The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 2 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on October 16, 2020.
By Lia Fiffles ’24
Staff Writer
Midterms are here and with them comes the numerous hours of work put into studying for them. Music is one way to help keep focused while studying, so here are four song and artist recommendations to add to your midterm studying playlist for this semester!
Piano Concerto No. 23 by Mozart
Science shows that classical music is the best music to listen to help with concentration. “Piano Concerto No. 23” by Mozart is a piece that offers piano and orchestra with a soft dynamic but a brighter middle. Playing this piece lightly in the background or through your headphones will help drown out other noises and create a more efficient environment to study in. Classical music can also help someone be more receptive to information, so this piece is perfect to help with retention of a significant amount of studying.
Clairo
For most people who listen to music when they study, they don’t want the songs they are listening to to distract them from studying. Slower-paced music can calm you down and narrow your focus. Clairo’s songs are mellow and offer a soft beat to help relax you when tensions are high. All of her songs have a similar vibe, but some significant recommendations are “Sofia,” “Pretty Girl,” and “Softly.” Those are only just a few, but there are many more from Clairo to choose from. Clairo’s songs are perfect for some background noise and will not deter you from the main focus of what you are learning.
“Being No One, Going Nowhere” by STRFKR
This is another song that is slow paced, and few words are sung throughout it. The beat is gentle, and the song offers a relaxed feeling to help ease stress, or even to help you gather your wits during a break in studying. The lack of words in the song keeps it from being too distracting while listening to it. This song is more for when you do not need as much concentration as you would when listening to classical music. It is a gentle song and easy to relax to, especially when stress is high during midterms.
“Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
This song is more upbeat and faster paced but has the symphonic sound that is similar to classical music. The song is about the ups and downs in life that can relate to midterms themselves! There are going to be days that you feel 100 percent prepared and days where you feel the complete opposite. It’s a song that can put you into a more positive mood and inspire you to keep working hard even if it seems difficult at the time. I recommend listening to this song when taking a break from studying or if you are not easily distracted while you’re studying.
Happy studying!
