it makes work harder. I hope that, if teachers have read this article, then they may be given a reason to change how they run their classrooms. Any students who have read this: maybe you will have another thought as to how you use your music while in study mode.
Signing off,
Signing off,
Haddix Blackmon
Haddix Blackmon
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