I get asked a lot about the type of music that might help or interfere with learning.  This article suggests that playing music and other medium level sounds in art class may help to boost creativity.  However, music with acoustic variation interfered with working memory tasks like mental math.  Also, songs with lyrics interfered with semantic tasks, like reading comprehension.  Smells also seem to matter.  For example, rosemary aromas improved memory and lavendar aromas impaired both memory and reaction times.

Senses and Learning by Catherine de Lange