GUEST BLOGGER: ELISABETH TORRES, COLLEGE HILL MARKETING INTERN + STUDENT AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, PULLMAN, WA

Hey, Lizzie here! I'm a marketing intern at College Hill and I'm here to share my top 4 favorite music genres for working out and studying. The first two are for gym jams and the second two are for studying.

Music is such a great outlet for people to express themselves. I've learned to love so many different types of music throughout my life. The first artist that really inspired me was Shakira. Her music gave me confidence and inspired my love for music at the age of 8. I still remember shaking my hips to her songs! It was such a good outlet to express how I was feeling.

Today, as a twenty-something college student, music plays a big role in determining my daily moods. When I’m happy, I like to listen to J. Balvin or early 2000s R&B. If it's a stressful day and I really need to destress, I listen to classical or jazz music - both help me stay focused and relaxed.

Apple Music is my favorite application for listening to music. Occasionally, I like to add new music to my library, but it can actually be pretty difficult to find new music. Listening to the Essential albums provided by Apple Music is a great way to discover new music! Not only is it a mix of music from the same genre, but it's always being updated with new songs.

Whether you're looking to destress or get hyped up, I guarantee you'll find something new you love when you check out my top 4 favorite genres for working out or studying.

WORK OUT MUSIC

1. Urban Latino / Latin Pop

I love listening to Latin music because I grew up listening to it, but this subset of Latin music was new to me. It has become my favorite genre to listen to when I wake up, or when I want to feel positive, dance or work out.

I recommend checking out the following artists during your next work out: J. Balvin, Bad Bunny, Rosalia, Maluma

2. R&B

Early 2000s R&B and today’s R&B are both great genres to listen to when working out. Recently, Jhené Aiko dropped a new album, Chilombo. She falls under the R&B genre. R&B is well known as a "vibe" type of music, so it really helps promote calmness, positivity and a relaxed mood - perfect for a good work out. This may be something you put on during yoga versus an intense treadmill run!

Some of my favorites: Khalid, Jhené Aiko, Kehlani, H.E.R., Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown and so many more

STUDY MUSIC

3. Classical

I have always believed that listening to music that you don’t know all the words to helps you stay focused - most of the time, it works for me! Classical music is a genre that helps me keep my focus during studying or finishing up last minute homework. I'm a big fan of piano, violin and symphony sounds. It's so nice to have a moment during crazy days to just listen.

Some of my favorites: Jean-Michel Blais, Menahem Pressler

4. Jazz / Soul

The one and only Nina Simone has inspired my love for the piano and jazz. Jazz is such a nice studying genre when sitting in a coffee shop or, in my case, my favorite bar! Right now, it's at home. The strong piano, the occasional saxophone and soothing vocals are just amazing. Listening to jazz is a great way to stay focused, but if jazz hasn’t always been a go-to for you, I recommend starting with older jazz first. Ease your way into the newer stuff!

Some of my favorites: Nina Simone, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra