By: Sarah Sheafer <[email protected]>

For sophomore Terry Liu,it is part of her daily homework routine to turn on the radio and start her homework. Liu listens to music while she does her homework. She said she could hardly remember a time when she hadn’t done it.

“I listen to music while doing homework because it’s a motivation to keep going,” Liu said. “Sometimes homework can just be long and painful.”

Even though this habit is sometimes discouraged among teachers, counselor Kristina Hartman said music does help some students with homework. “I think music has many positive effects, one which is stimulating the brain,” she said. “It helps (students) focus more or it makes them feel more relaxed.”

Hartman said listening to music while studying may not necessarily be new. It might just be noticed more in this generation. “I can say that I know I used to listen to music while doing my homework and continue to do so to this day when I am working,” she said.

However, Hartman said not all music has a positive effect. “I think that certain types of music are more stimulating, making it harder to concentrate,” she said. “Then there are others that are more relaxing and soothing. Of course, this varies for each person.”

Liu said she listens to music that is upbeat, such as hip hop or rap, but sophomore Aundrianna Whiteside said she prefers to listen to more soothing music. “I usually listen to rock but I can’t do that while doing homework. So I usually listen to slower or mellower music that’s not as distracting,” she said. “Also, I think it’s easier to listen to only instrumental (while doing homework) because you just hear it and not actually have to try and listen to the lyrics.”

Even though Whiteside said faster music is more distracting, Liu said it’s not. “I don’t think it’s distracting. It makes you more pumped to do the work,” she said.

Social studies teacher Joe Stuelpe, who gives his students the option of listening to music while taking a test, said some types of music help students while others do not. “It depends on how loud the music is and the individual student. Some students need total quiet so they can concentrate and some need some noise,” he said.

Stuelpe also said that some students prefer not to listen to music while studying because it distracts them. “If they are doing something that requires a lot of concentration, then they should limit their distractions,” he said. “If the assignment is something that doesn’t require a high degree of concentration, then maybe they can listen to music while studying.”

Hartman said, “Students need to find what works best for them. One person could be distracted by music, while another finds it calms them and makes it easier to focus.”

Liu said she should be able to listen to music at school as well. Liu said, “I think all teachers should allow students to listen music.”