Album of the Year? Bar Prep Playlist of the Year! How Music Boosts Learning and Retention
Tonight, the Grammy Awards will crown a new Album of the Year, celebrating the artistry and impact of music. But beyond the awards and accolades, music plays a powerful role in learning, memory, and cognitive function—including when studying for something as intense as the bar exam.
If you’ve ever found yourself memorizing lyrics effortlessly while struggling to recall legal rules, you’re not alone. Music engages the brain in a unique way, and research in the science of learning shows that it can be a valuable tool for memory, focus, and stress management.
Music Enhances Memory Through the Mozart Effect (Sort of)
🎶 The Mozart Effect suggests that listening to classical music can enhance spatial-temporal reasoning, but the benefits of music on learning go beyond Mozart.
🎶 Rhythmic and melodic patterns help the brain recognize and encode information more effectively—think about how easy it is to recall song lyrics from years ago but difficult to remember case names.
🎶 Using bar exam mnemonics to a beat or studying with music can create stronger neural connections for recall.
Background Music Can Improve Focus—But It’s All About the Type of Music
🎶 Instrumental music (classical, lo-fi, ambient, or jazz) can create an ideal study environment by reducing distractions and boosting concentration.
🎶 Lyrics can be distracting, especially when reading or writing, as they engage the same language-processing areas of the brain.
🎶 If you find yourself singing along, switch to instrumental versions of your favorite songs!
Music Reduces Stress and Improves Mood
🎶 Bar prep is stressful. Music is scientifically proven to reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and promote dopamine release, which improves mood and motivation.
🎶 Upbeat music before study sessions can boost energy levels (think of how a pump-up song before a workout helps performance).
🎶 Slow-tempo music before bed can help with sleep and memory consolidation, essential for long-term retention.
The Album of the Year winner will be crowned tonight, but your bar prep study playlist can be the real champion in your learning journey.
