In today’s technology-driven world, students often seek ways to enhance their focus and minimize distractions. Many students have adopted music as part of their classroom experience, with some saying it increases focus and attention. Research shows that listening to music reduces stress and boosts overall performance in school.
Sophomore Caleb Swartzberg said he listens to music for an average of 13 hours daily. He uses AirPods at school and at home. “I don’t know when I’m not listening to music,” he said. Swartzberg not only listens to music for enjoyment but also to improve his concentration when he is doing classwork. “Music helps me focus by helping drown out more annoying things, like classmates,” Swartzberg said.
Although students often enjoy using earbuds in class, many teachers disapprove and frequently ask them to take them out. “I don’t like it when students wear earbuds in class,” Spanish teacher Maribel Maldonado said. On the other hand, Mandarin teacher Jasmine Wang has mixed feelings about students using earbuds. “I just want to be clear about when they can use them and when it is not a good time,” she said.
Wang added that the distraction of music might prevent a student from fully understanding concepts. Wang and other teachers have a set of rules for earbuds in the classroom, with the last resort being to take them away. These rules include only allowing students to listen to music during independent work and audio-related classwork.
Many students, however, disagree with the no-earbud policy set in most classrooms. “Usually, they help me stay attentive to what the teacher is saying, keep my focus, and not zone out,” sophomore Giulia Cassese said.
According to a study by the University of Maryland Global Campus, listening to music with lyrics may pull focus away from the desired task and towards the song itself. Consequently, opting for instrumental music or songs without sounds, such as lo-fi beats or ambient music, is the best alternative to avoid distractions and prevent focus from migrating.
Another study by the National University reported that music has shown several positive benefits on the body, including reducing stress and test anxiety and improving performance in high-pressure situations.
The effectiveness of wearing earbuds can also depend on the level of focus needed. “Sometimes, music makes me more focused, but other times, it makes me more distracted,” sophomore Leonard Kabakov Isakov said. “If it’s a boring class, it helps, but in an important class, like APs, I don’t usually have AirPods in.”
