Ask almost any college student if they listen to music while studying or doing homework and the response given will most likely be a resounding “yes,” followed by an explanation of the kind of music involved. Decisions about what to listen to while doing any sort of serious work requiring undivided attention can vary from listening to tracks that inspire a certain level of energy based on tempo, (e.g. faster songs to motivate during an all-nighter), to quieter and possibly lyric-less pieces of a more classical nature to fill a void but not clash with words an individual is already in the midst of reading.
Some might argue having noticeable music in the background helps to keep their minds from drifting and/or getting bored, which could lead to glossing over notes rather than genuinely keeping them in one’s memory bank. Still, this whole scenario rides on subjectivity and personal benefit. Controlled studies have been performed to analyze what works “best” when it comes to the brain and music, but everyone has a method and it is not always based on anything remotely empirical.
Focus@will is a new music service with a one-of-a-kind objective to foster strong sessions of productivity –particularly for studying, writing and reading.
The streaming service, which has been in development since “late 2009,” as stated in CEO, William Henshall’s Linkedin background, announced the launch of its private beta period in a fresh press release. Thus far, Henshall’s disclosure of information is somewhat limited but here’s what we’ve been able to discern:
- Focus@will is currently running as a cross-platform HTML5 web application and mobile versions are on the way for iOS/Android.
- The service’s music is provided through a cloud managed audio engine.
- The platform’s musical content is described as “exclusively tailored…to improve productivity,” using a “custom-built focus genome sequencer” that analyzes qualities like: intensity, musical arrangement, tonal key, recording style and emotional value.
The overall aim for Focus@will comes across similar to audio recordings or systems that are intended to promote healthy and substantial sleep. Sleep operates in REM and NREM cycles and the human body moves through stages of these cycles in fairly consistent increments, given adequate time and lack of provocation. Part of the research conducted for the creation of Focus@will was determining how the human brain operates during periods of continuous work or study.
Researchers observed over the last few years, that, “most people can only effectively concentrate for a maximum of about 100 continuous minutes before needing to take a quick break and starting another session. “ Focus@will’s content supposedly helps to steer the user toward a “concentration flow state and then [toward] sustaining focus during habituation phases.” While presently, there is no additional scientific elaboration on how Focus@will’s researchers conjured these playlists of productivity-supportive songs, an entire collegiate market could be coming after invites if private beta testing bodes well.
Anyone can request to be part of the private beta by filling out the form here.
Kira is an old school music nerd with a love for all things creative; always searching for music’s common ground. She graduated with an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. Drop her a tweet @shadowmelody1
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