Musical Study Habits
Jazz is a multifaceted genre of music. I am a firm believer that it extends beyond music into utility. The uses of jazz are nearly inescapable in every sense. Most modern music mostly originates from jazz and its subsets. Cinematography, for example, relies on jazz to often frame the story through sound cues. For a student, jazz has the potential to be a lifeline of music.
The nights before tests and papers, I always listen to jazz, very heavy, fast-paced jazz. I feel like the rhythmic and sometimes arrhythmic tempo of the drums spurs thoughts. Every rising tune leads to climax, which ultimately represents the breakthrough of whatever line of thought I hold–or rather a delineated ending to my papers and studying. It’s a chaotic mix of intensity and relaxation, something that I would admit is definitely not for everyone. The music I refer to commonly falls under bebop, big band, or perhaps even jazz standards. An example of such would be the song Caravan by Duke Ellington
While this version of jazz works for me, I found different approaches though different genres useful as well. In times where I felt less motivated and more relaxed, I often instead opted for slow instrumental jazz. This subset of jazz is slow and calming, pairing with easy methodical approaches–building work and answers from the ground up. The music set the environment and the tone, providing little clutter and distraction. It coincides with the modern remixes of slow jazz commonly referred to as lofi. In my experience, I found that both lofi and classic jazz instrumentals improve my process of thinking to a steady and calmed pace. I would personify this calmed genre through a jazz song that exists both in lofi and classic: The lamp is low by Laurindo Almedia. The composition holds this familiar tune that easily associates itself with optimism and relaxation, moreso the same tune is commonly cited within media and the trend “I have no enemies.”
In between the two genres of jazz lies myriad others — swing, nova, noir, blues, etc. Though I feel inclined to touch on a shaky middle ground known as jazz fusion. Jazz fusion is a brilliant mess of synthesizers and new age instruments taking the original forms and motives of jazz. It is outlandish, it is absurd, it’s an acquired taste. Nonetheless, I personally find this shaky middle ground to be pleasant in many ways. The new age tones of music that unaccustomed people call “Mario Kart cart music” is similar to the big bands in that it has the capability to be just as erratic if not more so–yet with equal capability to be soft and gentle. The genre is a wildcard, yet holds both aspects of the varying genres–and therefore also the benefits. I would recommend the bands Weather Report and Casiopea to any who are intrigued to sample this genre.
There are very defined differences between each mood and mindset the music entails, though through my experience, I found that both types of music have created a more academically refined environment. I would urge students to try to mix their listening habits and study habits, specifically when concerning the genres of jazz. There is a defined reason many small cafes and coffee shops only play jazz and classical. Maybe I am not the only one who thinks jazz has a special ability to bolster thought.
