With many colleges going through midterm exams, and with finals rapidly approaching, it’s best to start preparing now. For most people, preparing means cracking down on their studies and going over their notes. For others, it means revamping their study playlist, weeding out the songs that didn’t work so well the last time around and adding some new tunes to give their brains a boost. Not a lot of people find it productive to listen to classical music, so as an alternative, here are six artists that I believe are a must-have in studying playlists.

1.) Sleeping At Last

Singer-songwriter Ryan O’Neal has written many incredible melodies, most of which are soothing, calming, and on the quieter side of things. More often than not, if you watch Grey’s Anatomy, you’ve heard his work play in the background. Sleeping at Last has recorded multiple covers as well as many originals, with both vocals and instrumentals. This is a definite artist in my lists!

Songs to Note: Atlantic // I’ll Keep You Safe // Hearing

2.) 2CELLOS

As the name suggests, 2CELLOS consists of…two guys playing cellos. It sounds classical, but most of their music is a classical spin on popular pieces from today’s music charts. If you’re a fan of studying to classical music and current hits, 2CELLOS blends those two genres together beautifully for the perfect addition to any studying list.

Songs to Note: The Trooper (Overture) // Human Nature // Every Breath You Take // Smooth Criminal

3.) ThePianoGuys

Another group that puts a classical spin on modern day music, ThePianoGuys is a duet group of pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson. They travel the globe shooting incredible music videos to accompany their masterpieces. Another amazing group to include in your study sessions!

Songs to Note: Bring Him Home // Pictures at an Exhibition // Peponi (Paradise)

4.) Keaton Henson

Henson, a wonderfully melancholy British singer-songwriter, has a lot of beautiful vocalized pieces, and has recently dabbled in instrumentals as shown on his album Romantic Works.

Songs to Note: You // Petrichor // Elevator Song

5.) The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars, in my opinion, really became known when they were featured in Taylor Swift’s “Safe and Sound” track from the first Hunger Games movie, as well as with their own song on the CD as well. The male/female duet is eerily calming and their voices just mesh together so beautifully that you can’t help but feel at ease listening to them.

Songs to Note: Poison and Wine // Kingdom Come // Dust to Dust

6.) You+Me

Alecia Moore, or more commonly known as her pop title P!nk, takes a break from her typical work and partners with Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green (also known as City and Colour) to produce a single, beautiful album.

Songs to Note: You and Me // Capsized // No Ordinary Love

All of these artists and more are available on iTunes and Spotify. Happy studying!