Finding the perfect soundtrack for your study sessions can dramatically transform your concentration and productivity levels. The right music creates an optimal environment for learning, helping your brain maintain focus while reducing stress and mental fatigue. Whether you’re preparing for exams, completing assignments, or diving into research projects, these carefully selected tracks offer the ideal balance of engaging melodies and non-distracting arrangements. This comprehensive guide explores the best songs for study sessions that combine atmospheric soundscapes, instrumental excellence, and rhythmic consistency to keep you in the zone.
The science behind study music reveals fascinating insights about how certain sonic elements enhance cognitive performance. Research consistently shows that instrumental tracks, ambient textures, and moderate tempos create ideal conditions for sustained mental effort. These selections span multiple genres including lo-fi hip-hop, classical piano, ambient electronic, and modern instrumental compositions from both established artists and emerging producers. Each track has been chosen for its ability to maintain your attention without overwhelming your senses, making them perfect companions for those marathon study sessions.
Weightless by Marconi Union
Scientifically engineered to reduce anxiety by up to 65 percent, this masterpiece from British trio Marconi Union stands as one of the most effective study tracks ever created. Developed in collaboration with sound therapists, the eight-minute composition features carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines that slow the listener’s heart rate and decrease cortisol levels. The track’s gradual tempo reduction from 60 BPM to 50 BPM naturally synchronizes with resting heart rates, creating an optimal state for deep concentration. Its ambient textures and absence of repetitive melody prevent distraction while maintaining sufficient interest to keep your mind engaged with your material rather than wandering to unrelated thoughts.
Left Hand Free by alt-J
While alt-J typically creates complex, lyric-heavy compositions, this track’s instrumental sections and driving rhythm make it surprisingly effective for study sessions requiring sustained energy. The song’s consistent beat provides rhythmic structure without demanding active listening attention, while its indie rock arrangement offers enough sonic variety to prevent monotony during extended work periods. The production quality showcases excellent spatial dynamics that work particularly well when experienced through quality headphones, which you can explore comparisons for at compare headphones to enhance your listening experience. The track maintains momentum throughout its duration, making it ideal for those moments when you need motivation to push through challenging material or maintain focus during repetitive tasks.
Avril 14th by Aphex Twin
Richard D. James crafted this delicate piano piece as part of his Drukqs album, and it has since become a beloved staple in study playlists worldwide. The composition’s gentle melodies and sparse arrangement create space for thought without imposing intrusive elements that demand attention. Its two-minute runtime makes it perfect for looping during extended sessions, and the subtle variations in the performance keep it from becoming overly repetitive. The track’s emotional resonance provides comfort without overwhelming sadness, creating an atmosphere of contemplative focus that many students find conducive to absorbing complex information and maintaining concentration through difficult problem-solving tasks.
Bloom by ODESZA
Electronic duo ODESZA demonstrates their mastery of atmospheric production with this shimmering track that balances ambient textures with subtle rhythmic elements. The song builds gradually, layering synthesizer pads and processed samples to create an expansive sonic environment that feels both intimate and spacious. Its moderate tempo and absence of jarring transitions make it excellent for maintaining workflow continuity, while the production’s polish ensures a pleasant listening experience that doesn’t fatigue the ears during marathon study sessions. The track’s uplifting quality can help combat the mental exhaustion that often accompanies prolonged periods of focused work, providing gentle emotional support without becoming a distraction from your academic tasks.
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
This timeless classical masterpiece remains one of the most popular study companions more than a century after its composition, and for excellent reasons. Debussy’s impressionistic piano work creates dreamlike soundscapes that stimulate imagination while allowing focus on analytical tasks, making it particularly effective for subjects requiring both creative thinking and logical reasoning. The piece’s dynamic range and emotional depth provide enough interest to prevent boredom without demanding active engagement, and its familiar melodies comfort many listeners who find security in recognizable musical territory. The various interpretations available from different pianists offer subtle variations that can refresh your playlist while maintaining the same fundamental benefits for concentration and cognitive performance.
Intro by The xx
Minimalist indie pop reaches its pinnacle in this sparse instrumental that has soundtracked countless study sessions since its release. The track’s restrained guitar work, subtle electronic elements, and spacious production create an atmosphere of focused calm that many students find perfectly suited to deep work. Its brevity at just over two minutes makes it ideal for repeated listening without inducing fatigue, and the emotional neutrality prevents it from influencing your mood in ways that might interfere with objective analysis of study material. The production quality showcases how less can indeed be more, with each element occupying its own sonic space without competing for attention, creating a backdrop that supports rather than demands mental resources.
Holocene by Bon Iver
Justin Vernon’s ethereal vocals and sparse instrumental arrangement combine to create one of the most emotionally resonant yet non-distracting study tracks available. The song’s gradual build from intimate beginnings to fuller orchestration mirrors the natural progression of a productive study session, starting quietly and building momentum as you settle into your work rhythm. The production’s spaciousness and the vocals’ integration into the overall texture prevent them from demanding the linguistic processing that can interfere with reading comprehension or writing tasks. With over 400 million streams across platforms, its popularity among students reflects its genuine effectiveness as background music for academic work, particularly for those who prefer organic instrumentation over electronic production.
Strobe by Deadmau5
Progressive house producer Deadmau5 created an epic journey with this ten-minute masterpiece that builds with mathematical precision from minimal beginnings to euphoric peaks. The extended intro provides nearly four minutes of ambient atmosphere before the beat enters, making it perfect for easing into study sessions, while the gradual build creates natural momentum that can carry you through challenging material. The track’s structure mirrors the concentration curve many students experience, starting contemplatively and building to a sustained plateau of focused energy that lasts several minutes. Its length makes it ideal for those who find frequent track changes disruptive, and the electronic production’s consistency prevents the attention-grabbing surprises that can derail concentration during critical thinking tasks.
River Flows in You by Yiruma
South Korean pianist Yiruma’s most famous composition has become synonymous with peaceful concentration, accumulating billions of streams globally. The piece’s gentle melodic lines and moderate tempo create an environment of serene focus that helps many students maintain attention without inducing drowsiness, a delicate balance that many study tracks struggle to achieve. Its repetitive structure provides comfortable predictability while subtle variations prevent complete monotony, and the pure piano timbre offers a clean sonic palette that doesn’t clutter the mental workspace needed for complex academic tasks. The emotional warmth of the composition can also provide comfort during stressful exam preparation periods, offering psychological support without becoming a distraction from the work at hand.
Midnight City by M83
While this track features vocals, its synth-driven production and dreamy atmosphere have made it a surprising favorite among students seeking energetic yet non-intrusive study music. The soaring synthesizer melodies and driving rhythm provide momentum for tasks requiring sustained effort, while the production’s polish ensures a fatigue-free listening experience during extended sessions. The song’s anthemic quality can help combat the motivational dips that naturally occur during long study periods, providing an emotional boost precisely when needed. Its mainstream success with over 500 million streams demonstrates broad appeal, yet its production sophistication prevents it from feeling generic or overly simplistic, offering enough sonic interest to maintain engagement without demanding conscious attention.
Breathe by Télépopmusik
This downtempo electronic track combines breathy vocals with hypnotic beats and atmospheric production to create one of the most trance-inducing study tracks available. The song’s consistent groove and ambient textures help induce a flow state where time seems to pass effortlessly and concentration comes naturally, making it particularly valuable for subjects requiring sustained focus without mental strain. The vocals are processed and integrated into the mix in ways that prevent them from engaging linguistic processing centers, allowing them to function as another textural element rather than a distraction from reading or writing tasks. Its use in various films and advertisements has made it culturally recognizable while maintaining its effectiveness as background music for academic work.
Concerning Hobbits by Howard Shore
Extracted from The Lord of the Rings film score, this gentle orchestral piece captures the peaceful essence of the Shire while providing excellent study accompaniment. Shore’s composition combines folk-inspired melodies with lush orchestration to create an atmosphere of comfortable focus that many students find conducive to sustained mental effort. The piece’s moderate length and satisfying arc make it perfect for looping, and its absence of dramatic peaks or jarring transitions ensures consistent concentration support throughout your session. The emotional associations many listeners have with the source material can provide additional comfort and motivation, creating positive psychological conditions that enhance learning effectiveness and information retention during challenging study periods.
Resonance by HOME
This synthwave track has become a phenomenon in online study communities, with its nostalgic electronic sounds and hypnotic rhythm creating ideal conditions for deep focus. The production combines retro synthesizer tones with modern mixing techniques to create a sound that feels simultaneously familiar and fresh, engaging memory and emotion while leaving cognitive resources free for academic tasks. Its consistent beat and absence of jarring dynamic changes make it perfect for tasks requiring sustained attention, while the melodic content provides enough interest to prevent mental drift without demanding active listening. The track’s popularity on streaming platforms, particularly among students and young professionals, reflects its genuine effectiveness as a concentration tool rather than merely its aesthetic appeal.
Nude by Radiohead
Radiohead’s atmospheric masterpiece demonstrates how carefully crafted songs with vocals can still function effectively as study music when production and arrangement prioritize mood over lyrical emphasis. The track’s floating quality and Thom Yorke’s ethereal vocal delivery create a dreamlike atmosphere that many students find conducive to creative thinking and problem-solving tasks. The bass line provides gentle rhythmic grounding without becoming intrusive, while the guitar work and electronic elements weave together to form a cohesive sonic environment that supports rather than interrupts concentration. Its inclusion on the critically acclaimed In Rainbows album ensures excellent production quality that prevents listening fatigue during extended study sessions.
Time by Hans Zimmer
Christopher Nolan’s Inception received an unforgettable score from Hans Zimmer, with this track standing as its emotional centerpiece and an excellent study companion. The composition builds from a simple piano motif through gradually intensifying orchestral layers, creating a sense of momentum and urgency that can motivate students through difficult material. Its extended length of over four minutes provides sustained periods of consistent atmosphere, while the methodical build prevents abrupt changes that might jar concentration. The track’s cinematic quality can help transform mundane study environments into spaces that feel more significant and purposeful, potentially enhancing motivation and engagement with academic material through psychological associations with achievement and determination.
Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt
Estonian composer Arvo Pärt created this minimalist masterpiece that translates to “mirror in the mirror,” and its mathematical construction makes it uniquely suited to study sessions. The piece features a piano playing simple scales while a violin sustains long, meditative notes, creating a hypnotic effect that many students find deeply conducive to concentration. Its extreme minimalism ensures no element demands attention, while the gradual evolution provides just enough change to prevent complete mental disengagement. The composition’s length of approximately ten minutes makes it ideal for uninterrupted focus periods, and its various recordings by different performers offer subtle variations that can refresh your playlist while maintaining the same fundamental benefits for cognitive performance and sustained attention.
Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit
French producer Petit Biscuit burst onto the electronic music scene as a teenager with this sun-soaked track that has become a study playlist staple. The song’s tropical house influences and warm synth tones create an uplifting atmosphere that combats the stress and anxiety often associated with academic pressure. Its moderate tempo and consistent groove provide rhythmic structure without becoming monotonous, while the production’s brightness can help maintain energy levels during afternoon study sessions when concentration naturally dips. The track’s popularity among younger listeners, with over 200 million streams, reflects both its aesthetic appeal and its practical effectiveness as background music for tasks requiring sustained mental effort without high-intensity focus.
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Composed in 1888, this piano piece remains one of the most popular study companions more than a century later, testament to Satie’s understanding of how music can support rather than dominate mental activity. The composition’s sparse texture and slow tempo create space for thought, while its memorable melody provides gentle engagement that prevents complete mental drift. The piece’s simplicity belies its sophistication, with harmonic choices that create subtle emotional colors without overwhelming the listener. Its widespread availability in numerous interpretations allows students to find versions that match their preferences, and its cultural familiarity makes it a comfortable choice for those new to using classical music for study purposes.
Intro by Alt-J
This atmospheric opener from Alt-J’s debut album demonstrates the British band’s talent for creating textured soundscapes that support concentration. The track combines vocal samples, synthesizer pads, and subtle rhythmic elements to build an immersive environment that many students find conducive to deep work. Its relatively short duration encourages looping or playlist integration, and the production’s polish ensures pleasant repeated listening without fatigue. The band’s experimental approach to indie rock production creates enough sonic interest to maintain engagement while avoiding the predictable structures that might become boring during extended study sessions, making it valuable for students seeking alternatives to more common instrumental or classical study music.
Sea of Voices by Porter Robinson
Electronic producer Porter Robinson showcased his compositional depth with this ethereal track that balances emotion with atmosphere. The song’s shimmering synthesizers and processed vocals create a dreamlike quality that many students find helps them enter flow states where concentration comes naturally and time passes unnoticed. The production’s spaciousness and careful dynamic control ensure it never overwhelms the listener, while the melodic content provides sufficient interest to prevent mental wandering. Its popularity in the electronic music community and strong streaming numbers reflect both its artistic merit and its practical utility as background music for tasks requiring sustained cognitive effort, particularly creative or analytical work that benefits from positive emotional states.
The Theory of Everything by Johann Johannsson
The late Icelandic composer created a masterful score for the Stephen Hawking biopic, with this particular piece offering excellent support for study sessions. The string-driven composition combines classical sensibilities with contemporary production techniques to create an atmosphere of intellectual pursuit that perfectly complements academic work. Its emotional resonance can provide motivation during challenging study periods, while the absence of jarring elements ensures consistent concentration support. The track’s association with scientific achievement may also provide subtle psychological reinforcement for students, creating positive associations between the listening experience and academic success that could enhance motivation and persistence during difficult tasks.
Age of Consent by New Order
While this new wave classic features vocals and energetic instrumentation, its driving rhythm and jangly guitar work have made it a favorite among students who need upbeat study music. The consistent tempo and familiar structure provide rhythmic grounding without demanding active attention, while the production’s brightness helps maintain alertness during extended work sessions. For those who find instrumental music too sedate, tracks like this offer an alternative that maintains energy levels without the distraction often associated with vocal music. If you’re looking to fully appreciate the production details, consider exploring options at compare eabuds to find the perfect listening setup for your study environment.
First Breath After Coma by Explosions in the Sky
This post-rock epic from Texas-based Explosions in the Sky demonstrates how instrumental rock can provide powerful study accompaniment. The track builds gradually from quiet beginnings to soaring climaxes, creating an emotional journey that mirrors the natural progression of productive work sessions. Its length of nearly ten minutes provides extended periods of consistent atmosphere, while the dynamic range offers enough variation to prevent monotony without introducing jarring transitions that might disrupt concentration. The absence of vocals allows students to focus on reading and writing tasks without linguistic interference, while the emotional intensity can provide motivation and energy during challenging academic work.
Pure Shores by All Saints
This turn-of-the-millennium hit combines electronic production with smooth vocals to create an unexpectedly effective study track. The song’s laid-back groove and atmospheric production create a sense of calm focus that many students find conducive to sustained mental effort, while the melodic hooks provide gentle engagement without demanding active attention. Its association with beach scenes and relaxation can help create psychological distance from academic stress, potentially reducing anxiety that might otherwise interfere with concentration and performance. The track’s mainstream success ensures high production quality and broad appeal, making it accessible to students who might find more experimental or niche study music off-putting.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
Bristol trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack created this haunting masterpiece that has become a surprising favorite in study playlists worldwide. The track’s hypnotic beat, atmospheric production, and Elizabeth Fraser’s ethereal vocals combine to create a trance-like state that many students find perfect for entering deep focus. The consistent groove provides rhythmic structure without becoming intrusive, while the production’s depth rewards high-quality playback systems without demanding them. Its use as the theme for the medical drama House introduced it to broad audiences, but its effectiveness as study music stems from its carefully crafted balance between engagement and non-intrusiveness, making it valuable for tasks requiring sustained concentration without high cognitive load.
Outro by M83
Anthony Gonzalez’s cinematic approach to electronic music reaches its peak in this nine-minute opus that builds from delicate beginnings to overwhelming emotional heights. The track’s extended duration and gradual development make it ideal for uninterrupted study sessions, providing a consistent atmosphere that evolves naturally over time. The production’s lushness and attention to detail create an immersive environment that can help block out external distractions, while the absence of jarring elements ensures concentration remains unbroken. Its emotional impact can transform routine study sessions into experiences that feel more significant and purposeful, potentially enhancing motivation and engagement with academic material through the psychological power of music to influence mood and perception.
On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter
Contemporary classical composer Max Richter created this string-driven masterpiece that has soundtracked numerous films and countless study sessions. The piece’s slowly evolving harmonies and emotional depth create an atmosphere of contemplative focus that many students find ideal for tasks requiring both analytical thinking and creative insight. Its moderate length and satisfying arc make it suitable for looping, while various recordings by different ensembles offer subtle variations that can refresh your playlist. The composition’s balance between simplicity and sophistication ensures it remains engaging through repeated listening without ever becoming distracting, making it valuable for students who spend many hours studying and need music that won’t cause fatigue.
Islands by The xx
The British minimalists return with another stripped-down masterpiece that demonstrates their understanding of how restraint creates space for focus. The track’s sparse instrumentation and intimate production create an atmosphere of quiet concentration that many students find conducive to deep work. The interplay between the two vocalists and the subtle electronic elements provides enough sonic interest to maintain engagement while never demanding active listening attention. Its relatively short duration makes it ideal for playlists, and the emotional resonance can provide comfort during stressful study periods without overwhelming the listener. The band’s consistent aesthetic across their discography allows students to explore their entire catalog for additional study-appropriate tracks that maintain similar qualities.
Such Great Heights by The Postal Service
This indie electronic classic combines Ben Gibbard’s distinctive vocals with intricate electronic production to create a track that straddles the line between engaging and non-intrusive. The song’s upbeat tempo and optimistic mood can help maintain energy during afternoon study sessions when concentration naturally wanes, while the production’s polish ensures pleasant repeated listening. The lyrics’ focus on connection and distance create emotional content that remains accessible without becoming overwhelming, and the melodic hooks provide memorable elements that make the track feel like a companion rather than mere background noise. Its enduring popularity since 2003 reflects both its artistic merit and its practical utility for various activities requiring sustained attention with moderate cognitive load.
White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes’ baroque folk masterpiece demonstrates how acoustic instrumentation and vocal harmonies can create effective study music when arranged with restraint and spatial awareness. The track’s layered vocals and folk instrumentation create a warm, organic atmosphere that provides an alternative to electronic production for students seeking variety in their study playlists. Its relatively brief duration and looping structure make it ideal for repeated listening, while the production quality ensures each element occupies its own space without creating sonic clutter. The emotional warmth can provide comfort during stressful academic periods, and the absence of dramatic dynamics ensures concentration remains steady throughout the track’s duration.
Porcelain by Moby
Electronic pioneer Moby created this ambient masterpiece that perfectly balances melancholy beauty with practical utility as study music. The track’s piano-driven melody and subtle electronic production create an atmosphere of reflective focus that many students find conducive to tasks requiring both analytical thinking and emotional intelligence. Its consistent tempo and absence of jarring transitions ensure uninterrupted concentration, while the production’s depth provides enough interest to prevent complete mental disengagement. The track’s inclusion on the massive-selling album Play introduced it to worldwide audiences, but its enduring presence in study playlists reflects its genuine effectiveness as background music for academic work rather than merely its commercial success or cultural familiarity.
To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra
This emotionally resonant track combines piano, strings, and Patrick Watson’s distinctive vocals to create one of the most moving study tracks available. The song’s gradual build from intimate beginnings to orchestral fullness creates a natural arc that can carry students through challenging material, while the production’s spaciousness prevents any single element from becoming overwhelming. The lyrics’ themes of home and belonging can provide emotional comfort during stressful study periods, and the instrumental sections offer natural focus periods where concentration can deepen. For students interested in exploring how different audio equipment affects their experience of tracks like this, resources are available at kids instrument quiz to help understand musical nuances. The track’s popularity in television and film has made it culturally recognizable while maintaining its effectiveness as music for sustained mental work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a song effective for studying?
The most effective study songs share several key characteristics that support concentration without causing distraction. Instrumental tracks or songs with minimal, non-intrusive vocals work best because they don’t engage the language processing centers of your brain that you need for reading and writing. Moderate tempos between 60-80 BPM tend to promote focus while preventing drowsiness, and consistent rhythms without jarring dynamic changes help maintain steady concentration. Songs with repetitive structures provide comfortable predictability that allows your mind to tune them out as foreground listening while still benefiting from their presence, and high production quality ensures fatigue-free listening during extended sessions. The emotional tone should be neutral to slightly positive, avoiding both depressing content that might lower motivation and overly exciting elements that might become distracting.
Can study music actually improve academic performance?
Research consistently demonstrates that appropriate background music can enhance various aspects of cognitive performance and academic work. Studies show that music can reduce stress and anxiety levels, which often interfere with concentration and memory formation, while certain types of music help maintain arousal levels in the optimal zone for sustained attention. The “Mozart Effect” research, though sometimes overstated, does indicate that musical exposure can temporarily enhance spatial-temporal reasoning abilities. Perhaps most importantly, music can help mask distracting environmental sounds, creating a more controlled acoustic environment that supports focus. However, the effects vary significantly based on individual preferences, the specific task being performed, and the characteristics of the music itself, so students should experiment to find what works best for their unique needs and learning styles.
Should I use music with lyrics or instrumental tracks for studying?
The choice between lyrical and instrumental music depends largely on the type of academic task you’re performing and your individual cognitive profile. For reading comprehension, writing assignments, and language-based tasks, instrumental music typically works better because lyrics can interfere with the linguistic processing required for these activities. However, for mathematical work, visual tasks, or activities requiring motor skills, some people find that songs with lyrics don’t cause interference and may even enhance performance. If you do use music with lyrics, choose songs with vocals mixed low in the production, lyrics in languages you don’t understand, or tracks so familiar that your brain no longer actively processes the words. The key is monitoring your performance honestly and being willing to adjust your approach if you notice decreased comprehension or increased distraction.
How loud should I play study music for optimal results?
The optimal volume for study music requires careful balance between audibility and intrusion, and individual preferences vary significantly. Generally, background music should remain at a level where you’re aware of its presence without it demanding your active attention, typically around 60-70 decibels or roughly the volume of normal conversation. Music played too softly might be drowned out by environmental sounds, defeating its purpose of masking distractions, while music played too loudly can itself become a distraction and potentially cause listening fatigue or hearing damage during extended sessions. Many students find success with the “arm’s length test,” where the music should be clearly audible when you first put on headphones but should fade into the background as you become absorbed in your work. Pay attention to whether you find yourself actively listening to the music rather than focusing on your studies, as this indicates the volume may be too high.
Are certain genres better for studying than others?
Different musical genres offer distinct advantages depending on the type of studying being performed and individual preferences developed through years of listening experiences. Classical music, particularly Baroque compositions with their mathematical structures and moderate tempos, has been extensively studied and shown to support concentration for many students. Lo-fi hip-hop has emerged as a contemporary favorite, combining repetitive beats with atmospheric textures that create ideal focus conditions. Ambient and post-rock genres provide immersive soundscapes with minimal distraction, while certain electronic music subgenres like downtempo and chillwave offer consistent rhythms without demanding attention. However, personal preference plays a significant role in effectiveness, as music you find unpleasant or boring may increase stress or mental drift regardless of its theoretical suitability. The best approach involves experimenting with different genres while honestly assessing their impact on your concentration, productivity, and information retention.
How does study music affect different types of learners?
The effectiveness of study music varies considerably across different learning styles and neurological profiles, making personalized experimentation essential. Auditory learners often benefit significantly from background music as it engages their preferred sensory channel without overwhelming it, while visual learners may find music either neutral or slightly beneficial depending on the task. Students with ADHD frequently report that music helps them maintain focus by providing just enough stimulation to prevent understimulation without causing overstimulation, though responses vary individually. Introverts may prefer quieter, more sparse arrangements that create personal space, while extroverts might benefit from slightly more energetic selections that compensate for the lack of social stimulation during solitary study. Those with anxiety disorders often find that calm, predictable music reduces stress and creates psychological safety, while students on the autism spectrum may have heightened sensitivity to certain frequencies or textures that requires careful music selection.
When should I avoid using music while studying?
Certain academic tasks and personal situations warrant studying in silence rather than with musical accompaniment, regardless of how effective music might be in other contexts. Initial learning of complex new material often benefits from complete focus without any sensory competition, as does memorization of detailed information where every cognitive resource should be directed toward encoding. If you notice decreased comprehension, frequent re-reading of passages, or difficulty recalling information, the music may be interfering rather than helping. Students preparing for exams administered in silent environments should occasionally practice without music to avoid developing dependency on it as a concentration cue. Additionally, if you find yourself actively listening to the music, changing tracks frequently, or becoming distracted by song choices, removing the music entirely may improve your productivity more than switching to different selections.