Nothing gets me more pumped-up than a good Rihanna song. Whether I need to lock in on sports or school, the music motivates me.

This motivation helps me to focus on schoolwork, boost my mood, and inspire me.

As a very popular mechanism for teenagers today, the benefits of music are clear. Despite this, it is still strictly regulated in many classrooms. 

In fact, at MN, airpods and headphones often aren’t even allowed during silent work time.

According to Healthline, music stimulates and engages the brain. This stimulation includes the brain’s reward center, which makes people more motivated to learn when they know listening to a song is their reward.

Therefore, rather than simply distracting students as many believe, music really helps them to perform better. 

With this being said, music should not only be allowed but encouraged for students to use during guided study and work time as it helps students with motivation, and, according to Healthine, benefits include better learning and memory and lower anxiety.

So, it helps students perform better but it helps them to feel better. When in a more focused, more comfortable headspace, students will find it easier to complete work and go through school in a less-stress filled manner.

Of course, the typical reason that music is banned in the first place is because it is  viewed as distracting. To avoid this, students should be educated on how to use music to aid them and their learning rather than hurt them.

One tool that could be taught to students is music therapy: the use of music to accomplish goals pertaining to mental or physical health. 

Essentially, the understanding that specific types of music and how we choose to use them have specific effects on the body and mind. 

For example, classical music is best for studying while hip-hop and other fast-paced music is best for working out.

Additionally, music is a language that almost all teenagers use and can connect with in many different ways. So, teaching them how to use it for good would be applicable to all. 

Importantly, students are much more likely to be interested in learning about music than other common learning techniques being taught in schools, such as getting enough sleep or eating breakfast.

It is known that many students already use music for effects like boosts before sports or focus, but teaching all students how helpful music can also be in the classroom would be valuable. 

Students will not only understand why music is so helpful, but also learn lifelong skills that can help them in any situation or stage of life.

The anxiety-reducing, focus-enhancing nature of music helps students to learn and perform better in school. It is a disservice to students to stop them from using it.

We must learn to embrace the modern accessibility of music rather than work to tamp it down. The possible benefits of doing so are innumerable and incredibly exciting to consider.