Every semester, the Graduate College assembles a Finals Study Playlist to keep you rocking during your study sessions. For this installment, we're featuring a guest contributor: John Moist, Communications Specialist at the University of Illinois Graduate College.
I blinked, and another semester was almost gone! It's no easy time of year to be a graduate student. We've got seminar papers to write, reports to compile, papers to grade, and personal lives to attend to. While it might feel counterintuitive, taking moments in those chaotic times to focus on meeting our needs can help us recharge, refresh, and find the resilience to tackle challenges. My refuge has always been music. I grew up in a house filled with it: jazz tapes with coffee, classical radio on Sunday mornings, rock CDs with Saturday cleaning, and funk records with the dishes. Music's wide and beautiful diversity is its greatest asset. No matter the space we're in, no matter what's surrounding us, there's always something to listen to. Maybe you've felt this in your life too: those moments when music captures a mood more perfectly than words ever could. In that spirit, I've compiled a list of some study session favorites to keep your toes tapping while you get things done.
When it's time to lock in, I go to music that's funky, groovy, and propulsive. I'm a member of the "rhythm section" myself, so my favorites here are driven by catchy bass lines, tight drum grooves, and beats that make you want to move. I've kept the list focused on instrumentals, in case you're like me and struggle to concentrate when listening to music with lyrics. I'd recommend dancing along, if possible–though you might want to make that call for yourself based on your surroundings. I hope you find a new favorite here, or at least get some motivation to keep moving.
Feel like spinning these tunes later? You can find the playlist anytime on our Graduate College Spotify page.
John Moist is the Communications Specialist for the Graduate College. He holds degrees from Mount Aloysius College ('14), Baylor University ('17), and the University of Illinois (PhD, '22). His academic research examines the digital world's impact on our ideas of work and community. In his spare time, he enjoys making music, teaching public speaking, playing board games, drinking espresso, and watching movies. He lives in Champaign, Illinois with his wife Kaitlyn and their cat Mildred.
