Summary of Listening to music while studying: distraction or motivation - Essay Example

The main focus of the article is to provide a balanced discourse based on results of previous studies which disclose findings on whether there were valid reasons to substantiate how music either distracts or motivates the listener while studying. A brief introduction was provided by enjoining the reader to reflect on the scenario where there is an upcoming test and nothing has yet been read in the course module except the syllabus. Given the urgency of the matter, the audience visualizes the scenario to determine if music would indeed be a motivating factor for enhanced learning or a distracting medium.

The author next averred that even scholars and professionals in different endeavors apparently relay controversial stance on the subject. To streamline the discussion, the author used the question that focuses on the circumstances for enhanced learning.. he University of Wales, Cardiff Institute (UWIC) found from their study that “music can interfere with short-term memory performance regardless of whether we like music or not” (G); and (2) the reason for the distraction was noted by Perham to be due to the variety of acoustic variations in music that allegedly impairs one’s cognitive ability to recall.

Since it has been revealed that music could be distracting in instances where memorization needs to be done, the author provided some advice or recommendations to minimize distractions. One advice was to listen to music before any review or study is to be made; rather than listening to music while studying. The rationale provided for this contention, as noted by Perham was the need for increased focus which could only be made possible with a quiet learning environment or by motivating oneself through listening to preferred music before the task of studying.

He further expounded by indicating that the very nature of different musical compositions that contain diverse musical elements, such as notes, beats, lyrics, rhythm, melody causes the person to focus on these varied elements, rather than concentrating only on the task. He provided an example through imagining listening to the song of Nicki Minaj that was even described as blaring to one’s ears and could relatively create a scenario where it would be virtually difficult to concentrate on one’s studying; furthermore, on a memorization task.

As such, it was advised that in lieu of out right quietness, students could opt to listen to simple music such as purely instrumental, classical music, or even the natural sound of a waterfall that would enable students to retain undivided attention to the tasks that need to be revised. It was therefore emphasized that