Classical Music for Studying 6.0

Music and Studying – Which Music is Best for Learning?

Can listening to any one style of music really help you learn faster, improve memory, and retain more of what you study?

• As it turns out, the answer is YES.

Back in the 1960s, Bulgarian psychiatrist Dr. Georgi Lozanov dedicated over 30 years to studying the effect of music on memory and learning. He was a pioneer in discovering that music has a profound effect on the brain at an emotional level. Through a series of experiments over three decades, he found that specific styles of music can enhance the brain's receptivity to learning.

In numerous studies, participants were divided into groups and exposed to different music styles while reading and later tested on their retention levels. Lozanov’s findings pointed out that certain classical music pieces have the potential to significantly improve learning outcomes.

Lozanov's research highlighted the importance of understanding different stages of the learning process where music plays a unique role:

1. Relaxation: Before studying, listen to 3-5 minutes of relaxation music to prime your brain for learning. For instance, Claude Debussy’s Deux Arabesques is known to be effective.
2. Active Learning: While absorbing new information, an Active Concert, exemplified by expressive classical pieces like Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor for Piano and Orchestra, can aid in quicker information absorption.
3. Memory Consolidation: When reviewing material to enhance retention, a Passive Concert, such as Corelli’s Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, No. 2, can help consolidate information into long-term memory.

Lozanov's methodology emphasizes the significance of applying specific classical music pieces at strategic points during the learning process to maximize its benefits.