Music for Studying
Let Classic FM help you achieve more by providing the perfect soundtrack to your studies.
Classical music has long been relied upon during stressful study periods. It can still the mind and enable you to focus on the task in hand. The theory of the Mozart effect states that listening to classical music can improve memory and concentration.
Here are some suggestions of works from Classic FM's extensive music library to aid brain power:
Subject-specific works
If you're having a mental block or struggling to focus, don't continue staring at a book. Look elsewhere for inspiration. This music is themed under subject headings so you can listen to something relevant and don't have to feel guilty about taking a break. And who knows – thinking outside the box and making these sorts of cross-cultural references might even help you to score a few extra points in the exam.
English
George Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow
William Walton: Henry V Suite
Walton composed the music for Laurence Olivier's film of Shakespeare's Henry V in 1944. He later arranged an orchestral suite.
Maths
It's always been said that music and maths go together. J.S. Bach was a great enthusiast of numerology and sequences.
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.4
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV988
Science
Alexander Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dance No.2
This Russian Romantic composer was also a professional chemist.
Gustav Holst: The Planets
Be inspired by the power of the universe.
French
François Couperin: Les Baricades Mistérieuses
Claude Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Inspired by Stéphane Mallarmé's poem.
Spanish
Joaquín Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
This sunny work evokes the beautiful gardens at the Palace of Aranjuez, just outside Madrid.
Pablo de Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen
Flamboyant gipsy themes.
German
Johannes Brahms: German Requiem
Richard Wagner: Prelude to Tristan and Isolde
Delicious harmonies in the prelude to an opera inspired by medieval Germanic poetry and Schopenhauer philosophy.
Russian
Dmitri Shostakovich: Romance from The Gadfly
Shostakovich composed the score for the Soviet director Aleksandr Fajntsimmer's film adaptation of the book The Gadfly.
John Tavener: Hymn to the Mother of God
History
Jay Ungar: Ashokan Farewell
Used in various American Civil War films and documentaries.
John Williams: Schindler's List
The soundtrack to Steven Spielberg's iconic film telling the incredible story of Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1000 Jews from being sent to concentration camps during the Second World War.
Geography
Beethoven Pastoral Symphony No.6 'Pastoral'
A stunning walk through the countryside.
Bedrich Smetana: Má vlast: Vltava
Smetana evokes the Czech river.
Religious Studies
J.S. Bach: 'Wir setzen unds mit tranen nieder' from St. Matthew Passion
Do your New Testament revision with Bach.
Ernest Bloch: 'Prayer' from Three Sketches from Jewish Life
Relaxing music
Music can help you to think more clearly, and block out other surrounding background noise. For best results, opt for slow to medium-paced instrumental works – music with words can be distracting. If you're someone who finds music a distraction while working, you may still use it to relax in revision breaks.
Here are some relaxing tracks:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp minor Opus 27 No.2 'Moonlight', 1st movement
Claude Debussy: Prelude in D-flat major 'Raindrop' Opus 28 No.15
Ludovico Einaudi: Le Onde
Ludovico Einaudi: Primavera
Jules Massenet: Meditation from Thaïs
W.A. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major K622
W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No.3 in G major K216, 2nd movement
Sergei Rachmaninov: Vocalise (arr. for cello and piano)
Erik Satie: Gymnopedie No.1
Franz Schubert: Symphony No.5 D485, 2nd movement
