As many of you know, thanks to the Internet, my music tastes are all over the place. I just finished letting the recommended videos take me through meme edits, Vangelis, the Crypt of the NecroDancer soundtrack, the Just Shapes and Beats soundtrack, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Focus, and more. I love music a lot, and now that the end of the semester is approaching, I find myself studying more and more, with music, of course. Here are a few things I've found out through experience (these may partially just be me, but who knows):

- Don't play it so loud that you have hearing damage. We all know that. But also don't play so loud that the music takes over your thoughts. You need to be able to focus on studying.
- Ideally, listen to something that's relatively fast (it makes you move faster), but not too fast or too hyper, or else you're getting yourself way hyped up.
- Don't listen to songs you haven't heard before. You'll spend too many mental cycles reacting to the song.
- Don't listen to songs with lyrics, or else you'll focus on the lyrics.
- Don't listen to songs that you strongly associate with visual imagery (AMVs, games with synchronized animation, Christmas lights displays, etc.) or else you'll get that image stuck in your head.

So far, "Echoes" by Vangelis has been the best for studying in this particular run-through.

What are your thoughts about studying with music? Do you do it? What do you like to listen to for studying? Any study tips in general? I'd love to hear them!

-Twistey