Study Tunes // A Playlist

Most of us like to jam out when we’re studying. (I know I do!) I have a wide range of different music I love to listen to when I’m studying. It all depends on the subject and environment. While not all these recommendations will apply exactly to everyone, try mixing and matching to find what works for you!

For reading-heavy classes, like English, history, and sociology, I like to listen to movie scores and classical music. I promise you it’s not as weird as it sounds! It makes you feel like whatever you’re studying is an adventure, and there aren’t any words to distract you from what you’re reading! You can find them on Pandora (my preference), Spodify, YouTube, or iTunes!

Recommendations: I love the scores to the Harry Potter movies, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and pretty much anything Hans Zimmer has scored. Try listening to the score of your favorite action/adventure/fantasy movie!

For problem-solving classes, like math, science, and finance, I like to listen to pop and upbeat musical soundtracks. If you listen to soundtracks, it’s like the story is happening in your head, and it makes the problem solving go much more smoothly (I’m not a huge fan of math so the story happening makes it more fun).

Recommendations: The Wedding Singer (favorite; “Saturday Night in the    City”), Heathers: The Musical (favorite; “Dead Girl Walking”), The Addams Family Musical (favorite; “One Normal Night”), and [title of show] (favorite; “Die Vampire, Die!”)

For essay writing, I have to jam out. It needs to be fast, loud, and keep up with my insane typing. It’s also really good if I know the words already, so if I’m singing along, it’s like second nature and I don’t have to think too much about it. I really like classic rock, some throwback alternative and whatever is on the “Today’s Hits” station on Pandora.

Recommendations: Classic Rock: “Surrender” by Cheap Trick, “Detroit Rock City” by KISS, and “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar. Throwback Alternative: anything by Paramore, “Online Songs” by Blink-182, “Dressed to Kill” by New Found Glory. Today’s Hits: “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy, “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars, and “Take Me to Church” by Hozier.

For exam studying, I have to have something chill and relaxing. Easy listening and hipster mixed together. My friends are really good at finding these kinds of tunes. I find mine from movie soundtracks.

Recommendations: “At Least it Was Here” by The 88, “Superstar” by Sonic Youth, “Asleep” by The Smiths, “Blue Monday” by Flunk, and “All I Want is You” by Barry Louis Polisar.

It doesn’t matter what, where, when, or how you’re studying, if you’re listening to music that pumps you up, you’ll definitely have a much better time getting into the studying groove.

What do y’all like to listen to? Do you have anything that gets you in a studying mood? Let me know in the comments! I love finding new music to listen to!

*Warning: some songs may contain explicit language and content.