Music is a wonderful gift bestowed upon us, a clear solution to many of today’s problems. It can be a delightful refresher after a stressful day to just sit down and listen to the melodious beats harmonizing in one’s ear. This can relate to any average student, who, amidst their daily grind of academic challenges, is faced with stress due to the workload placed upon their shoulders. The clear solution would be to just simply listen to music, to calm one’s nerves and relax, however, many schools have popular sites like Spotify blocked, leaving struggling students in despair.
The mental health struggles of the current generation don’t come as a surprise. A survey conducted in 2021 found that 22.8% of all US adults had mental disorders, and 33.7% of all young adults in the US live with these disorders. This is generated by lots of factors, including academic and social challenges, as well as stress from schoolwork.
Luckily, there is a clear solution, as an extent of “upbeat music can make you feel more optimistic and positive about life. A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation and stress management” (University of Nevada, Reno). Despite the problems and solutions to solving this mental health crisis being brought to light, the clear solution is still blocked at many campuses.
Many students struggle with completing their homework, with each AP class requiring at least 1 hour of homework daily. According to bestcollages.com, the average 11th grader is recommended to take 3-5 AP classes, implying 3-5 hours of homework only for their AP classes, not to mention the workload of other classes, extracurriculars, and more.
As more time is spent on a task, a student tends to become less focused. However, there is an easy solution to increasing focus and efficiency: music. A quiet sensation in one’s headphones creates a safe environment for students to engage in their tasks, as “many students find that one of the best ways to stay focused no matter where they are is through listening to music” (Schempp and Sanders). Being focused can help reduce the time spent on homework, extracurricular, and other events; and instead allots time to focus on sleep and enjoying life to the fullest.
Music is a subtle way to erase all problems. Because when one puts on a pair of headphones, all external sound cancels. One's mind clears to blank. This is not a negative thing, but instead, a way to erase distractions and finish the task at hand. All schools should not only understand this but also encourage students as well.
Ultimately, music is very valuable, and, contrary to what many schools think, it is not a distraction. It can help increase efficiency, and focus, and even help put an effort into fixing this generation's mental health crisis. Whether it is classical, pop, rap, country or anything else, know that it can help bring relaxation to one's day.
WORKS CITED:
University of Nevada, Reno. “Releasing Stress through the Power of Music | Counseling Services.” University of Nevada, Reno, 2023, www.unr.edu/counseling/virtual-relaxation-room/releasing-stress-through-the-power-of-music#:~:text=Upbeat%20music%20can%20make%20you.
NIMH. “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, Mar. 2023, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.
Schempp, Theresa, and Mike Sanders. “How Music Can Help You Study | UMGC.” University of Maryland Global Campus, 28 Aug. 2023, www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20studying.
“Which AP Classes Should You Take? | BestColleges.” Www.bestcolleges.com, 21 Mar. 2023, www.bestcolleges.com/blog/which-ap-classes-should-you-take/.
Gouzouasis, Peter. “Music Students Score Better in Math, Science, English than Nonmusical Peers.” Https://Www.apa.org, 24 June 2019, www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/06/music-students-score-better.
Perry, Elizabeth. “How to Use Music to Concentrate: Sound On, Distractions Off.” Www.betterup.com, 22 Aug. 2022, www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-use-music-to-concentrate.
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