Students are constantly looking for ways to focus while studying. Distractions can be found everywhere, from Tumblr, to a sibling, to Netflix; a method to avoid these is much needed. Listening to music helps many students focus on their work rather than succumbing to other temptations.

Spotify was founded in 2008 and has become a popular alternative to iTunes because it allows users access to millions of songs from all genres, including folk, reggae, soul, punk, and many others. Unlike iTunes, users do not need to buy songs on Spotify unless they sign up for a premium account, in which case they pay $9.99 per month, not per song.

Additionally, Spotify creates playlists for specific purposes, one of which is called “Intense Studying,” including many quiet, classical songs. They also have a “Study Break” playlist which is comprised of upbeat, pop songs.

Elizabeth Yang (9) uses Spotify while studying to minimize distractions.

“When I listen to music, I get in the mood of doing homework,” Elizabeth said.
Some students working at school or in other loud environments are met with the challenge of tuning out the noises and conversations around them.

Taylor Kohlmann (10) agrees that outside noises can be distracting.

“When there’s other noises outside [listening to music] helps, so you don’t have to hear other people’s conversations,” Taylor said.

Although Spotify is helpful to several students, others believe it poses as another distraction.

“I pretend it will help me focus, but then I just listen to music and don’t do homework at all,” Shaya Zarkesh (10) said.

Listening to a song can be disadvantageous while reading because listeners may focus on the lyrics rather than the assignment. Students may also constantly change the song, a process that causes seconds to add up, making students lose track of time.

Although Spotify may seem distracting to some students, but it can also serve as a helpful tool while studying for the SATs or just doing homework.