Study With Music

     Hello, we meet again. Earlier, today is the day "Good Friday". For those who celebrate Happy Good Friday. I am glad that these days, school holidays. Yeah but still, I have school work that must be done, one of them is this blog.

     Teenagers are still on the European Lifestyle, this time we will discuss about teenagers learning activities, many young people who complained when she was studying. Some say tired, bored, sleepy, and others. There are many ways to learn more pleasant. Such as making a mind map with pictures of interest, or learning, eating snacks, and more. Which will be discussed this time is to learn, accompanied by music.

Music serves many purposes but for many of us they are only regulated leisure or pleasure. When we want to let go and just have fun but music is much more than that. For years music has been used as to help and heal individuals both emotionally and mentally. It is that mental aspect that is so important because music equals brainpower. It enhances one’s ability to learn and process information more effectively and can help aid in the studying and retention process. So if you’re looking for some music to get you through midterms read on.  One such study supporting this evidence is the Mozart Effect.

     In his book, The Mozart Effect, author Dr. Campbell recommends the best study music is classical and Baroque music as it is at least 60 beats per minute which is conducive to the pace when studying. That genre of music is said to activitate both the right and left brain engaging both in the learning process that maximizes the potential and capability of memorization and recall.  However, a few musicologists disagree with Campbell’s view and say that the best study music that is conducive to studying is the music preference of the individual.

Choosing thet best study music is key in not letting it hinder your concentration in the learning process.  Whether the best study music is Classical, Pop, Rock, Jazz or whatever you choose, the best study music should be the type of music you enjoy and suits you best.  There are three ways to study to music and choosing the best study music.  The best study music for you should depend on the method you choose.  The first method to find the best study music is to engage learning and listening skills for comprehension. When using this type of method experts suggest the best study music to use is classical, Baroque, Techno or New age, ambient music.

Best Study Music – Classical

     Listening to music if you have problems with learning or comprehension the experts say classical is the way to go.  The first and probably most recognizable pieces that will relate and appeal to all ages is:

Johann Pachebel's "Cannon in D"

     The song is the most famous piece of music by German Baroque composer Johann Pachebel. Pachebel’s Cannon is a polyphonic piece that combines the techniques of cannon and ground bass although it was originally scored for three violins and basso continuo paired with a gigue in the same key.  The cannon is heard widely today most often at weddings during the processional but has been has its hand in modern music as well.  The cannon’s chord progression has been an influential part of the pop rock music scene the theme was used in songs such as the Beatles Lennon-McCartney tune “ In My life” where the theme was adapted to make it contemporary.

Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Fur Elise"

     The song written in 1810 is rumored to be a declaration of love to Beethoven's friend of the same name who he proposed to and was there on rejected by.  Translated the song is "For Elise" The piece is written in A minor and in 3/8 time making it conducive for studying. Interesting facts about the song include that version of the song we hear today is in fact an earlier version that was transcribed by Ludwig Nohl. Another version that was transcribed later includes drastic changes to the accompaniment.  Also another interesting and unknown fact is that the letters that spell Elise can be decoded as the first three notes of the piece due to it's music equivalents and harmonics.
 

"Habanera" an aria from George Bizet's opera Carmen 

     "Habanera" is perhaps one of the most famous and well-known arias in the opera category. The piece is from George Bizet's Opera Carmen and is sometimes referred to as "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle."("Love is a rebellious bird"). The piece is lively enough to keep you engaged and awake when you need both that jolt of excitement and expressiveness to keep up your studying into the wee hours of morning.

Andrea Boccelli "Vivo Per Lei" ( I live for Her)

     The song was featured on Boccelli's album Romanza and was performed as duet with singer Georgia. The song was orginally written by O.R.O in 1995 for their album Vivo Per. During that same year, the lyrics of the song were rewritten for Boccelli's duet with Georgia with the word Lei now symbolizing that Lei (her) in the title makes reference to the music itself as an entity rather than indivual as the obeject of affection like the original song intended.  The mutlilingual song was sung in Italian but has mixes with other lanuages as well in other versions. The sound does also somewhat represent the pop genre as well as the piano melody is reminiscent of an Elton John song.

Enya "Only Time"

     The Irish singer wrote this for her album A Day Without Rain in 2001. It’s Irish and celtic roots are evident in it’s beats and instrumentation. A little faster paced and mixed with chanting and haunting vocals this track became one of the signature songs that defined and explained how people felt after the 9/11 attacks. This song has a little something for everyone and is a great middle of the road pick to keep up the momentum and montonony of studying of studying.  Now that we have covered listening as a means of learning. In an aid to the task of studying yet being able to relax and have fun doing it come the next tracks.

Best Study Music – Pop

     The next two categories of people use music as a prerequistite to studying listening to it prior to engaging in the task or while they are concentrated in a heavy duty cram session to release some of the tension and pressure studying can sometime evoke. This is where the songs from the pop.genre become helpful because they are wide ranging in style, beat and timbre.  Also, listening to upbeat music is a great way to find some extra energy and can eliminate the boredom and montonoty of the task itself.  Listening to music before studying puts the listener in an alpha or theta state enabling them to better absorb the information because those type of brainwaves are known to engage the mind for greater openess.  Some of the tracks that aid in these parts of the process are  as follows.

Hole  "Malibu"

     "Malibu" by Hole has an upbeat pop rock feel co-written by Hole's lead singer and guitarist Courtney Love, guitartist Eric Erlandson and Smashing Pumpkins songwriter and frontman Billy Corgan.  The song's upbeat vibe is masked by it's sad backstory the song is based on Hole's husband's Kurt Cobain's stint in rehab shortly before killing himself in 1994. In contrast songs like "(2AM) Breathe" and "Need You Now" describe those long hours you’ve spent hitting the books and can’t see straight or have been looking at the same page for hours. It’s about the lonely and isolation that engages once again the concentration and solitary attitude some need to focus.

     "2AM Breathe" with lyrics like “2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,
"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?" resonate because many students are up till all hours of the night studying of till well 2 A.M.  Another song that describes a sense of loneliness and longing is “ Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum.

     “Need You Now”  shouts desperation and longing with lyrics like” It’s a quarter after one I’m all alone and I need you now. Said I wouldn’t call, but I’ve lost all control And I need you now”.  The song suggests just what the lyrics describe just what the lyrics suggest making that phone call in the dead of night longing to hear a voice on the other end of that line that will take away the loneliness and longing one feels to be close to another person in the moment.

     Songs like One Republic’s "Apologize" are different in that their just generally pleasant to listen to with a great pop sensibility, texture and sound the beat keeps you interested enough and engaged to keep listening the tune also is subtle so it doesn’t require active listening and can be used for background or “white” noise if studying in silence isn’t your thing.  Finally, there’s Fleetwood Mac’s “ Landslide”.

     "Landslide" was a song written by Fleetwood Mac’s lead singer Stevie Nicks wrote the song funny enough when she herself was contemplating going back to school or pursuing a music career with guitarist Lindsay Buckingham.  I think this song cinched her decision, the tune was written as Nicks was looking out at the rocky mountains and pondering the metaphorical “avalanche” that had come crashing down on her and the group which she described as a landslide hence the title of the song. The melody is simple and beautiful and it’s signature sound from a solo acoustic guitar and Nick’s raspy voice.

     In all, the options are endless although some experts note that in choosing music one should listen to instrumental pieces versus those that include vocals but in the end it’s all a matter of taste. From songs like Pachebel’s “Cannon” to Fleetwood Mac’s “ Landslide” music can have a wonderful technical precision or heart-wrenching beauty and tenderness that can make you lose yourself in.

     The best music to study to and learn by is the music you love and for some that could mean one genre or many. To find that out it’s best to vary the types of music you listen to from classical, to pop and jazz experimenting with all the different types available will help find the music that fits you best.

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