Is it bad to study with music?
It depends on the music and the task. For reading, writing and memorizing, music with lyrics usually gets in the way. For repetitive tasks, or to get in a good mood before you start, music can help.
Why do lyrics make studying harder?
Your brain processes speech automatically, even when you are not trying to listen. Words you hear compete with the words you are reading or holding in mind. Psychologists call this the irrelevant speech effect (Salamé and Baddeley, 1982).
In one study, students read passages and answered questions in silence, with instrumental music, and with songs that had lyrics, both songs they liked and ones they disliked. They scored best in silence and worst with lyrics, and liking the song made no difference (Perham and Currie, 2014).
Can music ever help you study?
Yes, mainly through mood and energy. Research on the so-called Mozart effect found that the small boost after listening to music came from feeling more alert and in a better mood, not from the music itself making people smarter (Thompson and colleagues, 2001). A favorite song before a study session can help you start.
What should you listen to while studying?
Hard reading or writing: silence, or steady background noise.
Practice problems or tidying notes: instrumental music at low volume.
Repetitive or easy tasks: whatever keeps you going, lyrics included.
Breaks: your favorite songs, as a reward.