Music: The Ultimate Cramming Tool

For many people, studying for a test means waiting until eleven o’clock the night before, and cramming as much information into his or her head as possible before the next morning. Sometimes this works, and the person somehow manages to pull off a B, or, even more miraculously, an A. Other times, however, their efforts fall short, and their late nights are rewarded with barely passing grades. Despite all of people’s planning, procrastination often just does not work. There is, however, a way to fix this. Studies have shown that listening to classical music, especially Mozart, can improve short-term cognitive ability, thus making it easier for people to put off learning things until the last minute.

This phenomenon, known as the Mozart effect, is thought to be the result of multiple parts of the brain being stimulated at once. When humans partake in different activities, different parts of the brain are used. By listening to classical music, more than one part of the brain is stimulated. According to some studies, this is what causes improved spatial reasoning skills in the short term, letting people cram for tests and learn more information. Since more than one part of the brain is being activated at once, synapses can form in more areas, making the students better at performing a variety of tasks.

“…the Mozart effect is thought to be the result of multiple parts of the brain being stimulated at once.”

Some critics claim that the Mozart effect only works on people who have a good understanding of the music being played, and therefore have appreciation for the music. Various studies conducted using rats have shown that this is not the case. One group of rats was exposed to the Mozart sonata K448 for ten minutes, and then placed in a maze, where they were timed on how long it took them to reach the exit. These rats completed the maze significantly faster and with fewer errors than the control group of rats, who were not exposed to classical music.

The Mozart effect can be expanded to include other forms of music appreciation, however, which adds to the benefits found through music. Another study, this one focusing on the long-term effects of music on the brain, showed that school children who played a musical instrument such as the keyboard did better on spatial reasoning tests than did students who either took computer lessons or did nothing over the course of six months. Those students who took music classes and did tasks such as identifying pitch and melody, sight reading, and playing simple tunes by Mozart and Bach, did more than 30% better on these tests than the other students.

Due to these findings, some people believe that children should take music classes throughout their entire lives. In many cases, there is a strong correlation between students playing an instrument and their ability to get good grades. The more involved the music is, the more the students get out of it. Music gives students the chance to be creative and express emotions and feelings in a way that would not usually happen. By giving students the opportunity to learn in such a way, parents and teachers open up a world of possibilities for the young pupil, and serves to broaden their horizons.

“..there is a strong correlation between students playing an instrument and their ability to get good grades”

It has not been determined beyond doubt that the Mozart effect is, in fact, a true occurrence. However, it is safe to assume that listening to music is not a harmful practice. While for some, it may seem like a cumbersome distraction from the practice of cramming one’s head full of facts, to others it can be a useful tool to use in times of distress, or anytime. So, for anyone who is worried about passing that big exam, or simply wants to get a boost on the latest homework assignment, put on some Mozart. It may be just the thing your brain needs.

For more information on the Mozart effect, visit the websites included in this article at:

http://www.alternet.org/story/149288/why_listening_to_music_makes_you_smarter,

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281386/,

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/lerch1/edpsy/mozart_effect.html#The Mozart

Featured Image: Music by N.Calzas @Flickr.com