Effects of Music and Learning

Listening to music can provoke emotional response (Wan & Schlaug, 2010). Research has shown that listening to some types of music can enhance the learning process by activating task-relevant brain areas (Jausovec, Jausovec, & Gerlic, 2006). However, best practices suggest that a quiet environment is more conducive to effective learning. Music should not compete with learning tasks. If it is absolutely necessary to have music, use a regular pattern which is less attention-grabbing and play the same piece repeatedly (Howard, 2006).