MUSICOLOGY EXPERT REVEALS THE TOP TUNES TO HELP STUDENTS SMASH THEIR STUDIES
With Fresher’s Week passing fast, Dr Rupert Till in partnership with
Pro Plus, unveils the soundtrack to help students survive their studies
Dr Rupert Till has teamed up with caffeine supplement, Pro Plus to help 2017 Fresher’s stay alert, awake and focused when studying
A collection of three Spotify playlists have been launched to support students through peaks of their study journey – the overnighter, dissertation work and last minute cramming
Top tracks include ‘Work’ by Rhianna, ‘Survivor’ by Destiny’s Child and ‘Inkanyezi Nezazi’ by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
For thousands of Fresher’s up and down the country, the week after Fresher’s Week marks the time to knuckle down and become immersed in study. Yet, student attention spans have been found to be just 10 minutes[1], making lengthy periods of study a challenge. However, music engages the area of the brain involved with paying attention[2], demonstrating how listening to music can help to extend short attention spans.
Recent research conducted by Pro Plus revealed that three in four (74%) of today’s student population will plug into their favourite tracks while studying as two thirds of 18 – 34 year olds also claim that music helps them stay motivated.
Music Psychologist, Professor of Music and Associate Dean of the University of Huddersfield, Dr Rupert Till has joined forces with Pro Plus to unveil the perfect playlist to help students smash their studies from the start. The launch of the ‘Study Like A Pro’ playlist sees tracks including ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams, ‘Drifting Away’ by Faithless and ‘Magic’ by Coldplay showcased as the best tunes to listen to for aiding concentration.
Dr Rupert Till has been a lecturer in music for over 20 years. He says: “One of the main ways that we use music is to modify our mood. Striking the right chord with intelligent music choices may help you stay more alert, reduce study stress and help to avoid procrastination and boredom. Achieving the ideal soundtrack for studying depends on the individual and the task in hand. Subjects that involve visual imagery, such as art or design, benefit from listening to music at the same time. Instrumental tracks are better suited to analytical tasks, like those associated with subjects such as science or maths. On the flipside, foreign language study and memory tasks are the two areas where it is least helpful to listen to music.”
Despite the fact that today’s students are spending on average two hours less per week in the library than their parent’s generation, the number of first class degrees has increased almost three fold (28% versus 11%). This may suggest students are using tips, tricks and hacks, such as listening to music to study more efficiently.
Dr Rupert Till, supports the recent research findings from Pro Plus, explaining: “Research from Pro Plus shows that music can help you remain focused to study efficiently. There was a time when lecturers, parents and teachers advised students to turn off the tunes for fear of distraction. We now know that when used in the right way, music – especially our favourite tracks – can actually improve your results, through making you feel more alert and focused to make it through the lengthy study periods, rather than putting off your intellectual mojo.”
Pro Plus Brand Manager, Miriam Luff adds: “We know that students are working harder than ever while at university and the benefits of listening to music while studying has been a long debated topic, so it’s interesting to discover the optimum music for studying from an expert musicologist.”
Dr Till has worked in partnership with Pro Plus to develop the ‘Study Like A Pro’ playlist, helping students stay alert and focused as they study for the upcoming exam period. The playlist can be found at: open.spotify.com/user/studylikeapro
Overnighter
Dr Till says: “Music with lyrics and a medium upbeat tempo are ideal as they will help you stay awake, however not so lively you’ll get distracted. These selected songs should stop you drifting into alpha and theta brainwave states, and help to prevent drowsiness.”
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Uptown Funk (Feat. Bruno Mars) – Mark Ronson
Rather Be (Feat. Jess Glynne) – Clean Bandit
Budapest – George Ezra
Sugar – Maroon 5
California Gurls (Feat. Snoop Dogg) – Katy Perry
Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling
Survivor (Feat. Da Brat) – Destiny’s Child
Love Me Again – John Newman
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
One Day Like This – Elbow
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Dissertation
Dr Till says: “Dissertations involve complex thinking at a higher level, therefore the songs within this playlist are instrumental in nature to ensure the music doesn’t interfere with the thought process but helps to keep the brain up to speed.”
Inkanyezi Nezazi – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Drifting Away – Faithless
Fade into Darkness (instrumental club mix) – Avicii
Lemon Jelly – Space Walk (Lost Horizons)
Scape – Nitin Sawhney
Meeting in the Aisle – Radiohead
Your Hand in Mine – Explosions in the Sky
Radio Protector – 65DaysofStatic
Storm – Godspeed you! Black Emperor
Last Minute Cramming
Dr Till says: “The music in the last-minute cramming playlist has a lower tempo. Slower music can entrain your body, slowing the heart rate, reducing stress.”
All of Me – John Legend
Magic – Coldplay
Another Love – Tom Odell
Human – Rag’n’Bone Man
Hello – Adele
L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. – Noah and the Whale
Let’s go to the Beach – Sophie Longshaw
Work (Feat. Drake) – Rhianna
Higher Love – James Vincent McMorrow
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Hold Back the River – James Bay
