does music affect how well we concentrate?

Answer 1

Simple answer, "Yes".

Music has a very direct affect on our brain and body.

It affects the brain by influencing the predominant brain wave frequency (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Theta) and affects the body by influencing how relaxed or tense we are.

If you want to concentrate, when you have something to learn, or you're solving a complicated problem, for example, your best choice is to be relaxed but alert, and for your brain to be generating mainly Alpha waves.

Baroque music is particularly appropriate for the beats per minute (most pieces have three "movements", of which the second movement is usually based on 60 beats per minute - more or less ideal for stimulating alpha waves). In addition the music tends to be self-contained - it has a clear start, middle, and an ending which returns to the start.

Modern music (from Beethoven onwards), on the other hand, tends to have a start, middle and end where the end may have nothing to do with the start, so there is no "closure".
In addition, most pop music is design to either excite the listener, or to chill out to. The first is too fast (and often erratic) for effective concentration, whilst the second is usually too slow (and often as erratic as the faster stuff). So in both cases, no closure, which also helps to create tension and stress which exclude effective concentration.

Answer 2

i think music helps us relax and live naturally, therefore be able to absorb information better, which is of course what they don't want.