Is Music the Key To Increased Focus and Concentration?
Our mind and its capabilities have been the focus of extensive research for many years. Achievement of our peak focus and learning capabilities has been one of the major topics in this research. As our learning models change and technology makes it way to the forefront of learning, it is slowly being realized that the answer to helping students focus and learn better may have been there all along- music.
A class full of Metacognitive students contend that listening to music intensely supplements productivity in individual tasks when left to their own devices. Many students make a compelling argument that soothing music helps them concentrate better and aids focus. The teachers don't have it in them to deny their students the boost and motivation afforded by music. Through consent by parents, it could set a higher standard at school.
Music is an exercise for the brain and delays the mind's aging as we progress chronologically, ensuring a sharper memory and improved cognitive abilities. Our brain preserves rhythms and vibrations associated with music for a long time, and listening to the same song again brings back neurological patterns and old memories. An increasing number of students prefer to listen to music while studying as it promises better retention.
What research has to say about it
Researchers have speculated that music puts students in a heightened state of mind, making them more receptive to information. A research team at the "Stanford University School of Medicine" gained valuable insight into the brain's functioning and provided conclusive evidence that music engages parts of the brain responsible for paying attention and updating news in long-term memory. Music is known to increase IQ, improve test scores, reduce chances of error, and employ both brain parts for effective learning.
As per Dr. Masha Godkin, a professor in the Northcentral University’s Department of Family Sciences, music activates both right and left hemispheres of the brain together. This simultaneous working improves memory and maximizes our learning abilities. Music also helps in relieving stress, which can allow for better focus on the current task.
Music is one of the most effective ways of strengthening resolve and processing emotions without causing a feeling of being overwhelmed. This makes it the choice of many as a stress-buster. It is also helpful in dealing with anxiety, a feeling that many students experience when between multiple exams and assignments.
Creating a ‘learning-friendly’ atmosphere
The intentional use of music in classrooms would foster a student-friendly learning atmosphere. Music can be made a part of the joy of learning, and teachers should strive to orchestrate a rich and resonant classroom environment that provides learners with a symphony of learning opportunities.Dr. Georgi Lozanov goes as far as to say that background music in the classroom is a cornerstone of accelerated learning. Additionally, memorizing dull facts, figures, and numbers can be improved through rhyming and tune.
Music already plays a significant part in our lives. When listening to music we enjoy, the brain’s neurological activities keep us calm and stress-free, thus removing our focus from the world around us. Only our internal stimuli are utilized, including our imagination and memories. This provides an atmosphere for increased focus and study. Listening to music, you are already familiar with makes it easier to focus as you know what to expect, thus letting you focus on the task at hand.
Students prefer listening to music as a distraction from ambient sounds when a student is required to work in seclusions, such as during individual projects or classwork. Music also enhances spatial intelligence, by which a student can intuitively visualize elements that go together. This greatly aids them in finding solutions to intricate math problems, create new ideas, or focus on the work. To nurture such an environment, teachers must incorporate school headphones as part of the class supply list. Integrating stereo headphones in the class setup would avert a cacophony of sounds that would otherwise ensue and prevent the students from being disrupted by other students' musical preferences.
What type of music works best?
While there can be no single answer to this question, different types of music can be suitable for various activities. Classical music has shown a quantifiable effect on productivity. This, again, however, is subjective. The listener’s personal preference and the task at hand both affect the kind of music that can help. Instrumental jazz is another type of music that lightens the pressure and provides an atmosphere for greater focus.
A study at Cambridge University demonstrated that hip-hop music created an uplifted mood that helped listeners better accept and deal with stress and other issues. Thus, at this time, it is safe to conclude that this is more of a matter of personal preference, and what works for one may not work for all.
Selecting music is only one half of the task. How to listen to it is the other half of it. In crowded environments and public places like libraries and classrooms, headphones are the recommended way of listening to music. You can listen to music better without disturbing the people around you. This is why selecting the right headphones for a classroom of great importance.
When selecting the right headphones for your classroom, care must be exercised about hygiene and ear health. High-quality stereo sound is indispensable to ensure enhanced performance. Adjustable plastic, durable headband, and soft vinyl padding ensure maximum comfort so students can pay attention to their tasks. They should be suitable for prolonged use and focus on the current task without requiring too much adjustment.
A long cord will not keep students glued to one place; it will provide freedom of movement. If you aim to maximize the comfort of students while being easy on the pockets, Education headphones by LearningHeadphones.com are the right choice for your school.
