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Studyingforfinals?Letclassicalmusichelp|USCNews

Arts[/category/arts/] University[/category/university/]

Studyingforfinals?Letclassical
musichelp
WorksbyBach,Brahms,Mozart
andothersareeffectiveaidsthatimprove
sleeppatternsandreducestress,studiesfind
[/author/allison-engel/] BYAllison Engel [/author/allison-engel/]

DECEMBER5,2014

Studies show that listening to classical music benefits the brain. (Photo illustration/Holly Wilder)

stheseasonofcrammingandfinalsapproaches,Trojanscangethelpwitha
healthy,easilyaccessiblestudyaidclassicalmusic.

Itsasolutionavailable24/7atClassical
KUSC[http://www.kusc.org]inLosAngelesor
ClassicalKDFC[http://www.kdfc.com]inSanFrancisco.Listeneitherontheradioorlive
streamedatkusc.orgorkdfc.com.TheresanewversionofKUSCsfreeapp
[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/classicalkusc/id447665086?mt=8]andoneforKDFC
[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/classicalkdfc/id376642262?mt=8]touseonmobiledevices.
Anumberofacademicstudiesrecentlyzeroedinonclassicalmusic,showingthat
listening
benefitsthebrain,sleeppatterns,theimmunesystemandstresslevelsallhelpfulwhen
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facingthoseallimportantendofsemestertests.

Facethemusic

UniversityresearchinFrance,publishedinLearningandIndividualDifferences,foundthat
studentswholistenedtoaonehourlecturewhereclassicalmusicwasplayedinthe
background
scoredsignificantlyhigherinaquizonthelecturewhencomparedtoasimilar
groupofstudentswho
heardthelecturewithnomusic.

The researchers speculated that the music put students in a heightened

emotional state, making
them more receptive to information.
Theresearchersspeculatedthatthemusicputstudentsinaheightenedemotionalstate,
making
themmorereceptivetoinformation.
Itispossiblethatmusic,provokingachangeinthelearning
environment,influencedthe
studentsmotivationtoremainfocusedduringthelecture,whichledto
betterperformance
onthemultiplechoicequiz,theywrote.
AccordingtoresearchfromtheDukeCancerInstitute,classicalmusiccanalsolessen
anxiety.
ResearchersgaveheadphonesplayingBachconcertostomenundergoingastressfulbiopsy
anddiscoveredtheyhadnospikeindiastolicbloodpressure
duringtheprocedureand
reportedsignificantlylesspain.
Butmakesureyouarelisteningtoclassicalmusic,becausenotallmusicaidsblood
pressure,a
UniversityofSanDiegostudyfound.
Scientistsattheuniversitycomparedchangesinbloodpressureamong
individualslistening
toclassical,jazzorpopmusic.Thoselisteningtoclassicalhadsignificantly
lowersystolic
bloodpressurewhencomparedtothoselisteningtoothermusicalgenresornomusicatall.

Justrelax

Classicalmusichelpsyourelaxevenwhenyoudontpayattentiontothemusic,aRussian
study
publishedinHumanPhysiologyfound.
Childrenwholistenedtoclassicalmusicforonehouraday
overasixmonthperiod
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exhibitedbrainchangesthatindicatedgreaterlevelsofrelaxationeven
whenthechildren
werenotaskedtopayattentiontothemusic.
Iftestinganxietycausessleeplessnights,classicalmusiccanhelpsootheinsomnia.Ateam
of
researchersattheUniversityofTorontofoundthattuningintoclassicalmusicbefore
bedtimehelped
peoplefallasleepfasterandstayasleeplonger.WorksbyBrahms,Handel,
Mozart,StraussandBach
wereeffectivesleepaidsbecausetheyuserhythmsandtonal
patternsthatcreateameditativemood
andslowbrainwaves,thestudyfound.
(KUSCandKDFCmakeiteasytoaccessqualityclassicalmusicall
night,everynight.The
CaliforniaClassicalAllNightprogramairsonbothstationsfrommidnightto5a.m.,seven
daysaweek.)

Cutoutthecannons
Sowhatselectionsdoclassicalmusicexpertsfavorforlistenerstryingtoabsorbnew
information?
KUSChostandproducerAlanChapmansuggestedpiecesthataremorerestrainedto
provideanice
aurainthebackground.Skipoverlargeorchestralpieces,particularlythose
withadynamicthat
rangesfromwhisperstoboomingcannons.
The1812Overturewouldnotbeagoodstudyaid,unless
youwerestudyingtobea
demolitionsexpert,heobservedasentimentechoedbyKDFChostandassistant
programdirectorRikMalone.
Chapmansuggestedchoosingsolopianopieces,perhapsMozartsonatasorFrenchpiano
musicbyPoulenc,
DebussyorFaur.Mozartstringquartetsarealsogoodchoices,hesaid,
fortheregularityofphrase
structureinclassicperiodpieces.
Guitarmusicisgentleenoughtostudyby,asislutemusic,whichhasenjoyable,dulcet
tones.Sample
Bachlutesuites,Chapmansuggested.
Elizabethanconsortmusicfromthelate16thcentury,playedonviols,wasintendedto
createa
pleasantatmosphereatcourtwithoutdemandingattention,Chapmansaid,andis
anothergood
candidateformusictostudyby.
Sobeforeturningtothebooks,turnonClassicalKUSCorClassicalKDFC.

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