Can a playlist replace coffee? And what happens when Beethoven meets calculus?
Among students, opinions are split. Some swear by lo-fi beats or classical symphonies to stay focused. Others need absolute silence and flinch at the sound of a guitar chord. So who’s right? We talked to two students who approach studying differently — one can’t imagine a study session without music, and the other needs complete quiet to stay productive. Here’s what we learned.
Alexandra: “Music is my study buddy.”
Alexandra Kovalenko, originally from Ukraine, moved to Poland in 2022 and quickly realized that background noise helps her stay calm — especially during exam weeks.
I have a playlist for everything: studying, cleaning, even crying after a tough class, she laughs. Her favorite genres for focus? Lo-fi beats, ambient electronic music, and sometimes piano instrumentals.
I joined Alexandra at her desk on a Sunday afternoon. A soft rhythm plays from her headphones while she annotates research articles. It creates a mental bubble, she explains. In the dorm, people talk, doors slam, and someone’s cooking at 10 PM. Music helps me ignore all of that.
But is it always helpful?
Well, no. I can’t listen to anything with lyrics when I’m reading or writing. It’s distracting. Also, if I’m tired, even music can’t help — I just fall asleep, she admits.
Still, for her, music is more than background noise. It sets the mood. When I listen to calm music, I don’t panic. My brain thinks, ‘Okay, it’s focus time.’
Bogdan: “Silence is golden.”
Bogdan Mart, a computer science student at the Warsaw University of Technology, takes the opposite approach.
I don’t get how people study with music. It’s too much stimulation, he says. Bogdan studies mostly at night, when his roommates are asleep and the flat is quiet. He even turns off his notifications and avoids cafés. “I tried music — Chopin, ambient stuff — but my brain just doesn’t cooperate. I either focus on the music or the code, never both.”
For him, productivity means minimal interference. “I need to hear myself think. Even the sound of rain makes me lose focus.”
Interestingly, Bogdan admits music helps him in other ways. Before an exam, I’ll listen to some energetic tracks — something with a beat. It helps reduce stress and wake me up. But once I sit down to work, silence only.
So, does music help or not?
Both students make a good case. And that’s the point: there’s no universal truth. Music influences the brain in complex ways. It can stimulate, soothe, distract, or motivate — depending on the person, the task, and even the time of day.
Research supports both sides. Background music (especially instrumental) can boost productivity during repetitive tasks. But for demanding mental work — such as writing or problem-solving — it might interfere, especially if it has lyrics.
So what should students do?
Try, adjust, repeat. Some tips from Alexandra and Bohdan’s experience:
Use instrumental or ambient tracks for reading and writing.
Avoid music with lyrics if the task involves language processing.
Match the music to the mood: calming for stress, upbeat for motivation.
Use music as a cue — same playlist, same study time, to build a habit.
And most importantly — pay attention to how your brain reacts.
Final Thoughts: Tune In or Turn Off?
Music can be a great tool — or a sneaky distraction. It depends on your style. For some, it’s part of a productive routine. For others, silence is the real productivity hack. The key is to know yourself. As Alexandra puts it, You don’t need Mozart to pass your exams — just find what works for you and stick to it.
Maksym Yermoshyn
Photo: Pexels – Sebastian Eervi