You see it all the time, people running outside and working out at the gym with headphones on. They don’t only want to look cool, they just know that music makes working out significantly better!
So, why wouldn’t you take the same approach when working out your mind?
Coding is the ultimate mind exercise, it involves extreme attention to detail and a whole lot of critical thinking. Listening to music can greatly help, with its ability to motivate and relax the mind, it’s the perfect companion for coding.
Next time you’re working on a coding project here are 9 songs to get you “in the zone.”
Halo Theme – Martin O’ Donnell
There are many variations of this song, but the Halo 2 menu screen is iconic. The chants in this song are especially helpful during those intense coding situations.
Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat) – The Immortals
The Immortals became, well, immortal, with their 1999 techno hit. Try listening to this song the next time you’re working on your video game.
Go Robot – The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sometimes coding requires you to be one with the computer in order to find your flow.
Funkentelechy – Parliament
Bernie Worrell’s galactic synth combined with Bootsy Collins’ space blaster-like bass make this song a powerful weapon against the coding blues.
Spaceship Earth Theme
The score to this iconic EPCOT attraction evokes images of evolving technology and makes us realize our place as coders, in the history of communication.
Halcyon On and On – Orbital
This song starts off slow and eventually comes to an uplifting beat perfect for putting together long sequences. The vocal tracks have an almost soothing effect, which can help during stressful times behind the keyboard.
Derezzed from Tron Legacy Soundtrack – Daft Punk
If you’ve ever stared at the screen so long you felt like you were going to fall in, you’re probably a coder. If you’ve ever actually fallen into the computer, then you’re a member of the Flynn family.
Love Game – Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga knows how to make a catchy song, and once this beat enters your brain, you’ll be inspired to take your coding to crazy new levels of creativity.
Master of Puppets – Metallica
Whether you’re changing the layout of a website, programming a robot, or animating a sprite for a video game, one fact remains; you are the master! Master!
Music tastes vary, so of course what works with some people won’t with others. But that’s one of the great things about coding, we’re all inspired by different aspects of life to begin learning. Try listening to a wide variety of music, that way you’re guaranteed to have a full arsenal of songs for tackling any coding problems you have in the future.
Ready to be part of the movement to get kids coding? From computer science majors at top universities to industry veterans at companies like Netflix or Apple, we’re always on the lookout for great coders to coach our students. Are you looking for an amazing, rewarding experience? Do you have some coding chops? Then maybe you have a Code Coach® inside you. Check out our 
While we’ve never believed that static curriculums are a good way to learn computer science, some folks just need straight tutoring help for their AP Comp Sci course. Usually reserved for high school students taking (or soon taking) AP Comp Sci, our AP Tutor branch consists of tutoring our students straight down the line with the standard AP Comp Sci curriculum, typically in Java. Our AP Tutor branch is best taught in our private 1:1 Code Coaching® program.
Artificial Intelligence is all the rage these days. The technology behind
As many professional coders know, data is what runs the world these days. From Google to Wikipedia, from maps to shopping, it’s the data underneath that supports all this technology. Programming in data manipulation is just like it sounds – lots of numbers! Because of that, this branch tends to target more advanced kids who aren’t afraid of a lot of math, numbers, and algorithmic coding. We may teach data in any language from Python to Scratch, and for more advanced kids, we may move into SQL databases.
Can you believe the first iPhone was released by Steve Jobs in 2007? A few short years later, almost everyone has a smartphone. Our Mobile Branch teaches kids how to create and design apps and websites for the phone. Technologies used may include 
Ever wonder how they make those 3D platform games? Well, it ain’t easy! Our 3D Games Branch will expose kids to the basics of programming in 3D with platforms like 
Algorithms form the basis of all coding, and in a nutshell are basically the logical processes that a computer follows to perform a task. Basic algorithms are everywhere, starting with our students’ first program that repeats a loop 10 times. More complex algorithms are like logic puzzles, and can be tough for even the most seasoned coders. While algorithms are in all projects we create, we may also use algorithm-specific tools like 
From robots to mini-computers, having a physical, tangible product is bound to engage kids at all levels. With platforms like 
Games are for everyone! Whether we’re talking battle games, social games, or platform games, our Code Coaches® can help students create something fun and playable. Gaming+ covers a wide range of skill levels, from easy games in Scratch to harder games using platforms like 
Everything runs on the web these days, so website development has become a crucial (and useful) skill. Our students use Javascript, HTML, and CSS to create their own webpages, which can be hosted on our servers. While our more novice students begin with straight forward web pages, our advanced Web Dev students might make dynamic websites, using databases or server-side components like PHP or node.js. Our platform of choice depends on our staff, but might range from simple tools like 
Our Tech Talks aren’t directly related to heads down coding but instead focus on higher level topics like how the internet works, Internet Safety (required for all our students), or just understanding technology at a high level. From quantum computing to map directions, students can be exposed to these technologies, learning how they shape our lives. Tech Talks are less about the detailed coding, and more about understanding high-level concepts.
Like any skill, coding requires a strong foundation. The roots of our Coder Tree® provide the core logic and fundamental coding skills upon which all coding is built. While much of our Foundation is taught by creating projects in