Classical music has been proven to be beneficial during an intense workout session and it can even synchronize people's heartbeats and "emotions" amid concerts. That said, what about studying?
One 2016 study has put forward experimental data that revealed students who listened to classical music performed better in a controlled exam test, as compared to another group who listened to other fast-paced music.
However, that is by no means definitive data as other people believe complete silence is better. For those whose brains crave the right atmosphere, though, finding the right piece can be very crucial.
Thus, Classicalite is here with a list of five of the best classical music has to offer to help you "lock in" and focus.
A boy using a headphone while studying.
'Etudes' by Frédéric Chopin
Although this one might be obvious given its seemingly related etymology to the topic at hand, with "Etudes" directly translating to "studies," the meaning is actually more akin to "studies" done by pianists to be better.
Instead, the series' quality as study music lies within the "energy" portrayed in specific pieces like Op. 10 No. 1 or Op. 25 No. 11, with its hypnotically calming keyboard-wide arpeggios. If a hot cup of espresso could be represented in musical form, this would be it.
'Images' by Claude Debussy
If contemplative vibes are what you are looking for, then nothing comes close to the darling of Romanticism himself, Debussy. Contrasting the previous entry, Debussy's six "Images" are much "lighter" and "tranquil," as they invoke the very image of "introspective" atmospheres.
In short, these pieces are akin to staring at one's "Reflections in the Water" at an undisturbed lake or listening to "Bells Through the Leaves" of the forest.
'Symphony No. 5' by Anton Bruckner
If you're more of a fan of dramatic symphonies that retain that "slow-burn" element, then Bruckner's "Symphony No. 5" is the perfect piece for you, with its seemingly endless build-up of tension.
This piece will not only please your emotional needs by pacifying the equally intense stresses of a study session, but it will also appease your cravings on an intellectual level with its clever passages that climb higher and higher in energy in a way that doesn't sound repetitive.
'Diabelli Variations' by Ludwig van Beethoven
The "theme and variations" of many pieces in the classical canon are all cognitively interesting in and of themselves, a couple of which could even be placed in this list. However, among them stands unequivocally is Beethoven's "Diabelli Variations."
With this piece, Beethoven transforms Anton Diabelli's simplistic 19th-century waltz into 33 different interpretations, each of which is as musically identifiable and unique as the one that precedes it.
From the innocuous motifs and patterns offered by the original, Beethoven constructs an imaginative example of symphonic ingenuity. Similarly, other Diabelli-inspired studies could produce the same effect.
'Symphony No. 41' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
If we're staying in the realm of "genius" composers, then it is only natural to mention Mozart and his "Symphony No. 41."
Otherwise known as "Jupiter," the piece is a momentous classical composition as it is a fugue comprising of only five voices or fewer, all harmonically mingling to create a "joyous" and "increasing" tapestry of music.
This product of a brilliant mind will surely inspire intellect in those seeking such qualities for themselves, whether you play the score as the background to your calculus homework or during an intense chess match.
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