Many students enjoy listening to music while in the classroom or studying, but some aren’t aware of the effects that listening has on them.
Numerous studies have been conducted researching the effects of listening to music while studying. Most studies come to a similar conclusion: listening to music while studying or learning tends to distract the listener. This doesn’t come as a surprise since it has also been proven that the human mind is incapable of multitasking. However, listening has a handful of positive effects as well.
Students can feel more relaxed by listening to music in school. It allows them to briefly focus on something else with which they are more comfortable and willing to pay attention to. Music can also motivate students. In weight-lifting classes at Pleasant Valley, music is always being played in order to encourage students to push further. The same idea can be applied to academics. If students listen to music while studying or working, they can be inspired to work harder or for a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, many students don’t have the ability to listen to music in classes because of the high school’s newly-enforced cell phone policy.
Because students are supposed to put their phones in pockets in the classroom, listening to music has become much harder. Senior Sam Necker is an avid music listener and wishes he were able to listen in class. “I would listen in class if I could. I enjoy listening to music while I do other things, but now I don’t have that opportunity,” he said.
Math teacher Nick Sacco isn’t a strict enforcer of the cell phone policy, but he is known to “surgically remove” cell phones from the hands of those using them inappropriately. “For younger students, I don’t really allow them to listen to music,” Sacco said.
However, Sacco feels that the case is different for his more mature students. “For my older students that are in my upper-level classes, I don’t strictly enforce the policy, and I allow headphones,” Sacco said. “Those students are old enough to know how to appropriately use their phones. If they’re listening to music and they can’t handle that distraction, they’ll face the consequences.”
Senior Abbey Wehrheim listens to music when she can, but she is also aware of the effects it has on her learning. “I like to listen to music, but sometimes it distracts me. I might get bored and focus on the music, so I know I have to limit how often I have headphones in during class,” she said.
Necker admitted to being distracted as well. “It may distract me, but it’s okay. I know how much distraction I can take before my learning or studying is affected,” he said.
In any case, students will likely be distracted if they are listening to music in class or studying outside of school. Despite what some think about classical music and learning, studies show that any kind of music will distract, whether it is Mozart or Lil Yachty.
Ultimately, music will distract the listener from their task, but that isn’t to say there are no benefits. Students can become more motivated or relaxed with music, so it all comes down to what someone thinks will fit them best. Teachers may enforce their phone policies and not allow their students to listen to music, but many students are also mature enough to make that decision on their own.
