music for homework and study

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The Ultimate Study Music Playlist

This is a playlist of my favorite study music. It’s great for homework, studying for exams, reading, and generally getting crap crossed off my many checklists.

I’ve been working on this playlist for several years, and it contains music (all non-lyrical) from a wide variety of genres and sources, including video game/anime/movie soundtracks. At the moment, it’s got about 240 songs for you to choose from.

Listening on another app? I’ve worked to mirror this study playlist to other services. Check them out below:

• Spotify Study Music Playlist
• Apple Music Study Playlist

If you’d like, you can study with me in another tab while this plays. You can also listen to the playlist on YouTube instead of on this page.

By the way – I create my own study music as well! If you’d like to give it a listen, here’s a playlist:

You can also follow me on Spotify or on YouTube if you want to be notified when new tracks are released.

Need even more study music?

Here are a few options.

Brain.fm – Music designed specifically to help you focus more effectively. It works really well for me, and I use it for around 50% of my research, writing, and reading sessions – the other half are mostly done with the playlist above.

Piano Study Playlist – If you’re in the mood for a more consistent playlist, check out this one full of solo piano tracks.

Coffitivity – Sometimes I’m in the mood for ambient noise instead of music, and the sounds of a bustling coffee shop are my personal favorite type.

Noisli – An ambient noise generator that lets you create your own mix using sounds like rain, thunder, fan, and white/brown/pink noise.

More Playlists

Work Vibes – My personal playlist of “getting-stuff-done” music. Most of the tracks here have vocals, so I wouldn’t read or study intently with them. But they’re great for crushing emails, working on design projects, or doing other work where I simply need to execute quickly.

Tom’s Workout Playlist – A collection of the tracks that usually accompany me to the gym.

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Enhance your focus: 8 best music to study and concentrate

Picture this: you’re at a library, preparing to complete your assignment or revise for an upcoming exam. 

But your friends are busy chatting, loud chattering noises flood the space, and ambient noises distract you. 

Usually, you would struggle in this kind of environment — but that doesn’t have to be the case when you have a playlist of the best, science-backed music to study and concentrate. 

Certain types of music, particularly those with a slow tempo, can relax even the most tense of  minds. Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America/Getty Images/AFP

Why are certain genres of music more effective in helping you study than others?

It’s  been proven  that listening to certain types of music in specific situations can boost productivity and mood, from enhancing the quality of your workout to reducing stress and anxiety. 

As a student, you would have crafted or listened to a study focus music playlist at least once in your life. 

You may have noticed that listening to certain genres improved your concentration, especially if you’ve been studying in louder environments such as cafes. 

Or perhaps you enjoy going to the library, slipping your headphones on, and listening to songs while you work. 

If this sounds like you, you’re one of the thousands of students who do the same thing. 

A survey showed that around  60% of students  tend to listen to music while studying. Researchers also found that listening to music was the  most popular side activity  for teens who juggled studying with another task.

Not all music does the job, though. A  University of Toronto study found that loud music negatively affects reading comprehension, agitating rather than focusing the listener. 

Similarly, the  University of Wales  found that sometimes, music — especially music with lyrics — can worsen a student’s working memory and reading comprehension. 

What are the best music to study and concentrate?

1. classical music.

Classical music is one of the best music to help you study and concentrate. 

There’s a theory dubbed  “The Mozart Effect”  that suggests this genre of music can enhance brain activity and arouse your brain to focus.

There are also several studies done where students listening to classical music did better on quizzes than students with no music.

Suggestions:

• ClassicFM  (a free radio streaming platform that plays famous classical pieces)
• “ Study Playlist: Classical Music ”  on Spotify
• “ Classical Music for When You’re on a Deadline ”  on YouTube

2. Lo fi music

We’ll be lying if we say we’ve never Googled “lo fi chill for studying” several times in a week. 

“Lo-fi” stands for “low-fidelity,” a type of sound recording that uses distortion, hum, background noise, or limited frequency response — making it distinct from live recordings.

Whatever it’s made of, playing lo-fi chill for studying makes us relax, focus, and ultimately,  study better . Research says this is because these “flaws” trigger our cerebrum — the uppermost part of the brain — to help us focus.

Speaking to Hyde.edu, student Haley Bounds says lo-fi music can  keep her focused  while she completes her assignments. “Sometimes,” she says, “I actually lose track of time doing homework or reading my books.”

• “ 3 Hours of Music for Studying for Concentration and Focus ” on Spotify
• “ Lofi Hip Hop Radio 📚 — Beats To Relax/Study To ” on YouTube
• LofiCafe (a website to stream lo-fi music to study and concentrate)

Video game franchises like the “Legend of Zelda” have some of the best music to study and concentrate. Source: Richard A. Brooks/AFP

3. Video game music

This might surprise you, but video game music is actually one of the best music for homework. 

According to  Orion Academy , video game music is designed to  keep you absorbed and focused  — which is also great for memorising. 

When your brain is focused on just melody, it’s taking a break from trying to break down the lyrics of a song and thus increases your performance.

Video game music tends to stay at a relatively low, constant volume too. This prevents you from becoming distracted by sudden increases in volume.

Since video game music is generally fast-paced, your brain will be constantly engaged in the task at hand.

• “ Video Game Soundtracks ”  on Spotify
• “ Video Game Study Lounge ” on YouTube
• Choose favourites from this  list  and create your own playlist

4. Nature sounds

Nature sounds relax our nervous system. Researchers at  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  have discovered that natural sounds boost moods and focus.

The study found employees were more productive and had more positive feelings when nature sounds were playing in the background while they worked.

Nature sounds include the soothing sounds of the rain, ocean waves on the beach or even the jungle. Some prefer listening to bird calls and animal noises.

From the peak of Everest to the deepet ocean beds, there are millions of nature sounds to experiment with and find the best music for homework that works for you.

• “ Relaxing Nature Sounds for Sleeping – Natural Calm Forest Waterfall Music Meditation Sound for Study “  on YouTube
• “ Nature Sounds For Concentration ”  on Spotify
• “ Rain Sounds + Stream for Sleep, Focus, Studying | 4K Nature Video White Noise 10 Hours ” on YouTube

Binaural beats play two slightly different tones in each ear, creating a unique sound in your brain. Source: Miguel Medina/AFP

5. Binaural beats

Binaural beats are like a secret weapon for studying and concentrating. They work by playing two slightly different tones in each ear, creating a unique sound in your brain. This sound has a powerful effect on your mind and can help you focus and retain information better.

When you listen to binaural beats, they stimulate your brainwaves and bring them into a state of calm focus. They can shift your brain from a busy, distracted mode to a more relaxed and attentive state. Picture giving your brain a gentle massage — helping it to tune in and concentrate on the task at hand.

These beats also help synchronise your brain’s left and right hemispheres. The result? You’ll find it easier to process and remember information.  

• “ Focus Music, Binaural Beats Concentration Music for Studying, Super Intelligence ” on YouTube
• “ Pure 40 HZ Binaural Beats: The Frequency for FOCUS, MEMORY, and CONCENTRATION ” on YouTube
• “ Super Focus: Flow State Music – Alpha Binaural Beats, Study Music for Focus and Concentration ” on YouTube 

6. Isochronic tones

Isochronic tones are like a superhero soundtrack for studying and concentrating. They are powerful audio pulses that have a remarkable impact on our brainwaves. When you listen to isochronic tones, your brain responds by syncing up with these rhythmic pulses, creating a state of focused attention.

Unlike binaural beats, isochronic tones don’t require headphones. You can easily hear them through speakers — making them a convenient tool for enhancing concentration and study sessions.

The rhythmic pulses of isochronic tones help to stimulate the brain and bring it into a state of deep focus. They promote alpha and beta brainwave patterns, which help to boost alertness, concentration, and information retention.

Suggestions: 

• “ Harmony Streaming ” on Spotify 
• “ Upbeat Study Music for Concentration – Peak Focus Isochronic Tones ” on Youtube
• “ Increase Concentration with Study Focus Isochronic Tones – Electronic ” on YouTube 

Music is the food of the soul — in the case of rhythm and blues, it may even be the best music to study and concentrate.  Source: Pius Utomoi Ekpei/AFP

Are you someone who easily gets distracted? Then RNB may not be the best music to study and concentrate. 

There’s a high chance you might spend too much time jamming to the lyrics of the song instead of focusing.

While music in this genre generally has lyrics, many RnB fans reported feeling more relaxed, focused, and less stressed, which may have a positive impact on their ability to focus and learn.

Suggestions”

• “ Study R&B Smooth Songs ” on Spotify”
• “ Chill R&B Beats Mix – Beats to Relax and Study (Vol.) ” on YouTube

Zero in on the chants of monks, one of the most effective music to study and concentrate. Source: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

8. Meditation music

Gentle rhythms and soft tones promote a meditative state of mind. It helps to clear mental clutter and boost your concentration. 

What’s more, meditation music often incorporates nature sounds, such as flowing water or bird songs. These natural sounds have a soothing effect on your mind, promoting a sense of harmony and tranquillity.

We recommend daily meditation (HeadSpace and Calm are our favourite apps) for overall better performance in school or at uni. 

• “ Deep Meditation Music To Achieve Calmness and Bring Positive Energy ” on Spotify
• “ The Sound of Inner Peace 14 | 528 Hz | Relaxing Music for Meditation, Zen, Yoga & Stress Relief ” on YouTube
• “ Beautiful Relaxing Music for Sleep – Rain Sounds & Insomnia, Relaxing Music, Peaceful Piano Music ” on YouTube

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Best music for studying: 17 spotify playlists for effective learning.

Music is something we do regardless of whether we are happy or sad, working out, traveling, or relaxing. We believe that our mood, emotions, cognitive performance, and mental health , in general, can be affected by it.

Many students listen to music while studying because they believe it helps them concentrate, remember, or comprehend the material better.

However, is music truly beneficial for studying? And if so, what music is best for studying?

Is Music Good for Studying?

What music is best for studying, scientifically best music for studying, classical music for studying, instrumental music for studying, lofi music for studying, jazz music for studying, baroque music for studying, calming music for studying, music for studying and concentration, cafe music for studying, soothing music for studying.

It’s not easy to answer these questions, as different studies have shown different results. Some have found that music can improve learning, creativity, and productivity, while others imply that music can distract, impair, or interfere with these processes. However, it may not work for everyone in the same way.

Here are some of the main findings from the studies:

• Music can reduce stress and promote a more positive mindset, which can improve your learning outcomes .
• Classical music helps older adults perform better on memory and processing tasks .
• Music can activate the reward centers in your brain, which can provide motivation to study harder.
• Music can improve cognitive function and brain stimulation by engaging different brain regions and networks.

However, music can also have some drawbacks for studying:

• Music with lyrics can be distracting .
• Too fast and loud music can impair concentration and performance.
• Music preference and personal factors can influence how music affects you.

Therefore, the best music for studying may depend on the type of task, the individual’s preference, and the characteristics of the music.

Therefore, if you want to listen to music while studying, it’s important to choose the right kind:

• Choose relaxing and calming music , as it can help reduce stress and anxiety. Avoid music that is too loud or fast, as it can have the opposite effect.
• Instrumental music is a great option because it can help you focus on your task without distracting you with lyrics or meanings.
• Select familiar and enjoyable music , as it can make you feel more comfortable while studying. Unfamiliar or unpleasant music can make you feel bored or annoyed.
• Consider the task you are working on and choose music that matches its type and difficulty level . It can enhance your cognitive abilities and help you perform better. Avoid music that doesn’t match the task.

Some studies suggest that listening to Mozart’s music can temporarily enhance spatial reasoning and intelligence, a phenomenon known as the Mozart Effect . So, choosing something from Mozart for study can be a possible answer to the question, “ What is scientifically best music for studying? ”

Best Music for Studying

So, based on what we’ve already covered, some genres of music may be more suitable for studying than others. Here are some examples we would recommend for studying:

Classical music is one of the most recommended genres for studying as it not only stimulates your brain waves but also enhances your cognitive functions.

Instrumental music is another popular genre of music for studying. It can create a pleasant background noise that blocks out other distractions.

• Piano music is one of the most soothing types of music that can enhance your mood and creativity. Here are a few good piano artists and albums for studying: Yiruma , Ludovico Einaudi , and The Piano Guys .
• Guitar music is one of the most versatile and expressive types that can also improve your focus and attention. Try Estas Tonne , Tommy Emmanuel , or Acoustic Alchemy .
• Ambient music is one of the most minimalistic and atmospheric types of music that will help you reduce stress and anxiety. Check Brian Eno and Stars of the Lid for a change.

If you’re looking for a calming soundtrack to help you focus while studying, you might want to check out Lofi. This trendy and popular music genre has a low-fidelity sound that creates a nostalgic atmosphere, perfect for creating a cozy and relaxing vibe. Check out the following Lofi genres and artists that are great for studying.

Lofi hip hop : ChilledCow , Chillhop Music , Lofi Girl

Lofi jazz : Jazz Hop Cafe , Cafe Music BGM Channel , Relax Cafe Music

Lofi beats : Idealism , Jinsang , Study Beats Playlist

Jazz is one of the most sophisticated and diverse genres of music for studying. It has a wide range of styles and sub-genres, including swing, bebop, fusion, and many others. Jazz is known for its rich, complex sound that often involves improvisation and experimentation. Listening to jazz music has been shown to have many benefits, including improving cognitive skills such as memory, focus, and creativity. Jazz can also produce a calming effect on the body, reducing stress and anxiety.

Smooth jazz blends elements of pop, rock, and R&B to create a soft and relaxing sound. For example, check out Dave Koz:

Cool jazz has a calm sound, featuring muted instruments, complex harmonies, and modal scales. It can help with clear thinking and concentration, especially when listening to Miles Davis’ albums.

Chet Baker is one of the most popular and charismatic jazz musicians, renowned for his smooth and lyrical trumpet playing, as well as his soft and romantic singing voice. If you’re looking for some music to accompany you on those long study nights, you might want to give one of his albums a try.

Stan Getz is one of the most versatile and expressive jazz musicians. He was known for his warm and melodic saxophone playing and his collaborations with other musicians from different genres. If you’re in the mood to listen to a master of the tenor saxophone, choose Stan Getz’s music for your study night.

Baroque music is one of the most classical and elegant genres of music for studying. Its steady tempo, complex harmony, and structured form can help you concentrate and think more clearly. It’s also known for its calming effect, which can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Calming music is one of the most relaxing and peaceful genres of music for studying. It can help you study better by improving your mood and well-being and creating a pleasant background noise that blocks out other distractions. We recommend incorporating calming music into your study routine to get a more productive and effective learning experience.

There are plenty of playlists with so-called music for studying and concentration. It’s believed that such music makes you more effective and productive in your studies and helps you focus and memorize better, as it has a moderate tempo, simple melody, and minimal lyrics and motivates you to work harder. Check an example from Spotify:

Another trend in the list of the best music for studying is cafe music—a list with cozy and enjoyable compositions perfect for studying that creates a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere and makes you feel happy and cheerful.

Finally, soothing music can help you study better by reducing stress and anxiety. It can also help you sleep better— Spotify is a compilation of pleasant and relaxing compositions like this one:

Final Thoughts

When it comes to studying, we all have our personal preferences for music. There’s no right or wrong choice, but there are some tips that can help you get the most out of listening to tunes while you study.

It’s best to choose instrumental music that is familiar to you and matches the task at hand.

If you’re looking for some relaxing tunes, you might want to avoid anything with distracting vocals or unfamiliar sounds .

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of music until you find what works best for you.

Remember, music can either make studying a great experience or a terrible one, so use it wisely, and good luck with your studies!

Natalie Meyers

Natalie Meyers is a freelance writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience. As an English major and a psychology graduate, she worked as a teacher and a counselor. As a writer, she's covered a diverse range of topics from technology to publishing. She is an avid reader who believes that books help us become more authentic versions of ourselves. At BookScouter, she's a smart writer and an expert in all things books.

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Last Updated on December 14, 2023 by Sammy Wilson

October 2021

Best Study Playlists - Study Music, Focus Music

• Online Learning Community

Everybody has their own routine for how to study for exams, do homework, read or focus on a particular task. Listening to a study playlist is a great way to center your attention and lift your mood. Listening to music can also reduce stress, which is a plus when it comes to balancing a busy schedule of work, school and family!

Music Therapy has proven that you can process a wide range of emotions from excitement to thoughtfulness depending on what type of music you listen to. When we’re studying, we’re probably aiming for thoughtfulness. Research has also shown music has the potential to boost memory, which can be a huge plus.  However, complex and distracting music might not be the way to go when choosing the right studying playlist for you.

We have found that the best genres of music to listen to while studying, reading or writing include minimalist, classical, piano and low-fi music. We’ve compiled some of the best lyric-free playlists that will act as brain food while keeping your attention on your studies so you can ace that test and earn that A.

Best Study Playlists on Spotify

This more than 24-hour playlist is full of piano and classical songs to help you focus.

Lofi Girl curates some of the most relaxing and engaging playlists. Her use of lo-fi tracks mixed with ambient pieces will keep you relaxed but never bored.

This playlist is all instrumental all the time!

Best Youtube Study Playlists

This is a deep-focus playlist so you know you’ll finish what you need to get done!

This Bossa Nova & Jazz playlist is a MOOD. It will transport you to a lovely cafe, on a rainy day.

This extra ambient playlist describes itself as “brain power, focus concentration music.” You’ll feel like you’re in a sound bath.

Music is just one way to improve your mental health. See more tips on how to improve your mental health as an online student.

* Arizona Online does not endorse playlist creators. Music is not guaranteed to boost academic performance.

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Chopin and Beethoven’s music helps students pass exams, study finds

5 April 2024, 13:56 | Updated: 5 April 2024, 14:45

By Classic FM

When it comes to concentrating on homework, classical music could be key to helping you reach that top grade.

A 2020 US study claimed that students who listen to classical music during lectures, studying or while they sleep will perform better in exams.

To carry out the research, which is titled Classical music, educational learning, and slow wave sleep: A targeted memory reactivation experiment, 50 microeconomics students aged 18 to 33 were played excerpts of music for 15 minutes during an online lecture.

Musical excerpts included the first movement of Beethoven ’s ‘Moonlight’ sonata , the first movement of ‘Spring’ from Vivaldi ’s Four Seasons , and Chopin ’s Nocturne in E-flat major.

Half of these participants were then re-played the same pieces throughout the night as they slept, while the other half slept with white noise.

Researchers found that the group listening to music performed 18 per cent higher in a computer exam the following day.

Read more: Classical music for studying: the 14 greatest pieces for brain power

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According to the study, the science behind the result shows that by listening to classical music, participants activated a process known as ‘targeted memory reactivation’ (TMR), which stimulates the brain to consolidate memories.

It’s the same process that causes memories and emotions to be triggered by smell, from scents such as freshly baked bread, flowers or perfume. But you need to be focussing on a subject, such as a university lecturer, for it to have an effect.

To monitor electrical activity in participants’ brains, researchers fixed electroencephalograms (nets of electrodes) to their heads – and found that by improving quality of sleep and ability to recollect course materials, students increased the probability of passing their test with a grade of 70 or above.

However, these benefits didn’t extend to a nine-month follow-up test when performance dropped back to original levels, suggesting the process needs to be repeated.

Read more: Revision music: the ultimate classical studying playlist

Previously, studies exploring the ‘ Mozart effect ’ have suggested that students listening to music by the great composer would perform better in IQ tests – but recent findings show this is from increased arousal after listening to lively pieces in general, rather than just those by Mozart.

Led by Chenlu Gao, Paul Fillmore and Michael K. Scullin, the new study suggests the classical genre could in fact be a game-changer in helping students to remember key topics covered during their classes.

Professor Scullin, director of the Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory at Baylor University, Texas, told The Daily Mail : “What we found was that by experimentally priming these concepts during sleep, we increased performance on integration questions by 18 per cent on the test the next day.

“The effects were particularly enhanced in participants who showed heightened frontal lobe activity in the brain during slow wave sleep, which is deep sleep.”

Mozart’s storming Piano Concerto No.20 – Ariel Lanyi and the 12 Ensemble | Classic FM's Rising Stars

Explaining the choice of music for the study, he added: “We ruled out jazz because it’s too sporadic and would probably cause people to wake. We ruled out popular music because lyrical music disrupts initial studying. You can’t read words and sing lyrics – just try it.

“You’re going to have a heck of a time forming a strong association between some learning material and a bland song or ambient noise. That left us with classical music, which many students already listen to while studying. The songs can be very distinctive and therefore pair well with learning material.”

Scullin and his team said they hoped the new research will not only improve the focus and quality of sleep of students, but also encourage more lecturers to play classical music during their classes.

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Sad music study tests the direct effect hypothesis of 'pleasurable negative emotion'

by Ben Knight, University of New South Wales

A new study proposes a novel theory of why listening to sad music can make us feel good.

Many people report that the music they love can also make them feel sad. It's something that has puzzled music researchers, who have long wondered how an activity that produces a negative emotion can be so eagerly sought out.

Now, a new study suggests that for some of us, it could be that we might actually enjoy the sadness. The research, published in the journal PLOS ONE , suggests negative emotions felt when listening to music can produce pleasure.

"It's paradoxical to think you could enjoy something that makes you feel a negative emotion," says Professor Emery Schubert, the author of the study from the Empirical Musicology Laboratory in the School of the Arts & Media, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture. "But this research shows the first empirical evidence that sadness can positively affect the enjoyment of music, directly."

Adding to music enjoyment

For the study, 50 participants—consisting primarily of undergraduate music students—self-selected a piece of sadness-evoking music that they loved, which included classics from Ludwig van Beethoven to the modern hits of Taylor Swift. They were not explicitly instructed to choose music where they enjoyed the sadness.

Participants were then asked to imagine if their sadness could be "removed" when listening to the music—which the majority self-reported they could do.

"We know that many people are quite apt when it comes to thought experiments, so it's a reasonable approach to use and, at worst, it should produce no results," Prof. Schubert says.

After the imagined removal of sadness, participants were asked if they liked the piece of music any differently: 82% said that removing the sadness reduced their enjoyment of the music.

"The findings suggest that sadness felt when listening to music might actually be liked and can enhance the pleasure of listening to it," Prof. Schubert says.

Prof. Schubert says there could be many reasons why people enjoy music that makes them sad.

"One explanation relates to play," Prof. Schubert says. "Experiencing a wide range of emotions in a more or less safe environment could help us learn how to deal with what we encounter in the world."

Sadness and 'being moved'

The research also discusses the implications for findings of previous studies that suggest sadness cannot be enjoyed when listening to music but is instead mediated by a complex feeling with positive aspects called "being moved."

"Previous studies refer to an 'indirect effect hypothesis,' which means that people may experience sadness, but it is something else they enjoy—being moved," Prof. Schubert says. "Because being moved is a mixed feeling with positive and negative aspects."

A further 53 participants in a control group were asked to report music they loved that they deemed "moving." The control group participants reported feeling sadness in addition to being moved.

"It was previously thought that when people felt sadness in response to music they enjoyed, they were really experiencing being moved," Prof. Schubert says. "But the findings of this study suggest that being moved and feeling sadness have overlapping meanings.

"In other words, being moved triggers sadness, and sadness triggers being moved."

Limitations of the research

Some limitations of the study are associated with allowing the participants to self-select pieces of music.

"It's always risky to ask a participant to choose music that they both love and makes them feel sad, as it may give them a cue about the aim of the study," Prof. Schubert says. "But we did take steps to minimize this in our method, including not mentioning the concerns of the study during recruitment, screening the self-selected pieces and having a control condition."

Approaches where experimenters select music (which previous studies have mainly been based upon) also have limitations, which future research can address.

"The main limitation of previous studies is that the experimenters select the 'sad' music rather than the participants, which means participants might not necessarily 'love' the pieces," Prof. Schubert says. "Therefore, future research should have more participants to ensure enough happen to love the pieces."

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Poland’s kids rejoice over new rules against homework. Teachers and parents aren’t so sure

The Associated Press

April 11, 2024, 8:48 AM

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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Ola Kozak is celebrating. The 11-year-old, who loves music and drawing, expects to have more free time for her hobbies after Poland’s government ordered strict limits on the amount of homework in the lower grades.

“I am happy,” said the fifth grader, who lives in a Warsaw suburb with her parents and younger siblings. The lilac-colored walls in her bedroom are covered in her art, and on her desk she keeps a framed picture she drew of Kurt Cobain.

“Most people in my class in the morning would copy the work off someone who had done the homework or would copy it from the internet. So it didn’t make sense,” she said.

The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk enacted the ban against required homework this month amid a broad discussion about the need to modernize Poland’s education system, which critics say puts too much emphasis on rote learning and homework, and not enough on critical thinking and creativity.

Under the decree, teachers are no longer to give required homework to kids in the first to third grades. In grades four to eight, homework is now optional and doesn’t count towards a grade.

Not everyone likes the change – and even Ola’s parents are divided.

“If there is something that will make students enjoy school more, then it will probably be good both for the students and for the school,” said her father, Pawel Kozak.

His wife, Magda Kozak, was skeptical. “I am not pleased, because (homework) is a way to consolidate what was learned,” she said. “It helps stay on top of what the child has really learned and what’s going on at school.”

(Ola’s brother Julian, a third grader, says he sees both sides.)

Debates over the proper amount of homework are common around the globe. While some studies have shown little benefit to homework for young learners, other experts say it can help them learn how to develop study habits and academic concepts.

Poland’s educational system has undergone a number of controversial overhauls. Almost every new government has tried to make changes — something many teachers and parents say has left them confused and discouraged. For example, after communism was thrown off, middle schools were introduced. Then under the last government, the previous system was brought back. More controversy came in recent years when ultra-conservative views were pushed in new textbooks.

For years, teachers have been fleeing the system due to low wages and political pressure. The current government is trying to increase teacher salaries and has promised other changes that teachers approve of.

But Sławomir Broniarz, the head of the Polish Teachers’ Union, said that while he recognized the need to ease burdens on students, the new homework rules are another case of change imposed from above without adequate consultation with educators.

“In general, the teachers think that this happened too quickly, too hastily,” he said.

He argued that removing homework could widen the educational gaps between kids who have strong support at home and those from poorer families with less support and lower expectations. Instead, he urged wider changes to the entire curriculum.

The homework rules gained impetus in the runup to parliamentary elections last year, when a 14-year-old boy, Maciek Matuszewski, stood up at a campaign rally and told Tusk before a national audience that children “had no time to rest.” The boy said their rights were being violated with so much homework on weekends and so many tests on Mondays.

Tusk has since featured Matuszewski in social media videos and made him the face of the sudden change.

Education Minister Barbara Nowacka said she was prompted by research on children’s mental health. Of the various stresses children face, she said, “the one that could be removed fastest was the burden of homework.”

Pasi Sahlberg, a prominent Finnish educator and author, said the value of homework depends on what it is and how it is linked to overall learning. The need for homework can be “very individual and contextual.”

“We need to trust our teachers to decide what is good for each child,” Sahlberg said.

In South Korea, homework limits were set for elementary schools in 2017 amid concerns that kids were under too much pressure. However, teenagers in the education-obsessed country often cram long into the night and get tutoring to meet the requirements of demanding school and university admission tests.

In the U.S., teachers and parents decide for themselves how much homework to assign. Some elementary schools have done away with homework entirely to give children more time to play, participate in activities and spend time with families.

A guideline circulated by teachers unions in the U.S. recommends about 10 minutes of homework per grade. So, 10 minutes in first grade, 20 minutes in second grade and so on.

The COVID-19 pandemic and a crisis around youth mental health have complicated debates around homework. In the U.S., extended school closures in some places were accompanied by steep losses in learning , which were often addressed with tutoring and other interventions paid for with federal pandemic relief money. At the same time, increased attention to student wellbeing led some teachers to consider alternate approaches including reduced or optional homework.

It’s important for children to learn that mastering something “usually requires practice, a lot of practice,” said Sahlberg, in Finland. If reducing homework leads kids and parents to think school expectations for excellence will be lowered, “things will go wrong.”

AP writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut, and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, contributed.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Taylor Swift's music returns to TikTok despite feud with UMG

Universal Music Group's entire catalog of music was wiped from TikTok when its contract expired in January. Only songs by Swift have reappeared.

Some of Taylor Swift’s songs are back on TikTok.

Her music had been removed from the platform in January along with Universal Music Group’s entire catalog of 78,000 albums after UMG and TikTok failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

TikTok sounds featuring music from artists like Drake, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish had been wiped from the platform. But songs like Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” "Cardigan"and “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” among others, are back.

Notably, it seems only songs by Swift have reappeared.

As pointed out by  Variety , it’s likely the pop star may have reached a separate deal with TikTok. Because the artist owns her masters and has been rerecording old music to own it, it's possible she had the power to negotiate her own deal with the platform.

This comes a week before Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” is set to drop on April 19.

TikTok’s previous contract with UMG expired on Jan. 31. During negotiations, UMG accused TikTok of offering artists and songwriters a fraction of what other similarly situated social media platforms do.

TikTok fired back at the time, saying its platform of well over 1 billion users served as a free promotional tool for talent. The social media company called it “sad and disappointing” that UMG put its own greed above the interests of their artists.

Scripps News has reached out to both TikTok and Universal Music Group for comment and has not heard back yet. 

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USF selects construction manager for new on-campus stadium

• April 9, 2024

USF Athletics , University News

By Adam Freeman , University Communications and Marketing

As the University of South Florida football team prepares to host its spring game on Saturday afternoon at Corbett Stadium, the university today announced a significant development in the plans to build a new on-campus home for the Bulls.

Following a competitive bid process, USF has selected the highly experienced team of Manhattan Construction Company, H.J. Russell & Company and DuCon, LLC as the construction manager for the new stadium. 

The selected team has worked extensively with college and professional stadiums throughout the country, numerous facilities in the Tampa Bay region and state of Florida and has previously partnered on more than $1.2 billion in projects with USF’s design team, Populous.  

“Choosing a construction management team is big step forward in our process to deliver a world-class stadium that will transform the future of our university and the on-campus experience,” said USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly and USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman, the co-chairs of the stadium planning committee.  “After conducting a thorough review of each proposal we received for the project, we’re excited to get started on our partnership with a team that brings a proven track record of success in Manhattan Construction Company, H.J. Russell & Company and DuCon, LLC.” 

Projects the team has worked on include football stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and the ongoing renovations at Florida State University.  Manhattan also provided construction management services for enhancements to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2016.

USF’s on-campus stadium is scheduled to open in time for fall 2027.  More information on the project is available here .

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What a Terror Attack in Israel Might Reveal About Psychedelics and Trauma

Thousands of Israelis were using mind-altering substances when Hamas-led fighters attacked a desert festival on Oct. 7. Now, scientists are studying the ravers to determine the effects of such drugs at a moment of extreme trauma.

This photo of Yuval Tapuhi was taken at the Tribe of Nova festival on Oct. 7, before the Hamas-led terrorist attack. Credit... Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

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By Natan Odenheimer ,  Aaron Boxerman and Gal Koplewitz

• April 11, 2024

One Israeli said that being high on LSD during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 prompted a spiritual revelation that helped him escape the carnage at a desert rave. Another is certain the drug MDMA made him more decisive and gave him the strength to carry his girlfriend as they fled the scene. A third said that experiencing the assault during a psychedelic trip has helped him more fully process the trauma.

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Some 4,000 revelers gathered on the night of Oct. 6 at a field in southern Israel, mere miles from the Gaza border, for the Tribe of Nova music festival. At dawn, thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed Israel’s defenses under the cover of a rocket barrage.

About 1,200 people were killed that day, the deadliest in Israeli history according to the Israeli authorities, including 360 at the rave alone. Many of the ravers were under the influence of mind-altering substances like LSD, MDMA and ketamine as they witnessed the carnage or fled for their lives.

For a group of Israeli researchers at the University of Haifa, the attack has created a rare opportunity to study the intersection of trauma and psychedelics, a field that has drawn increased interest from scientists in recent years.

The survivors of the Nova festival present a case study that would be impossible to replicate in a lab: a large group of people who endured trauma while under the influence of substances that render the brain more receptive and malleable.

Illegal in most countries, including Israel, these substances are now on the cusp of entering the psychiatric mainstream. Recent research suggests that careful doses of drugs like MDMA and psilocybin , the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” might be useful in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

The festival participants were under the influence during their trauma, not in a controlled clinical setting, but researchers say studying them could help scientists better understand how psychedelics might be used to treat patients after a traumatic event.

The researchers surveyed more than 650 Nova survivors. Roughly 23 percent said they took hallucinogens like LSD, also known as acid, and about 27 percent used MDMA, a stimulant and psychedelic commonly called molly or ecstasy. Many attendees used more than one substance.

Participants in the survey described a variety of experiences while using drugs on Oct. 7, ranging from hallucinations to extreme clarity, from panic to resolve and from paralysis to action.

“Even though people were dropping on the ground screaming next to me, I felt a growing sense of confidence, that I was invincible,” said Yarin Reichenthal, 26, a judo coach who experienced the attack while on LSD. “I felt enlightened. I felt no fear at all.”

In many instances, according to preliminary results of the researchers’ survey, even festivalgoers using the same drugs experienced the attack in different ways — variances that might have meant the difference between life and death.

The scientists cautioned that the study was not a comprehensive review of how every participant at the rave fared because so many were killed.

“We only hear the stories of those who made it out alive,” said Roy Salomon, a cognitive science professor at the University of Haifa and a co-author of the study. “So our understanding is influenced by survivors’ bias.”

Witnesses said that for many attendees, drug use appeared to hamper their ability to flee for safety. Some ravers were too zoned out on psychedelics to realize what was happening and escape. The researchers said that those experiences were also important to their findings.

“There are two main questions,” said Roee Admon, a University of Haifa psychology professor and a co-author of the study. “How is the traumatic event experienced under different psychedelics, and what might the long-term clinical impact be?”

Professor Admon and Professor Salomon, who are leading the survey, are studying the survivors in the hopes of gleaning information about how drug use affected their experience of trauma. They are also studying how the attendees appear to be recovering and coping. A graduate student, Ophir Netzer, also helped write the study.

Of those who made it out alive, some survivors appeared to be recovering well and others reported feeling numb and detached. Some said they had increased their drug use since the attack to cope.

“We were all in such a heightened emotional state, which made us all the more vulnerable when the attack began,” said Tal Avneri, 18, who said he stayed relatively lucid on Oct. 7 after taking MDMA. “And when you’re hurt at your most fragile, you can later become numb.”

For devotees of Israel’s trance scene, a festival like Nova is more than just a way to let loose. Many view the raves — often held in forests and deserts, with pounding electronic beats and mind-altering substances — as spiritual journeys amid a like-minded community.

“The love I felt on the dance floor, the raves, the psychedelics — they helped me cope with my mother’s death,” said Yuval Tapuhi, a 27-year-old Nova survivor from Tel Aviv.

Around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 7, as the sky turned pink and many revelers were beginning the most intense part of their trips, rockets from Gaza suddenly streaked through the sky. Air-raid sirens and loud explosions cut through the music.

Some people fell to the ground and burst out crying, multiple survivors said. Some attendees scrambled to evade the terrorists by hiding in bushes, behind trees or in riverbeds. Others sprinted through open fields, running for hours before reaching safety.

Still others fled in their cars, creating a huge traffic jam at the rave’s main exit, where they became easy targets for Palestinian gunmen swarming across the border.

Amid the gunfire and rocket barrage, Mr. Reichenthal, the judo coach, had what he describes as a transcendent experience, which he credits with his survival. The LSD trip, he said, made it feel as if his fear had been stripped away, and he murmured Bible verses as he ran to safety.

Many survivors described their initial panic being replaced with a coolheaded resolve — a function, one expert said, of stress counteracting the effects of the drugs.

Sebastian Podzamczer, 28, attributed his survival, at least in part, to a huge rush of energy and clarity he experienced while using MDMA. The drug’s influence, he said, gave him what he believes was the strength to carry his girlfriend, who had been paralyzed by fear.

Mr. Podzamczer, a former combat medic in the Israeli military, had PTSD after his service. Taking psychedelics recreationally, he said, helped him unravel some of that pain, allowing him to speak about his military service without shaking and panicking.

“But I always thought that if I was caught in an extreme situation like that, I’d be paralyzed by panic from my PTSD,” Mr. Podzamczer said. Instead, he found that the MDMA he took at the rave “helped me stay afloat, to act more quickly and decisively.”

High levels of stress can almost “overwhelm” the effects of a drug and jolt people back to reality, said Rick Doblin, the founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit organization in California that finances scientific research but is not involved in the Nova survivor study.

Almog Arad, 28, said that her acid trip kicked in after the attack began but that the circumstances quickly “minimized” the drug’s effects. While she continued to see intense colors and patterns as she fled, her decision-making remained relatively sound, she said.

“Adrenaline was the strongest drug I took that day,” she said.

The University of Haifa researchers plan to follow the survivors for years, tracking their neural activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI.

They have presented their preliminary findings in a preprint paper , a scientific manuscript undergoing peer review.

Compared with survivors who used other substances, attendees who used MDMA are recovering better and showing less severe symptoms of PTSD, according to the study’s preliminary conclusions.

Many MDMA users in particular, the researchers said, believe that using the drug helped them survive. That perception, the scientists added, could have influenced their ability to cope with their trauma.

“The way in which we remember the trauma has a great impact on how we process it,” Professor Admon said. “So even if a victim’s perception is subjective, it will still have a great impact on their recovery.”

The researchers said it was difficult to assess the exact doses that the festivalgoers used, making it hard to analyze how different quantities of drugs affected people.

Mr. Reichental said he witnessed one man at the rave who appeared to be so out of it that as gunfire sounded and another raver tried to help him escape, the man instead began to flirt with her. “How lucky it is that destiny brought us together,” Mr. Reichenthal recalled the man saying. He does not believe the man survived the attack.

Psychologists and survivors said those ravers who took ketamine, a psychedelic with an intense tranquilizing and dissociative effect, appeared to be one of the groups hit hardest.

Immediately after the Nova massacre, a group of therapists and experts established a volunteer relief network for survivors, known as Safe Heart, that provided psychological support for more than 2,200 people. The group has collaborated with the University of Haifa researchers as well as with a separate , qualitative study led by Guy Simon, a psychotherapist and doctoral candidate at Bar-Ilan University.

“Most people who undergo a traumatic experience do not develop PTSD,” Professor Admon said. “Identifying those who do and treating them as early as possible is critical to their healing.”

Read by Natan Odenheimer

Audio produced by Adrienne Hurst .

Aaron Boxerman is a Times reporting fellow with a focus on international news. More about Aaron Boxerman

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

The Israeli military announced what it called a precise operation to kill members of Hamas in Gaza , a day after a strike there killed three sons  of one of the most senior leaders of the group.

Hamas said that it did not have 40 living hostages in Gaza  who met specific criteria for an exchange with Israel under a proposed cease-fire deal, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than previously believed.

There has been no apparent work done yet on increasing aid to Gaza  by opening an additional border crossing from Israel and accepting shipments at a nearby Israeli port, but Israel said that both changes remain in the works.

Psychedelics and Trauma: Thousands of festival-goers were using mind-altering substances when Hamas-led fighters attacked on Oct 7. Now, scientists are studying the effects of such drugs at a moment of trauma .

Turmoil at J Street: The war in Gaza has raised serious concerns within the Jewish political advocacy group about its ability to hold a middle position  without being pulled apart by forces on the right and the left.

Challenging Democratic Leaders: Protests over the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza are disrupting the activities of Democratic officials, complicating their ability to campaign during a pivotal election year .

Germany’s Upended Arts Scene: Berlin, the home of boundary-pushing artists from around the world, has been turned upside down by debates about what can and can’t be said about Israel and the war in Gaza .

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