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The different genres of productivity music and their benefits

Updated: Nov 29, 2022



Building and maintaining a good learning and working environment require both motivation and the right setting. Students who are motivated to study and learn are shown to persist longer, produce quality effort, and learn more deeply. Additionally, research suggests that you will be more motivated and focused on your work if you study in a place with little to no noise and your study space is cleanr and tidy. Overall, there are numerous ways to boost motivation and improve the environment around you, and one of the most effective is to listen to the correct music while studying.


However, one may wonder: is music truly helpful in keeping you productive?

It has been proven that music makes it easier to improve concentration, relieve anxiety, and provides a better environment for focus and productivity. Nevertheless, it is important to listen to the right types of music, as some can hinder your progress and worsen productivity.


Other than increasing productivity, listening to music while working has a number of other advantages, including:

  1. Lessening anxiety. Hearing something familiar and calming to you can help you approach your everyday tasks in a more relaxed manner.

  2. Improving focus. You are more closed off to external distractions when listening to music or background noise, and consequently less inhibited when it comes to concentrating on your current task.

  3. Increasing morale. Listening to music you enjoy can help you improve your mood and maintain a good attitude regarding your day-to-day tasks.

  4. Increasing creativity levels. Due to the increase in mood and a heightened sense of focus as a result of listening to music, you may find that you’re able to be more creative when listening to music.


Some genres of music are more effective tools for concentration in work environments, while others reduce productivity. You might be wondering what elements determine the ideal types of focus music, and the answer is that there are a few that determine if a particular style of music is ideal for concentration and focus.

  1. Firstly, structural complexity: music with a more intense and complicated structure tends to be less helpful in terms of attention and focus, since its complexity can end up distracting you from your tasks.

  2. Lyrics: music containing lyrics is shown to be less effective in terms of focus and concentration, and it may end up being a distraction.

  3. Personal habits: if you are not accustomed to listening to music while working or studying, it may not help you focus. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to remain focused, so keep on reading to find out more about these as well!

  4. Style of thinking: some people think creatively, while others use more scientific or logical reasoning. People who have trouble shutting out other stimuli or thinking more in-depth or analytically about the tasks at hand may not benefit from music, but creative thinkers usually profit from it.

  5. The task at hand: some tasks aren't well-suited to having music playing in the background. Mathematical tasks, for example, may demand intense concentration that should not be disturbed.


Therefore, without further ado, here are a few types of music to listen to and improve your focus:


Classical music

Because its sounds are formed around a piano, string, or woodwind instrument composition, classical music is an effective type of music to listen to while working. There are no lyrics in this sort of music, which may make it easier to concentrate and stimulate the mind. The following are some examples of classical music composers:

  1. Ludwig van Beethoven

  2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  3. Johann Sebastian Bach

  4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

  5. Frédéric Chopin


Nature sounds

By fostering a serene atmosphere, both musics with an overlay of natural sounds and music entirely made of nature sounds can be relaxing and boost focus. Animal noises, weather, and other natural factors may be included in nature sounds. Nature sounds, for example, frequently contain:

  1. Birds chirping

  2. A flowing stream

  3. Rain hitting the roof

  4. Crickets chirping

  5. Ocean waves

  6. A crackling fire


Ambient noise

Ambient noise, which can be played with or without music, creates a relaxing environment conducive to concentration. This is due to the fact that ambient sounds are ones that people hear frequently, and because of this, they are not processed as new or distracting noises. Ambient noise can be any of the following:

  1. Coffee shop chattering

  2. City sounds

  3. A cat purring


Video game music

For both gamers and non-gamers, video game music is a great way to boost productivity. In terms of ideal sound and structure, there is a vast range of video game music to pick from, varying from fantastical and melodious to joyful and motivational, and it rarely features lyrics. This style of music is made to induce a specific mental state, making it easier to concentrate on your work. Examples of video games with excellent soundtracks include:

  1. Undertale

  2. Minecraft

  3. Animal Crossing

  4. Smash Bros.

  5. Super Mario


Instrumentals

Instrumentals are an excellent choice for focus music because they are not only free of lyrics but may also be derived from any kind of music. This allows the listener to choose which type or style of music they want to listen to without being distracted from the lyrics. A piano cover of a popular pop song is an example of this genre of music. Additionally, there are numerous instrumental playlists accessible on streaming services and content platforms that cover a wide range of genres, making it simple to choose the appropriate playlist for you.


Epic fantasy music

While this style of music may not appear to be very useful, fantasy music is frequently derived from film or television themes, and these arrangements are typically intended to be motivational. It can make you feel like you’re doing something inspiring or important, even if you’re working on a very mundane task, heightening your concentration and productivity. The following are some examples of epic music from popular culture fantasy and sci-fi films and series:

  1. Lord of the Rings

  2. Harry Potter

  3. Star Wars

  4. Game of Thrones

  5. Indiana Jones

  6. Edward Scissorhands


Lo-fi beats

Low-fidelity music, or “lo-fi”, emphasizes sound mixing flaws that serve as white noise, as it contains many frequencies with the same intensity. The constant beat of this genre's songs is distinctive, and lyrics are rarely included. The following elements are deliberately used to generate lo-fi:

  1. Samples: a sample or a small selection of a song’s chorus or melody is isolated and used throughout the arrangement

  2. Beat: lo-fi usually consists of a steady, rhythmical beat

  3. Bassline: the bass line in lo-fi is typically elevated, but it is also steady and smooth

  4. Mixing: lo-fi tracks usually don’t mirror the original audio’s patterns, but instead, they present as something entirely new

  5. Effects: record scratches or imperfections may be added to act as background noise


White noise

White noise is a sound with a spectral density that is flat. In other words, it's a sound created with a constant frequency that can be used to help you focus, concentrate, or sleep by blocking out external noises. This frequency of noise does not disrupt a focused or restful mind, and it can be found in some of the most popular household items, including:

  1. fan sounds

  2. television static

  3. air conditioner noise


Other types of music

There are several other types of music you can listen to when working, such as blues, soft jazz, meditation music, and more.


Experiment to determine what works best for you; gentle and peaceful music may assist you in concentrating on your task, while a high-energy song can keep you inspired. The right type of music to help with focus depends on the person, therefore make sure to try out different types of music each time you study, as it will make working more enjoyable while helping you concentrate better!


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