We all know the feeling of studying in silence—or, technically, the impossibility of finding true silence. The tick of your library’s analog clock, random paper shuffling, the occasional sneeze, the hum of impending existential dread; these are all staples of the late night study sesh, but they don’t have to be with the right study playlist.
With the amount of music available on Spotify, it can be a little bit daunting to try and throw a playlist together yourself. You know that classical music is always a good bet, but you’re also painfully aware of your limitations on identifying composers. Ambient noise sounds like a good idea until you stumble down the wrong path and end up trying to learn the laws of psychics to what sounds like a visit to a Rainforest Cafe. You could throw on Complex’s Best New Music of the Week, but you’ll more likely end up hitting a shoot dance in your study room than actually getting work done.
Thankfully, other people have done the hard work for you and put together the perfect study playlists. We’ve done the rest of the hard work and compiled them for you here. Now you get to do the actual hard work and, well, study. From pop to classical to instrumental to electronic, these study playlists will create the perfect auditory environment for your academic success.
If your brain craves a variety of sounds as much as it does knowledge, this is your playlist. Featuring electronic mainstays like Disclosure, San Holo, What So Not, and Aphex Twin, Brain Food has a wide array of sounds to kick your brain into its highest gear.
If you’ve gone on YouTube at any point in the last year or so, you’ve probably seen a stream suggested to you with a similar title. Those sounds are also housed here, thanks to the good people at Spotify. The low-fi nature of the tracks adds a white noise element that can help keep your brain focused on the dreary task at hand.
Another option for those who prefer a more relaxed environment, Instrumental Study offers a range of, well, instrumental selections. Some songs could easily place you in a piano bar, while others are the epitome of “look out the window and pretend you’re in a movie.” All are perfect for your study session.
Instrumentally-centered, this playlist aims to curate an environment of silence and isolation, creating the perfect study bubble for you.
The most highly-followed Spotify-curated study music playlist, Peaceful Piano provides exactly what you’d expect: eight hours of beautiful, soothing harmonies to comfort your brain as it kicks into hyperdrive. The sounds are varied enough to keep your brain engaged, but lowkey enough that you won’t be distracted from the way-too-expensive textbook you’re pouring over.
So music without words bores you—that’s understandable. You might want to head to this playlist instead, which features Billboard hits rather than piano compositions. What better compliment is there to Nietzsche saying “God is dead” than Ariana Grande’s “God is a woman”?
If babies can listen to Beethoven and get smarter, why can’t we? From Wolfgang to Ludwig to everyone in between, calm, classical compositions populate this playlist, perfect for elevating both your sense of fanciness and your education.
Like opting for La Croix instead of soda, this playlist helps you wean off of binging TV shows while “studying” by giving you their theme songs instead. There’s a wide selection, including movies and video games, so whether you’re a varied content consumer or a specific one, you’ll be satisfied with the sounds.
A little more upbeat than its peers, Study Vibes is for an electronic-tinged musical collection. While still calm, the BPMs run higher here. If that’s your preferred method for engaging with your educational material, this might be your study playlist.
For those who want to listen to songs they recognize, this is a great direction to go in. The Piano Guys, a musical group based out of Utah, has kindly thrown together this compilation of all their covers of popular music. You’d be surprised what kind of intellectual results can come from a cover of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” playing softly in the background.
Music is universal. Across varying spoken languages, different eras in time, and even stark contrasts in life experiences, we all understand the joy that music can bring in the same ways.
In some of our previous posts, we’ve talked about the power of music when it comes time to study and how it can help us focus and improve our moods.
According to a study by Stanford University, music can help us pay attention better and it can also aid our memory recall. Music has also been shown to improve sleep quality, improve mental alertness, and reduce our anxiety, blood pressure, and even pain.
“There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does,” said a Johns Hopkins otolaryngologist. “If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.”
It’s easy to turn to music in high-energy, physically active situations such as exercising or dancing. However, many people often miss out on listening to music in low-energy, more mentally stimulating scenarios such as writing, studying, or even sleeping.
Musical Genres Good For Mental Concentration
Multitudes of studies have been done to try and determine which musical genre is the absolute best for mental concentration. While many people will instantly associate classical music as the top choice, there are actually quite a few other genres that are equally excellent.
Ambient and Electronic
A recent study by Florida National University found that “the minimal beats and rhythms of ambient music — often used as background noise — is so effective that it is able to put the listener’s senses at rest, resulting in lower blood pressure and heart rate.”
Instrumental and Post-Rock
Rock music is a lovable genre for a lot of people, but many haven’t experienced the true spectrum that rock offers. Particularly in our modern era with the increasing use of electronic instruments, instrumental and atmospheric rock – two components that typically make up the post-rock genre – have really taken off. The genre explores electro textures and timbres over traditional rock structures of chords or riffs. Post-rock tends to have limited to no vocals and serves as perfect background music for studying.
Jazz
Jazz has long been a favorite of professors for its stress-reducing and creativity-boosting capabilities. Stress is the arch-enemy of memory, and the upbeat, swing and rhythmic characteristics of jazz can help set a tone of mental relaxation and focus.
Lo-Fi
Short for low fidelity, lo-fi music has taken off in popularity in recent years for its soothing and refreshing vibes. One survey found that 86% of listeners saw an increase in their productivity and their study habits while listening to lo-fi music. The genre gives our brains just enough stimulation to tune out stress and be productive.
Since effective studying is kind of our thing here at Pocket Prep, we’ve curated a handful of playlists that are perfect for mental concentration and de-stressing even through the most intensive work or study projects.
These playlists span downtempo ambient electronica to instrumental rock and classical compositions, and they all have little to no lyrics to ensure productivity over distraction.
➡️ You can find all these playlists directly on Pocket Prep’s Spotify. ⬅️
1. Late Night Satellites
Genres: Electronic, Synth-pop, Synthwave, Techno, Piano
Imagine you’ve just been handed a free ticket to Mars. After takeoff, this playlist comes on as you stare out the window into the darkness of space. Downtempo, relaxing, and a perfect ride into the great beyond.
2. Post-Rock Focus
Genres: Post-Rock, Instrumental Rock, Acoustic, Electronic, Chilltronic, Ambient
Dive into all the things post-rock has to offer, from electronic guitar riffs to ambient peaks and valleys, it’s sure to have you feeling free and ready to face anything.
3. Soulful Study
Genres: Contemporary R&B, Neo Soul, Indie Soul, Hip Hop
A perfect blend of relaxing, contemporary rhythms that are sure to inspire and spark creativity.
4. Studious Strings
Genres: Folk, Acoustic, Flamenco, Instrumental
Who knew the plucking of strings could be so relaxing? This playlist is packed with modern and classic melodies that are sure to keep you focused on the task at hand.
5. Jazz Pizzazz
Genres: Contemporary Jazz, Latin Jazz, Afrobeat, R&B, Funk, Soul
Jazz compositions spanning forty years. Bounce back and forth between unearthed vibes from the 1960s and 1970s and modern-day artists in this diverse jazzy playlist.
6. Contemporary Classical
Genres: Classical, Late Romantic, Impressionistic, Contemporary, String Quartets
Classical compositions that span decades of eras and genres. From string quartets to single composers, this diverse playlist is superb for deep focus and concentration.
7. Bouncy Beats
Genres: House, Electronic, Techno
If underground dance music is your thing, this playlist is for you. Downtempo, deep house beats with a relaxing energy that will awaken your senses. Imagine the feeling of your coffee kicking in right when you need it to.
8. Pocket Prep LoFi
Genres: Low Fidelity, Chillhop, Piano, Electronic, R&B, Jazz, Funky
Arguably the most popular musical genre of the 2020s thus far, lo-fi is a proven favorite for any study session. Perfect for relaxation and focus, these low frequency beats will have you vibin’ along to every song.
9. Ambient Light
Genres: Ambient, Electronic, Experimental, Synth
If you’re looking for peaceful sounds with no lyrics, this is your playlist. From the sounds of harps and crashing waves to electronic crescendos, there’s something in here for everyone.
10. Electro Chill
Genre: Electronic, Indie, Future Bass, Trap
If you’re in the mood to bop along, this upbeat playlist is vibin’ with the latest sounds from chill and indie electronic artists.
11. Pocket Prep Piano
Genres: Piano, Neoclassical
A deeply relaxing and calming piano playlist that features modern day artists and composers predominantly from Europe.
12. Outer Space
Genres: Electronic, Instrumental, Psychedelic Rock, Lo-Fi, Hip Hop
Float into the abyss with this multi-genre, downtempo, and instrumental playlist that is jam packed with artists and producers who don’t limit themselves to a single genre.
Be sure to follow Pocket Prep’s Spotify to be in the loop on new additions!