Reading and music

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 31 May 2013 5:37 pm

Here is a little topic of discussion for you:

I find that when I am reading, especially for pleasure (my passion is American Literature, both fiction and poetry), I find it difficult to have music playing in the background as I read. I need to have no distractions.

My girlfriend MUST have something playing in the background when she reads: usually some really horrible tv show. But something has to be playing in the background, or she can't concentrate on the book.

So THAT got me thinking: do we have a two tier society: those that read with music (noise/sound/tv/whatever) and those that need the background of silence as they read.

Which are you?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 31 May 2013 6:33 pm

I love questions like this, Bill. I'm always fascinated with how the mind works, "state-dependent learning", and so on.
I can read any time, in fact I have a book in the car for long traffic lights, and read in the line at the Post Office.
But I prefer quiet to really get into it. Some reading is study for me, recording and engineering manuals, etc. But I save the stuff I really want to enjoy for bedtime.
Bliss.

Michael Maddex · Post by **Michael Maddex** » 31 May 2013 6:42 pm

Since you asked, I am an avid reader and being here obviously a music lover. I am usually uncomfortable trying to do more than one thing at a time. If I'm reading, I like to read. If I'm listening to music, I like to listen. If I'm working on a project, I like to work. I do not like background music. I can not stand television. I'm in my mid-sixties and I have never owned a TV. If I'm playing music, I like to play, either with myself or with others, but not with canned backup.

Along these lines, to me, 'multi-tasking' is a twenty-first century word for 'scatter-brained'. Just my own cranky two cents worth.

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 31 May 2013 6:43 pm

I can't read or, really, get any kind of work done with music in the background. It's distracting to me.

I have found one thing I can do while listening to music.I have one of those postage stamp sized iPods and when I work in the garden I realized that, once I've decided to weed that bed over there, my need for thinking is pretty much complete. So I can happily go at it with my hori-hori (world's greatest garden tool)clip my little iPod to my shirt collar,and listen to the music while I weed!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 31 May 2013 7:16 pm

I do a lot of reading, as its my full-time job. When I am on the job, I listen to a lot of music--maybe 4-6 hours/day.

When I am reading about music, which is very often, I like to listen to music related to it. For instance, if I am reading a book written by Schoenberg or, as is the case at the moment, Peter Schat, I like to have his music available. I read a Paul Bley biography recently and almost always had some of his music playing. I try to match the truth of the music with what I am reading. Who am I to believe, the music or a biographer?

When I am reading for pleasure or non-music related stuff, I like quiet.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 31 May 2013 7:35 pm

I'm not fond of "background music." Most of what I listen to is fairly serious, and I want to listen to it. The only exception is if I'm doing something physical, working on guitars or something. 22 frets = 44 fret ends =88 fret corners, thank goodness for rock 'n' roll. But I'm militant about my abstinence from TV, 5 years in recovery now from the one-eyed monster. To me, it's really weird to go over to someone's house and the TV is blaring along and you ask them "What are you watching?" And their eyes go blank for a second, they actually have to look at it for the first time, and they say "Oh, isn't this stupid? I can't believe they have this crap on..."

But they don't go turn it off!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 31 May 2013 8:20 pm

I can't have music on when I'm reading or trying to concentrate on anything. It's very distracting, and I have to shut it off. I can "think" best in total silence. I know it's not like that for everyone... when I was in high school (many years ago!) I had a friend who was an A student and class president, and she always did her homework with music playing in the background. I could never understand that.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 31 May 2013 10:22 pm

Mike, if you really crave an adventure, try a mixed menu- Brian Priestly on Charles Mingus with some Kid Rock, Charles Townsend's tome on Bob Wills with Quadrophenia, or my personal favorite, Erik Tawaststjerna's bio of Jean Sibelius with some vintage Tiny Tim. Brainmelt!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 1 Jun 2013 4:55 am

I have to have music, usually instrumental, playing all the time, no matter what I'm doing, or my brain plays something for me. Soft jazz or new age works best for reading.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 1 Jun 2013 7:58 am

I prefer silence. As far as TV, it has become the new radio… $:\$

Ulrich Sinn · Post by **Ulrich Sinn** » 1 Jun 2013 9:21 am

There is nothing better that reading along with the music I'm listening to.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 1 Jun 2013 10:49 am

I'm a very slow reader, maybe ten pages per day, or better night, in my in bed. I read Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" and it took me about two months to finish. I don't listen to music while I read, because it detracts me.
But there's one book which I wouldn't recommend for nightime reading:
It is by James Ellroy called "White Jazz". It's a crime story about the falling apart of a Mexican community in LA amongst other things. There's a record by Ry Cooder called "Chavez Ravine" which was the name of the area. I would like to hear that one.

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 1 Jun 2013 8:37 pm

If I have any music playing when I read I usually pay more attention to the music than what Im reading so it dont work out for me either.

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 2 Jun 2013 7:47 am

Interesting timing to view this thread for me. I just pulled up Bob Taillefer's new posts on YouTube and decided to look at the forum at the same time. Can't do it. I will have to listen later.

I cannot focus on reading if there is music in the background. The music takes my focus. My day job keeps me on airplanes a lot and it's a perfect time for listening. Apple and good noise canceling headphones are the ticket!!! At my work, if there is music coming from my office, everyone knows I am not working at the moment.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 3 Jun 2013 8:14 pm

If I am reading and there is music playing in the background, I will stop reading and listen to the music. I no longer have music playing while I am driving. I find myself analyzing the concept of the music and who is doing what with their instruments in the background. The radio can be blaring away with someone talking; however, I can listen to it and drive without being distracted. Music however, I have to listen to it intensely.