A majority of students can agree that the most irritating interruption while doing work, is to be pestered by someone else. Teachers usually tell students “to remove your ear buds.” Teachers may believe that the music is distracting us from completing our work or focusing, but students can advocate that while listening to music they are able to concentrate and finish work faster. Do you believe music makes you focus and work more efficiently?

In order to test this theory, we conducted an experiment on fellow Woodbridge High School students. The experiment consisted of fifty basic multiplication problems given to ten students. In the first part of the experiment, the participants were asked to complete fifty problems. The first half was conducted without any music. They were suppose to complete the sheet as fast and accurately as they could. In the second part, which was conducted three days later, the participants were asked to complete a different set of fifty problems with headphones playing the song of their choice. Again, attempting to complete it as fast as they can. 

After completing the experiment, results showed that listening to music while completing an assignment or doing work improved the students overall time of completion. Students were able to cut down more than half of their original time. 

Not only did their time improve, but their accuracy. All the students were able to complete the worksheets with minimal errors while listening to music, unlike the first try which used none. With music, students are able to focus more intensely on an assignment, but why is music causing such improvement? 

To find the answer, after the experiment we asked each student a certain question. “Why do you think music helps you focus better? 

Student 3 concluded that “Music is a way to block out all other noises or distractions in the classroom or at home. With music I can put my full attention on the work in front of me.” 

While student 1 stated, “Listening to music motivates me to work harder and do all my work. With music I feel like I need to do all my work and become a productive student.” 

All subjects agreed that music is not only helpful while doing work, but should be allowed at school as well. Along with the students, we also advocate this statement as the experiment in which we conducted has proven music is a key source of motivation and focus for students.