Mark Henderson answered
It really depends on how you learn and your levels of concentration. Some people believe music can help them do their homework whereas others do not.
Personally I find it difficult to concentrate when I'm listening to music, especially if it's one of my favourite songs with a catchy melody.
However I do find listening to classical music beneficial to my concentration. For some reason this form of music tends to relax me and focuses my mind.
- Your favourite songs will not help you concentrate as these will stimulate memory recall, making it harder for you to concentrate on the task.
- Quiet background music can help some people learn.
- I find it difficult to learn with music unless it is quiet classical music.
Personnel Preference!
Ultimately it all comes down to personal choice and what you feel most comfortable with. If you can't stand sitting alone in silence doing your work, then put some background music on to stimulate your mind. But be careful of catchy pop songs as these will make it harder for you to focus. In contrast, some people perform remarkably better when they work in complete silence!