Should you have music on while you revise?

If your parents or teachers have heard you listen to music while you're studying and given you grief about it - don't worry, you're probably not alone. Did you know 75% of students say they turn on the tunes while revising or doing homework? The big question is - Is it right for you?

Psychologists have used carefully designed experiments to show that music can actually be helpful but it depends on who you are, what you're listening to and what you're trying to achieve.

Bitesize Study Support asked Dr Catherine Loveday, an expert in music and memory at the University of Westminster, to explain more and help you decide what's best for you. Here's what she says:

How do you use music when revising?

It’s important to think about how you use music. Before you open your books, you may want to listen to something upbeat and exciting that gets you in the right mood, just as runner Usain Bolt does before a race. So, like an athlete preparing for a competition, you need to choose something you love that makes you feel energised. This raises overall levels of alertness and activates the dopamine reward pathways in your brain, making you feel good about what you’re doing.

Well-chosen music can also boost confidence and reduce procrastination (though you need to set a clear time limit to your pre-studying music listening).

Can I use music to feel calmer?

Like the gymnast Simone Biles, you might prefer to start with something calming to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Brain scans show that music consistently activates the limbic system – where emotions are stored – so it is a great way to regulate how you feel.

Gentle classical music is particularly good at improving mood and lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, even in young people who don’t listen to it often. It’s important to experiment with what works for you but don’t be afraid to try something new.

How does music help my brain?

Music can also be used to reward you at the end or in a scheduled break. But what about while you’re actually studying? Views on this vary, but the overall consensus from scientists is that the right type of music can increase alertness, improve mood and create more focus. In 2022, a group of psychologists in Hong Kong reviewed all the evidence on how different brain networks are activated by music listening. They showed that it stimulated connections between many different regions, each of which plays a key role in processing information and learning.

Why do people use music to help as they study?

As well as having a direct impact on mood and alertness, many people find that listening to music on headphones at a low to moderate level is a good way to block out distracting noises in the environment. It can be hard for some people to find a quiet space to study so this may be particularly useful for those having to study in a busy household or when there is a lot going on around.

Even when you’re deeply immersed in a task, there’s a secondary attention system which is primed to scan the surroundings and be ready to respond to something new and unexpected. Music – or even simple nature sounds – can mask these and keep the brain engaged.

So, when choosing a soundtrack for studying, you’re aiming for something that puts you in the right mood, and makes you feel alert but doesn’t distract.

Here are a few evidence-based tips to help you find what works for you:

• Music with lyrics is likely to be more distracting than instrumental music. The words interfere with your inner voice, which you need for most types of revision and particularly for essays or language-based tasks

• Music doesn’t work for everyone. For example, people who are more extroverted or distractable often show the biggest benefits, while introverts typically find music less helpful. Nature sounds can provide a good alternative.

• It’s generally better to listen to music you feel comfortable with, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be something you know really well. Familiarity can be good but tunes you know too well can grab your attention or trigger memories, which might take you out of the zone.

• Some music is naturally more distracting so avoid music that’s loud, exciting or urgent. While this can be great before you start or when you take a break, it’s less helpful when you’re trying to concentrate.

• Repetitive predictable patterns, gentle changes and a slow pace can focus the mind and keep you on task. Avoid music with too many sudden surprises or changes in volume.

• Rhythm and tempo are important. There’s some evidence that heart rate, breathing and even brain activity become synchronised with musical patterns.

• Find a volume that's right for you but save the really loud music for before or after your study period.

• Solo piano music can be particularly helpful. It has a familiar and natural sound, which the brain finds comfortable and predictable. As a single instrument, it can be simpler to process and provide a little more space for thinking.

Radio 3 Unwind’s Piano Focus team have curated some special episodes with Professor Loveday - designed to help you focus.

What might work best for you?

One very clear and consistent finding is that music is a very personal and individual thing. What works for one person may not work for another, and what works one day might not work the next.

It may take a little while to find out what's right for you, but the key thing is to reflect and be honest with yourself. Have you managed to work longer? Have you felt more focused? Are you getting better results? Only you can know for sure.

Music isn't a magic wand that makes revision easier, but the right soundtrack might help you feel more focused and more motivated to keep going.

By Professor Catherine Loveday, an expert in music and memory at the University of Westminster.

This article was published in May 2026