Music while reading?

[mono]

Hello, everyone. I ask merely a trivial question out of curiosity. Do you enjoy listening to music while reading? Why or why not? If yes, what kinds of music?

I can read either way, but often enjoy light background music - usually classical; something without lyrics seems best for me. Nothing feels better than curling up with my cats and reading a good book with coffee or tea while listening to Vivaldi, Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, or Grieg.

[Avalive]

When I read(well,I must confess I hardly read novels) I don't really listen to music, once I read one I will focus on it naturally. However music always turns me on while I try to write something. Music is the god-given Muse to my writing.

[ajoe]

If I read and listen to music at the same time I'm going to end up just listening to the music. Once I tried instrumental instead of lyrical music, but I paid attention more to the music anyway.

[Monica]

I almost always read while listening to the music, but I don't think there's much sense in it (for me anyway) cos when I listen to the music I like to pay attention to the lyrics. I usually listen to U2, R.E.M., ELO or TOTO.

[Prof]

2004.09.28 23;10(gmt+2)

As I do not own either a television or radio, it follows that whenever I read, it is in "silence." Once in a while I shall not mind lending an ear to Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, or Frank Sinatra. And no, it is not peculiar, as I neither attend the cinema, which allows me more time to read!

Prof.

[crisaor]

Most of the times, I do, but after I read a few pages, I tend to lose myself in the reading and pay very little or no attention to the music. I listen to whichever CD is on the player, but I find jazz (particularly Miles Davis) to work perfectly well for this function.

[JediFonger]

i know this is gonna sound weird but i was listening to boyz ii men's II album & mariah carey music box album when i read star trek prime directive, federation (by the garfiends) and their shatner collaborations. strangely enough whenever i hear those same albums i always think of the stories and the feelings that those series of book invoke in me. =).

[Scheherazade]

I usually don't listen to music when I read as I end up concentrating on listening rather than reading but *sigh* if I am really enjoying what I am reading, I sometimes try to find a music in my head -I know it is all in my head - to go nicely with the story... Like in a film, kind of a sound track. Where does this leave me? :idea:

[Qwinto]

Can't listen to music, while reading. Just can't concentrate.
Furthermore, I can't enjoy reading even if I'm not alone in my room :)

[crisaor]

i know this is gonna sound weird but i was listening to boyz ii men's II album & mariah carey music box album when i read star trek prime directive, federation (by the garfiends) and their shatner collaborations. strangely enough whenever i hear those same albums i always think of the stories and the feelings that those series of book invoke in me. =).
Sheer terror? ;)

[nocturnus]

'Can't listen to music, while reading. Just can't concentrate.
Furthermore, I can't enjoy reading even if I'm not alone in my room'

Yes, I find I'm like this aswell. Although reading helps to shut everyone/everything out when I'm riding public transport or the like. I think the only time I'm not listening to music is when I'm reading.

'to go nicely with the story... Like in a film, kind of a sound track. Where does this leave me? '

hopefully not in the ninth symphony ;P

[trismegistus]

Give me quiet or give me death.

[nocturnus]

Music is my silence :)

[amuse]

your reply: what a treasure.

[bjortan]

Try reading to these then:
Miles Davis - In A Silent Way
Einstürzende Neubauten - Silence Is Sexy
Van Morrison - Hymns To The Silence

Me, I can hardly do anything without music. Some of my best reading experiences have been enhanced by finding just the right music to go along with it. Try reading "American Psycho" while blaring Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" or one of Sonic Youth's weirder records... and count yourself lucky if you make it out alive.

[ajoe]

Music is my silence :)

Silence is my music.

[Koa]

NO...i can't read and listen to music at the same time cos they both require all of my attention...if I'm reading, music disturbs me cos I start paying attention to that... I only listen to music when I'm reading a book I dont like (for studies or because im forcing mysefl to get to the end of something i dont like), but I dont focus on either of that...

[subterranean]

my fav compilation is Orwell's and Radiohead's ..

[Jester]

I end up swaying or moving or getting distracted when not listening to music, when I am the only thing about me that even notices the music is my feet... tapping tapping, listening to bob marley right now... but silence is the most deafening noice I have ever experienced and one in which i simply can't handle endless periods of (endless being over a couple of hours)

[Deep Space Bass]

I actually listen to Van Morrison sometimes. He can really make a romantic scene even better (or ruin it, depending on the song).

However, I have this weird thing where I really like to listen to "The Who" when I read Ulysses. Or "The Clash". It's very bizarre, but it works.

For any other books, I usually stick to Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Gershwin.

[Taliesin]

Actually, when reading something lighter, I used to play a bit recorder myself. Not some great symphony or suchlike, but snatches of some beautiful pieces of music (for exampe Solveig's song or a theme from Godfather) I could do it half-automatically so it didn't bother reading.
Pity to say, but I don't do it much anymore. The reason is that I tend to read books in english which takes greater concentration than reading in estonian. Also I have been playing more flute than recorder so that my recorder-playing skills are not so high as they used to be.

Sometimes I listen to music when reading and sometimes not. When the music has words (especially when they have a deep meaning) it is harder to concentrate so I prefer instrumental.

[BSturdy]

Hey Scheherazade surely you can listen to a bit of Rimsky-Korsakof while reading!

Generally: If you want something unobtrusive to read to try 'Discreet Music' by Brian Eno. Doctors found it to be very helpfull for womens breathing during childbirth and he was asked to do a special version for hospitals! The power of music is a fascinating area that is only beginning to be truly appreciated - there was a program about this on radio 4 recently. Check out www.agogcreative.com - only plugging them because I had one of their cd's (a triple cd called Ohm:The Early Pioneers of Electronic Music) and cd1 got so scratched that it wouldn't play. I emailed them and although it was out of stock they sent me a burned copy, free, all the way from New York. Nice to be reminded that there are some good folks out there in the world!

[Scheherazade]

Hey BSturdy!

I save Rimsky for more special occasions and relaxed times when I can truly enjoy his music :p

[mono]

Rimsky-Korsakof always sounds good. Besides my favorites I listed earlier, lately I have listened to Debussy and Bizet.

[den]

BSturdy, I didn't know that about Eno's Discreet Music, that they wanted to use it in hospitals. cool.

I can't read with much noise of anything going on it's just too distracting to me.

[BSturdy]

Eno did produce an extended version for hospitals. I met him once at a party but was unfortunately a bit tongue tied

I don't have a problem with reading to music - often get distracted anyway. The big smoke gets pretty noisy

Recently looked after 2 kittens for friends - performed the musical 'kitten test':

The Kittens loved (ran around chasing each other having fun etc..in vicinity of the speakers) - Talking Heads, Beethoven, Provokiev, Chopin, Tenzor (& various other Russian electronic stuff), Hendrix, Kraftwerk, various Dub Reggae, Steve Reich (Six piano's)

I must report that I was rather dissapointed that the Kittens continued gamboling happily when a friend of mine called round and changed the music to some boring formulaic house sh1t with all the originality of a mills and boon plot - I decided against withholding the kittens food or using aversion therapy for personal reasons (I'm soft)

The Kittens hated (cowered together downstairs by the front door) - Stockhausen, John Cage, some other godawful academic w*nk that I shamefully own

The results were not as conclusive as I would have liked as kitten time was limited to four days

[mono]

A friend recently introduced me to by far the most peculiar music I have ever heard: John Zorn. After listening to his work a few times, I find a mysterious, random beauty about it, though it seems hardly reading music, due to its odd distraction. Has anyone else heard?

[Jock Gestapo]

Hey, I've just joined the forum as from what I've seen there is nothing but interesting discussion. Nice to 'meet' you all.

Personally I find it varies whether or not I can listen to music whilst reading. The concentration issue is certainly a factor me me sometimes as well but often I find that music enhances the experience I have when I'm reading a good book.

I usually find that really atmospheric music works the best. Whether its from punk rock bands such as Sonic Youth, Page 99 and Godspeed You! Black Emperor or even progressive hip hop like Clouddead and Tes.

So long as its music with a lot of personality then its usually adds to the experience rather than distracts from it.

[Jay]

Hey JG, welcome :D.

I have to listen to music while reading, I can concentrate better on what I'm reading if there's something playing in the background, preferably music on headphones. What/whom I'm listening to depends on what I'm reading, changes all the time though. When in library I spot a book I've read I always remember what music I was listening to while reading it. Though this not applies for study stuff as I re-read it (or I'm trying to ;) ), and if I remember, it's what I had been listening to the first time I read it.

[subterranean]

I
However, I have this weird thing where I really like to listen to "The Who" when I read Ulysses. Or "The Clash". It's very bizarre, but it works.
.


Tell me, how's Ulysses works fine with The Who's stuffs

I really like to know :)

[ParanoidAndroid]

Hey, I've been reading some books. I mean yeah, I've been reading for many years, but I kinda like t oread with music.

So these are the books/plays and the certains songs I relate them to:

A Farewell to Arms (Hemingway) - Cavatina (latin guiatar tune)

Lord of the Flies (William Golding) - The End (by the Doors)

Romeo and Juliet - Talk Show Host and Exit Music for a Film by RADIOHEAD!!! :banana:

1984 (George Orwell) - 2+2=5 by Radiohead. Sit down/Stand up by Radihohead. :banana:

Anyone out there as weird as me? :banana:

[Logos]

Very interesting, this concept has never crossed my mind before. I will have to think about this!

[Helga]

I actually listened to David Gray: white ladder, as I read A Farewell to arms... now when I listen to the cd I hear sentences from the book in my head...

[baddad]

Have to heartily agree with your choice for Hemingway (now its playing in my head) and simply love your choice of Jimmy Morrison's 'The End' for 'Lord of the Flies'

Great stuff Para!! Does this mean that some of us are weird?.......NAH!!!

[wanderlust_ox]

It's hard for me to read when I'm listening to music. It's really distracting. Blind Guardian made a whole album inspired and based upon the Silmarillion. It's a really good album. I love it.

[mono]

Being a big listener to both classical music and alternative rock, I guess it often depends on my mood, the piece of literature I read, and whatever CD/tape/vinyl I happened to have nearby, but a few that come to mind:

poetry by E.E. Cummings - any piano work by Claude Debussy (sporadic),
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri - "Third Suite" by Johann Sebastian Bach,
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - "Eugene Onegin" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (yes, I know, I have not read the work by Pushkin yet :p),
poetry by Emily Dickinson - "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber (one of the most touching pieces of music I have ever heard),
Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence - "First Symphony" by Frederic Chopin,
poetry by Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning - "Life With You" by Mono (how ironic :)),
poetry by Edgar Allan Poe - "My Weakness" by Moby,
poetry by Sylvia Plath - "Everything In Its Right Place" by Radiohead,
Paradise Lost by John Milton - "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi.

More will probably come to mind eventually.
How interesting to think about!

[Taliesin]

There is a connection between the first Farseer book and a song "Nobody knows" by Urb brothers to us. The other Farseer books associate (is this correct spelling?) with Dagö (an Estonian half-etno/folk band with extremely deep lyrics)
There are surely other connections, we must think about it.

[Koa]

I just can't help thinking of Killing An Arab by The Cure in relation to Camus' L'étranger, but that's because the song is actually about the book... Not really imaginative of me...

[Mark F.]

I have trouble reading and listening to music at the same time, I usually end up getting to the bottom of my page and realizing I don't know what I just read cause I was thinking about the song's lyrics. On the other hand I do like listening to music when I write.

[Logos]

Hello MarkF, welcome to the Lit Network. :)

I'd have to say that I too have a hard time reading whilst there is much of anything going on in the background like noise, music etc.

[Koa]

Well same for me, I can't concentrate on reading if there's music on...

[wanderlust_ox]

I have trouble reading and listening to music at the same time, I usually end up getting to the bottom of my page and realizing I don't know what I just read cause I was thinking about the song's lyrics. On the other hand I do like listening to music when I write.
I completely agree with you. It's really distracting when reading and listening to music. I can't her my thoughts.

[Zooey]

poetry by Emily Dickinson - "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber (one of the most touching pieces of music I have ever heard) That's a really interesting mix of old Americana- and I really like it, the more I think about it.

I have two things I listen to when I read (they've becoming so familiar that it's soothing, and not distracting)- Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite, or the Second Movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, depending on my mood.

[mono]

I have two things I listen to when I read (they've becoming so familiar that it's soothing, and not distracting)- Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite, or the Second Movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, depending on my mood.
Very nice choices, Zooey; I could listen to Ludwig von Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" over and over again.
How pleasant to see another admirer of classical music on the forum! :)

[Mistress Babs]

I agree with Mark F. about music and reading. I like classical music, especially opera, and these do not make good "wall paper" to read by.

[silygirl35]

I know this probably sounds wierd but I like to have some music playing while i'm reading, especially if it is a magazine or something. To me it kind of blocks all the other distracting noises going on in the background. My favorite thing to listen to lately is the original cast recording of Rent. I think the songs are so good. Let me know if you listen to anything.

[RobinHood3000]

Well, I probably don't read as much as I should lately, but when I do, it's usually something orchestral or instrumental that I can't sing along to and get distracted with--movie soundtracks usually do nicely, and there's almost always one for every tone and mood.

I also like to listen to music when I write, as it helps me settle into the proper emotional range that helps inspire me. For example, when writing something sci-fi/fantasy, I'll switch on a Fantasy/Technological playlist that includes the themes from such movies as Hook and Terminator; if I need to switch gears to something dramatic, such songs as the theme to The Princess Bride and Glory of Love by Peter Cetera can help. And for electrifying action--Highway to the Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins, among many others (also good for a workout mix!!) does the trick.

[Mortis Anarchy]

When I read/write it can be anything really. Most of the time its Radiohead or Muse. When I write, it depends on my mood and the tone of the writing. So it really does vary. Write now its skindred and Vivaldi...its a cd mix.

[Aurora Ariel]

I dislike playing music while I'm reading a long book, as I find it to be too distracting, but I don't mind it if I'm just online or before I write something.
I am often highly stimulated, and roused from a slumbering time by listening to music, and find that I may end up writing alot as a result.It can change one's mood, and make me contemplate more if I'm currently uninspired.
I mainly listen to classical(Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Shumman, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, and Saint-Saens count as favourites), and like the effect it has.There is a song(whether classical or other) for every feeling possible, and it can assist when I want to be tranquil or extend my creative writing.And many times I have found myself wanting to go and play my piano, and compose some new music after listening to an especially enchanting piece.
It helps quite a bit with many areas of thought.

[rhei_27]

I like music as well as reading books. I sometimes like reading while listening to music but sometimes i dislike doing it. It depends upon the music I'm listening to...I don't read any book if I'm listening to hard rock or alternative rock music. I always get distracted...I like slow, melow or instrumental music when I'm reading..sometimes I also prefer classical music but that makes me sleepy...

But there are times that I don't like doing both at the same time...I makes me lose my focus and makes me discombobulate...

[Kaltrina]

yep I like music while reading, but when I read novels I either listen to soundtrack so I don't sing along just like Robin said or I listen to something soft like Celine Dion... and I really love listening music when I am studying, but in those times I usually listen to the radio because I like the surprises, I can hear songs there that I never heard before and I don't sing along or I can hear a song that I like very much and make a little break from studying... ;)

[Nightshade]

well I play music but truth is I never even hear it if Im reading I never herar anything when Im reading I get so ingrossed in the story.

:D

[Pensive]

Sometimes I listen to music while reading a novel, it depends on the novel actually. If it is a heavy read, I don't listen to music that time.

[emily655321]

I usually listen to the radio or some alternative rock, but I'm the same as Nightshade, I don't hear the music while I'm reading. Right now I'm listening to the news on the radio, but I think I'll switch it because I haven't heard a word they're saying. :p I usually listen to music, though, just as background noise. I'll get distracted if it goes away, but also if it's something I can't help paying attention to. For instance, I almost never listen to classical music while reading/writing, because it's too mentally involving; I get drawn into the music and away from my reading. My ideal reading music is Celtic music, or pop music that has a soothing melody and easy-to-ignore vocals.

[Pantelej]

While reading i prefer either clasical (Tchaykovsky, Schubert, Liszt)or
slower music, evrything else is disturbing (while reading).

[Frappuccino]

I sometimes listen to calm music, like jazz, when im reading. Usually, though, I don't listen to music when im reading.

[IzzY]

i cant listen to music while reading at all. it makes me zone out and completly forget about the book.

[Connor]

i can listen to music and read at the same time

[Gnarly Guy]

I listen to music sometimes.

[mono]

Like Aurora Ariel and Pantelej, I often prefer classical music, if any music at all, while reading. Choices may range somewhere between Chopin, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Wagner, Bach, Vivaldi, Barber, or Liszt.
Now and then, I will listen to a good alternative rock band, however, like Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Travis, or many, many others. Often the background lyrics will make me read slower or require some clarification, which seems why I usually stick with classical music, but it depends on my mood, the book, etc.

[Vampire Kari]

I always listen to music as I read. Mostly something by Beethoven or Tchaikovsky. Musical cast-recordings like the Phantom of the Opera or the Woman in White work too. I just like listening to music that will calm me down as I read.

[Mortis Anarchy]

GO VIVALDI!(Chopin can come to.)

[Wendigo_49]

I don't listen to music while reading because all of my attention goes to the story.

[guitarwhispers]

For me, certain music just completely distracts me and I can't focus on the book and other music is great for background, especially when studying. I actually just found this new compilation CD ("Eclectic Cafe") that I've been reading to a lot. It's meant for coffee houses, so I guess that's why it's good for this type of this. It has lyrics (which I usually don't like) but it was actually really easy to just hear the whole song in the background and not focus on the lyrics. Some of the people on it are Moby, Theivery Corporation, Aimee Mann, Echo & the Bunnymen and then a bunch of lesser known artists with equally as good songs. I got the copy as an advance from my co-worker at UMGD and the website says it won't be out until June 20, but I would definitely recommend checking it out when the time comes around. {snip} Anyway, anyone else have other music suggestions to read/study to?

[cosmos..33]

Any type of classical.

My favorite composers:

Rachmaninoff
Dvorak
Chopin
Vivaldi
Liszt
Tchaikovsky

And stuff from the Middle Ages, recorded by groups like Sequentia and Anonymous 4.

[littleLindkvist]

The best reading music must be 'Sigur rós' and 'Under Byen'... it brings you to a new universe of sounds... giving away beautiful landscapes..

[grace86]

I like Vivaldi and Handel, but that is when I actually intentionally put music on while reading. Usually it is just the television :)

[mono]

Typically, adjusting to noisy roommates, I can cope with almost any background distractions.
Sometimes I will listen to music, and, when I do, I usually listen to something instrumental, such as classical music. Some of my favorites: Frédéric Chopin, Claude Debussy, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Edvard Grieg, Antonio Vivaldi, Richard Wagner, all of the Strauss family, Johann Sebastian Bach, Georges Bizet, and Samuel Barber.
Now and then, I can listen to alternative and mellow rock while reading, such as Radiohead, Travis, Björk, Coldplay, Tori Amos, Jewel, Apocalyptica, Smashing Pumpkins, Fiona Apple, etc.

[Stanislaw]

I usually listen to classical baroque (if its not...dont fix it...)
however, I don't mind enio morriccone, rob dougan, rob zombie, or sometimes the beatles (depends on my mood)

[Schokokeks]

I quite like music around me when I read or study. Being a great fan of movie soundtracks, I usually pick one from my CD-pile that matches my mood best (aggressive for maths revisions, soothing for reading romances, etc. :)). Additionally, I'd ardently favour allowing students to take their music with them when sitting exams. I once was, and it greatly distracted me from being nervous and helped me to concentrate.

[thevintagepiper]

I have to say the new Pride and Prejudice soundtrack is perfect for reading. It's almost too pretty...

[lavendar1]

When my community college Lit and Composition students either present favorite poetry or poetry they've written, I provide a prelude of Tom Waits' stuff. I've found it relaxes students, and contemporizes their work; plus, Tom's one cool dude.

[Lambert]

I listen to Kraftwerk, Gustav Holst, John Coltrane, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Boards Of Canada and Autechre's masterpiece 'Tri Repetae++'.

[amanda_isabel]

Any type of classical.

My favorite composers:

Rachmaninoff
Dvorak
Chopin
Vivaldi
Liszt
Tchaikovsky

And stuff from the Middle Ages, recorded by groups like Sequentia and Anonymous 4.


i agree. or anything instrumental---it works for me since i don't find myself singing along.

[Birdy123]

The best reading music must be 'Sigur rós' and 'Under Byen'... it brings you to a new universe of sounds... giving away beautiful landscapes..


I agree. Sigur Ros' Hoppipola (i think thats how its spelt) is a great song to listen to whilst reading, its really relaxing. :banana:

[groovewithjamie]

I have to say at the end of a long day there's nothing I enjoy more than curling up with a good book and putting on some relaxing music. I'm always looking for new reading music. The latest thing I've started listening to is this artist named Madeleine Peyroux. I heard her awhile ago at this little coffeeshop by my house and it's perfect for unwinding at the end of the day. My coworker at UMGD gave me a copy of her latest CD and it's been in my CD player ever since. She's got a beautiful voice. Anyone else heard of her?

[stlukesguild]

I might say that I am not overly fond of the notion of "reading music" for two reasons. In the first place it seemingly demotes the art of music to nothing more than an ambiant noise... aural wallpaper. In the second place, I find that it conflicts with my reading. Reading, to me, often involves a "musicality" of its own. I respond to the rhythm, the accents, the flow of an authors words. This is especially so when reading poetry. Having said this much... I will admit that I used music as an ambiant background for certain types of reading: that which I survey on the net, the news, certain light reading... or even more mechanical or scientific and less literary (less musical) readings. I usually prefer classical music... and something with which I am already familiar... something I have already "digested" several times. My current favorites include various instrumental pieces by Bach (including a recently purchased disc of his cello suites performed by Pierre Fournier), a lovely disc of Prokofiev suites performed by Mikhail Pletnov and Martha Argerich, the nocturnes by Faure and John Field (both beautiful recent discoveries), and lots of opera.

[aeroport]

I must concur with stlukesguild on just about every point. I remember, back in the day, putting on each new rock or popular music CD I purchased while reading, because it seemed to help me remember the music better. However, I tried this with my first Chopin CD (the nocturnes, it was) back when I was first discovering classical music and found that, afterwards, when hearing the music again, I would expect something to happen, because I would remember it from my reading/listening experiences, only to be thrown off upon discovering that what I remember was from a different area of the piece. This was especially annoying with Chopin, as there are really few exact repeats in his music, but there is lots of augmented and embellished repetition. Anyway, listenting to this while reading totally threw me off. With all of my favorite composers I find that, if I am going to play their music, I really must listen to it, and if I am to read, silence is really best. Wagner simply becomes annoying if one is not paying full attention, and likewise Mahler. Beethoven tends to grab me, if not at the beginning, then at the louder parts, and has a way of not letting go, so that doesn't work too well. Italian opera is probably alright, though, as one is generally doing everything one can not to pay too much attention anyway (:D )...
Perhaps the more "ambient" styles of music - the sort of business one hears on "Night Tides" - may better accomodate themselves to reading. I've not really tried that.

[Lucy Jordan]

I read "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" while listening to Puccini - Madame Butterfly. It's fun to have a whole theme going.

[mayneverhave]

Classical seems to work.

I had a good time reading As I Lay Dying by Faulkner while listening to the band As I Lay Dying

[Erichtho]

I prefer to have silence when I'm reading (although I certainly don't need it - I read often in public transport and in public buildings and have no problems with that), and I also dislike the thought of degrading music merely to a background noise. If I read or listen to music, I want to do it consciously.

[Weisinheimer]

Sometimes I put on some music while I'm reading, sometimes not. It depends on my mood. If I do put on some music, it's usually reggae, classical, or maybe some jazz.

[livelaughlove]

I *can* listen to music when I read, and sometimes I do, but usually I prefer to read to silence. That way, I'm not as easily distracted and can focus on what is going on in the book. :p But I'm not opposed to a little classical now and then... as long as it's soft and more of 'background music' than anything...

[teejay17]

Hello, everyone. I ask merely a trivial question out of curiosity. Do you enjoy listening to music while reading? Why or why not? If yes, what kinds of music?

I can read either way, but often enjoy light background music - usually classical; something without lyrics seems best for me. Nothing feels better than curling up with my cats and reading a good book with coffee or tea while listening to Vivaldi, Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, or Grieg.
I can't read with music on, I can't focus on the text; I like to give the text at hand 100% of my attention.
It's even worse with the TV on. There's no focusing then!

[Celine Field]

Hello, everyone. I ask merely a trivial question out of curiosity. Do you enjoy listening to music while reading? Why or why not? If yes, what kinds of music?

I can read either way, but often enjoy light background music - usually classical; something without lyrics seems best for me. Nothing feels better than curling up with my cats and reading a good book with coffee or tea while listening to Vivaldi, Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, or Grieg.
It usually depends on the sisution. When I study stuff like algebra, or science, I love listen to music because it keeps me focused. But when I am actually reading things like history, biographys or novels, I would most likely want it to be quiet. But I just love listening to music itself. Infact, I really love playing my favorite music on the piano. Beethoven, Mozart, and Cesar Franck are some of my favorite calssical composers. I can play some of their works on the piano. I do not know if you have watched the 2004 film of Pride and Prejudice, but I really love playing the piano songs from the movie. Do you play any instruments? If you do, what are your favorite songs to play?

[Zeruiah]

I agree with stlukesguild and Jamesian. Reading while listening to music (or vice versa) is much like eating while working. I feel that multi-tasking enjoyable activities brings less pleasure overall than what each individual activity would per se.

[Rogers_68]

Since reading and music are two of my favorite things I can't enjoy them at the same time because I want to focus on each one too much.

[teejay17]

Since reading and music are two of my favorite things I can't enjoy them at the same time because I want to focus on each one too much.

That's basically my dilemma.

[Kafka's Crow]

I can't read with people talking or even walking or moving around in my immediate vicinity. I need absolute quiet when I read, can't even imagine reading while listening to music. No way.

[aabbcc]

Quite rarely, if ever out of my own choice.
Regarding circumstances I am rather flexible, and over the time have mastered to be able to read in the silence of the library, as well as in the pub where the music is playing quite loudly, as well as in the train with background noise of other people... So technically I can read with the music; however, my concentration being focused on reading, I do not really notice much of the music anyway. I dislike doing things with 'split concentration'.

An additional problem is that I am a musician, which means that I 'hear' the music in more "fuller" sense than I would hear it had I not been one, which means that music is even more distractive for me than for many other people. If I use it as a 'background', usually I will either eliminate it out of my mind (so what is the point of using it in the first place?), either end up focusing on music. Listening to the music is an activity per se in my life, not something which is degraded to the level of simply accompanying other activities - when I listen to the music, I listen to the music and hardly do anything else. Music requires an awful lot of concentration in order to be thoroughly enjoyed.

So, overall, I can read when the music is on, but I will not notice it. Which is why in general there is no music on when I read in the first place, but should I find myself under different circumstances, I could handle it and concentrate on reading.

[ampoule]

I cannot listen to familiar music while reading because I end up singing or humming and getting totally into the music. However, when I was taking the Disciple Bible Study courses I found it very helpful to play some of the new age CDs I have. They seemed to lend themselves to my deep and thoughtful reading. Music of the great composers gets me all revved up. :)

[amalia1985]

The ONLY music that doesn't prevent me from focusing on the book, is the beautiful piano concertos by Rachmaninov. Otherwise, ANY music is such a distraction for me that I end up LISTENING (...and dreaming...) and not reading.

[Dori]

I sometimes listen to Eminem while reading Dostoevsky. :blush: An interesting combination, I must say! I have an awesome CD with medieval Russian chant music which goes well with Russian literature. ;) For other things, I listen to either nothing or classical music (Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, etc.).

[Weisinheimer]

I sometimes listen to Eminem while reading Dostoevsky. :blush: An interesting combination, I must say! I have an awesome CD with medieval Russian chant music which goes well with Russian literature. ;) For other things, I listen to either nothing or classical music (Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, etc.).

That Russian chant stuff sounds like it'd be pretty cool. But I think I would go crazy if I had to listen to Eminem while I was trying to read :sick: . But to each his own.

[HowlingMan]

Radiohead and some Huxley is a awesome combination.

Otherwise I tend to stick to movie scores and classical music.

[kandaurov]

Great thread, I've always wondered myself how other people combine music with reading. Like ampoule said, I can't listen to familiar music, or I wind up reading the same sentence thirty times, or singing the song aloud, if I'm in a good mood. And like amalia1985, I can only listen to classical music while reading/studying/playing chess. There's no other way!

[Julian Koller]

sometimes i put Bach's Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ on a constant loop while reading.

Pärt's piano work is lovely as well

[Joreads]

I would not have music on by choice when I am reading but if it is on it doesn't bother me greatly. I can switch everything around me off when I am reading which can be great but also has a down side I have agreed to things I never would have if I had been paying attention.

[Hayfa Qahtani]

i like music non-lyrical off course so it wont steal the magic from the book :)
mostly violin peice..

[Julian Koller]

Johannes Brahms Violin Sonatas and Clarinet Quintet in B Minor work are utterly fantastic. Traditional celtic harp folk music is great as well.

[shinymikey]

I don't really like to listen to music while reading, i find either the book distracts me from the music or the music distracts me from the book.
I guess i don't have room in my head for more than one medium lol

[LeonMello]

Some Dvorak, Purcell and Bach.

[moose gurl]

I sometimes enjoy listening to classical music while reading, or a band from Iceland called Sigur Ros. Since I don't speak the native Iceland tongue, their music is virtually wordless and beautiful. It's an imagination trip on it's own, and it really goes well with literature, and I don't have to tune it out but it's not intruding. Really peaceful. Recommend strongly if you don't already know about them. It is really inviting and it allows your brain to expand. Goes well with Murakami, as his work is pretty imagination-inviting anyways. The combination really allows me to get a good picture going. I can listen to other music if need be, like if there's a conversation going on, I tend to get sucked in and stop reading, so I can listen to pretty much anything just for noise control, but I tune it out 90% of the time, and would prefer to read in silence in this situation.

[stlukesguild]

I think I would go crazy if I had to listen to Eminem while I was trying to read

I think I would go crazy if I had to listen to Eminem period.

Thinking on this post I am reminded of the fact that there are a good many poems in which the poet has responded to or meditated upon his or her responses to a work of art: paintings (Breughel seems especially popular), books, and music. Charles Wright has a poem in which he meditates upon Elizabeth Bishop and Miles Davis. One certainly wonders about the inspiration of lsitening to Schoenberg while reading Kafka, Verlaine read to Thelonious Monk, or Proust to Philip Glass.:lol:

[ClickForth]

okokok

[islandclimber]

The ONLY music that doesn't prevent me from focusing on the book, is the beautiful piano concertos by Rachmaninov. Otherwise, ANY music is such a distraction for me that I end up LISTENING (...and dreaming...) and not reading.

I love listening to his piano concertos while I read as well, especially 2 and 3...

and then Mozart's Requiem I can do, I have always loved the mood this music has for any particularly sad or tragic story...

and Abbess Hildegard of Bingen... A Feather on the Breath Of God... There are a couple good versions of this, and I love it for reading... it is so wonderful and relaxing... and immerses you in beauty...

and recently: Oliver Schroer--- Camino... it is so amazing, what he does with a fiddle in this piece.... it is so relaxing, and beautiful... it turns the fiddle into a sad and soft instrument, lonely and forlorn and melancholy, and then joyous at the same time... it is wonderful...

[capek]

I don't listen to music while I read any more, although I can, but I use to when I was a teen, and always enjoyed the combination a lot. For me, they always combined in interesting ways. For instance, I had this great synesthetic experience with the combination of Radiohead's The Bends, and Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show. Not something I could really communicate, just that the experience of reading the book while listening to the music was such that the two are totally linked in my memory, and both together take on a great significance than either would have on its own.

[SleepyWitch]

last week, I read Pride and Prejudice and listened to Iron Maiden at the same time, of all bands. It didn't distract me at all, although I normally don't listen to music while reading.

[sixxfretz]

I listened to The Shins while reading Of Human Bondage, i found that the music matched the mood of the novel perfectly, i had New Slang on a loop :D

[Janine]

New Age music works well, because it is relaxing and not invasive/distracting to my reading. I often listen to soundtrack recordings also, while reading. I try to pick one that is synonymous with the novel's tone. I collect soundtracks so I have a ton to choose from.

[moose gurl]

I listened to The Shins while reading Of Human Bondage, i found that the music matched the mood of the novel perfectly, i had New Slang on a loop :D

God that song is so good. I've never thought about listening to it while reading but I can see how it would match my mood sometimes. Very mellow. The Shins are awesome.

[Sir Bartholomew]

I tried it once with Wild Sargasso Sea and My Bloody Valentine, and it worked. But I wouldn't try it again.

[asilef73]

i always listen to music when i'm reading. can't seem to focus without it.

[Ryduce]

I believe I'm gonna go try it right now.

I'm thinking either Brahms or Ravel.

[Trillian]

I used to love to listen to music whilst reading! My favorites were Dead Can Dance - A Passage in Time, and Beethoven, turned low.

Then I got cats. Now it goes something like: Bum bum bum bum *MROW* Bum bum bum bum *cat head-butts the book* Bum bum bum bum *PURRRR, MROW, cat lays down on the page I am reading* Bum bum bum bum *Trillian locks herself in the bedroom and reads in silence, 'til the cats start scratching at the door* :bawling:

[thelastmelon]

I listen to a lot of African music in general, and also when I read. I can't understand the lyrics, so they don't get mixed with what I'm reading, and the rythms works well with most everything. I mostly listen to Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare and Angelique Kidjo.

Classical music would be good as well, but I don't listen to it much, so I don't know what I prefer or would like the most.

[sprinks]

It depends on what mood I'm in as well as what I'm reading. In general though definitely classical music is the way to go. Most of my friends already thought it was weird that I read so much, so when they discovered that I like to listen to classical music often, they really thought I was weird! apparently thats not "cool" these days for a teenager:p .... but I never have been normal! :D

The main reason I don't think I'd even try listening to modern music while reading is because if it has to do with school I can almost be certain that I'd end up replacing words from the books with lyrics from the songs! Luckily sometimes though when I'm trying to recall something I've read and I was listening to music at the time if i get the tune in my head I can remember what it was faster. But I'm quite sure that this isn't a good thing to become reliant on!

[Classrocker24]

i am listening to music almost constantly...when i sleep, read, do laundry, watch tv, play games, just about everything. the type of music i listen to is more relaxing, chill out music, suck as REM, radiohead, oar, dave matthews, hootie and the blowfish, all that sort of thing.
on a side note, i have been fascinated lately with the effect of music on people's mood. i myself have begun taking my ipod to class and listening to it in one ear, and i notice a definately more positive experience during classes...just kind of interesting...

[toni]

I don't listen to rock while reading, I don't know, the drums and the bass seem to distract me. So I just listen to mellow songs from Coldplay or Nothing in My Way, Try Again, Walnut Tree from Keane are also good songs to listen to when reading. Something classical always works like Mozart's requiem ;)

[naomi moon]

I do like reading and listening to music in the same time, I listen to rock music actually, and that's weird, lol! I am addicted to music :p and I do enjoy my addiction :) most of time. But when I'm tired cuz that's when I really can't concentrate on whatever I'm reading I simply drop music, and carry on reading.

[Cellomaster2238]

Has anyone here ever tried listening to a Bartok Quartet while reading Ulysses? It's an interesting experience.

[itsinmyeyes]

Like most of these posts, I too cannot concentrate on what I am reading if I am listening to music, but I am still able to do homework or other tasks which require more concentration...I don't know what it is...

[johann cruyff]

I like listening to music while doing something - in fact,one could say that I turn the computer on when I wake up and keep it on all day just to have something playing in the background.

I've recently discovered a particular interest in Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff so that's what I'm listening to right now.And,to answer the question - yes,I do enjoy listening to something while reading,but it has to be classical music,I couldn't concentrate on the book with anything else in the background.

[waryan]

I used to be able to do this but for some reason now I can't- I think the music mood and the book mood conflict. I should probably work harder to synchronize the two by choosing similar books and music for the same readings.

What about you guys? Do you listen to music while reading?

[Pecksie]

No; music prevents me from concentrating. But I've had to learn to ignore it, because my husband turns on the radio, as a matter of course, as soon as he gets home :flare:

[Sir Bartholomew]

nope. i get easily distracted even by the slightest noise. i usually wear ear plugs when i read.

[pussnboots]

I can't listen to music and read at the same time. What happens is I then start singing the song in my head and lose all focus on what I am reading.

[cipherdecoy]

Yep I do, even though it distracts me sometimes, because I can't help it.

[Nossa]

Nope. I can listen to music while studying, but when reading it totally distracts me.

[waryan]

hey im quite relieved to hear similar opinions on this- i thought i was alone with a rather unfocused mind!

[jenmcd]

I used to need total silence to read but as I now have 3 children under 6 and a husband who flicks through TV channels incessantly I have learnt to block out noise and get stuck into a book.

[kelby_lake]

i get distracted by the music

[Rakthor]

It seems I'm quite alone in this. I, for one, actually do listen to music while I read. I find that it actually helps me concentrate better. But that's pretty clearly just me. Well, there are times when music is distracting, but that's only certain kinds of music. I find ambient music, classical, and strangely electronic and techno music help me focus on my reading. Music with lyrics usually is too distracting. I also try to have the music fit the book. For example, I sometimes listen to Tchaikovsky when I'm reading Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, and I try to listen to the Chemical Brothers or some such artist when I'm reading, say, Neuromancer.

[LadyWentworth]

I don't listen to music as much as I used to while reading. I can only listen to music that is classical/instrumental. If it is music with lyrics, I am apt to sing along to it in my mind. So, therefore, there is no way that I could absolutely concentrate on what I am reading. I used to listen to music everytime that I read something. It just seems that I don't do it that much anymore. I don't have a reason for it. I just don't do it as much anymore.

[andave_ya]

Nah, it distracts me. I do listen to music while doing everything else, though!!

[Khapi]

I'm easily disturbed so I always read in silence. I'm not a great multi-tasker and prefer to concentrate to hundred percent on each thing I do. I don't enjoy snacking while watching movies either. All that noise from my cheeks makes me lose a lot of what people in movies say.

[Umbilical]

Only Law and Order SVU in the background... real soft.
Just so I can see that perp bustin' ***** and her sweet as.s.


LOL.

[ben.!]

I listen to music if the song I feel fits the mood of the writing.

It is an art, finding good music to go with a book. Not usually do I listen to music while reading though. I tend to get too into the music and not the words on the page!

[JWHooper]

I like to listen to music when I am doing math, computer science, playing guitar, solving Rubik's Cube, and playing video games.

I don't read literature, though. Literature is very hard for me.

[Lily Adams]

No...that would distract me too much. 0_o


I like to listen to music when I am doing math, computer science, playing guitar, solving Rubik's Cube, and playing video games.

Ha ha, Rubik's Cube! I listen to music while I solve mine, too.

I could never do math while listening to music, either. Wayyy too distracting.

I only listen to music while playing music when I want to figure out a song by ear on my keyboard.



I listen to music when I draw because it stimulates and tickles my right brain immensely and gives me the most intriguing...images. I see pictures when I listen to music.

I also listen to it in the car or while on the computer, but never while reading. How can you concentrate?!

[Nyu001]

Sometimes I do listen to music as sometimes I don't when I am reading. If I have music on while reading probably will be something instrumental (I don't listen to songs with lyrics so often). Music with lyrics may distract the mind trying to interpret the words, but I am not someone that really pay much attention to the lyrics. About the kind of music, that can variate. ;)

[Anza]

classical music while reading is perfect. Especially when the mood of the music corresponds to the mood of the book.

[Nyu001]

Mozart. =P I find Beethoven would not help much to read since his music tend to be more aggressive and give surprises distracting the person. Otherwise Mozart have a nice effect on the mind. But that can variate with people. Haha, just what I think. :P

[Anza]

Ooh! The Brandenburgs! Perferrably #5, though... very nice.

[kat.]

If I read I just can't stand any kind of sound......not even music :(

[Gaiam]

I can really only listen to light and airy classical music and it has to be kept pretty quiet. Otherwise, anything heavy or with lyrics completely causes me to lose my train of thought.
For me, TV + Reading = DISASTER!

[kat.]

what a beautiful avatar gaiam!!!!!

[Moka]

I just finished reading "Anatomy of Melancholy" by Richard Burton, incredible book, it has probably become one of my all time favorite reads. This are the albums that soundtracked my reading:

Anouar Brahem - Le voyage de Sahar
Arvo Part - Alina, Te Deum
Arja Kastinen - Ani
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby
Chris Abrahams & Mike Cooper - Oceanic Feeling
Stars of the Lid - The tired sounds of
Stella Chiweshe - All Verdens Folkemusik

Here's two mp3 playlists that contains songs from a few of the albums in here and which are good reading companions:

So while the vessels one by one were speaking (http://www.moteldemoka.com/2008/04/11/so-while-the-vessels-one-by-one-were-speaking/).
&
My blood is clean pt. 2 (http://www.moteldemoka.com/2008/04/28/my-blood-is-clean-pt-2/)

[cipherdecoy]

I like to listen to music when I am doing math, computer science, playing guitar, solving Rubik's Cube, and playing video games.

I don't read literature, though. Literature is very hard for me.

Wow, I could never do maths with or without music, and even though music distracts me even more, I still listen to it anyway. And Maths is hard for me :sick:

[clumsy angelle]

Yeah... I can read while listening to lots of music... Sometimes, I read a romance novel while listening to rock music.

[Equality72521]

Romance and rock music...i like it :p

What I listen to when I read depends on what I'm reading.

If it's literature, I will put on Mozart.
If it's modern books, It would depends upon the genre.

Sadish story - the blues
Meg Cabotish books - Alana Grace, Paolo Nutini, Colbi Callait, Boys Like Girls, Augustana, Juno Soundtrack, etc.
Mystery - The Beatles
Comedy Books (like Stephen Colberts book) - Goldfinger (Stalker is the specific song (sooo funny)), Brad Paisley, etc.
Cheesy Romance - definately get Josh Groban
Dark Fiction - Rock

And it goes on...but that the basic idea...
My system is wierd, but it helps me to keep something going. I can't work in complete silence, unless I'm in a library.

And I definately CANNOT do any of my homework with out having some good music going in the background, mainly Michael Buble
:P

[InspireMe]

i used to put on music all the time when i read, but there was a period when i stopped reading. fortunately, i have picked it back up. but now i prefer no music. maybe it's because i mostly read at night when i enjoy the silence and stillness of the world.

[eyemaker]

Classical music would be nice while reading, I used to do that. In some other case if you knew the music very well and in fact its your favorite song, you tend to sing along with the music. That really bothers me especially playing pop, reggae and rock songs. ;)

[Annamariah]

I never listen to music when I read books, but I always listen to something when I'm reading something on the Internet. Usually the music is just a background noise, but I sometimes realise I'm singing along with the lyrics without thinking about it even though I'm really concentrating on what I'm reading. That only happens when the song is one I've heard a million times before, though.

The music rarely distracts me from reading, especially if I listen Finnish music while reading in English and vice versa. It's easier not to think about the lyrics if they are not in the same language you are reading at the moment.

When I study (write essays or something like that) I like to listen to classical music. It's easier to concentrate when it's not too quiet, and no lyrics means that they can't distract me from what I'm supposed to write.

[Ovid Reader]

Usually I find music really distracting other than on rare occasions, and then I can only stand some songs by R.E.M and Bob Dylan's It's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (sorry, I would put the titles in italics but I'm not sure how - if someone could tell me I would be thankful).

[Annamariah]

Usually I find music really distracting other than on rare occasions, and then I can only stand some songs by R.E.M and Bob Dylan's It's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (sorry, I would put the titles in italics but I'm not sure how - if someone could tell me I would be thankful).

When you are writing a new message, you can see two rows of small icons above the box you're writing in. Just select the text you want to put in italics and click the "/" icon (it's on the lower row, the second icon from the left)

[Dinglingzi]

Hello, everyone. I ask merely a trivial question out of curiosity. Do you enjoy listening to music while reading? Why or why not? If yes, what kinds of music?

I can read either way, but often enjoy light background music - usually classical; something without lyrics seems best for me. Nothing feels better than curling up with my cats and reading a good book with coffee or tea while listening to Vivaldi, Chopin, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, or Grieg.
nope,nope~maybe writing...but definitely not reading~that would distract me from doing it...~but it inspires me when I'm writing~

[stlukesguild]

I can't imagine listening to music while reading. Literature already has a music of its own. The music of words or language. At the same time, I love music as an art form far too much to turn it into mere background noise... although I might put on some Stones, Johnny Cash or Louvin Brothers while doing something as mindless as surfing the net.:)

[Jueno]

Music while reading,yes.

[Saladin]

Last time i read and were listening to music at the same time, i were reading "Crime and Punishment" and for some kind of reason i were listening to Rachmaninoff. If i am going to listen to music when i am reading it have to be either jazz or classical, because if it`s rock or rap or pop for that sake i can`t concentrate.

[GX4146]

no music while reading, drives me nuts

[mona amon]

No, too distracting. The book distracts me from the music, I mean.:)

[semi-fly]

Sure, oddly enough it helps my imagination kick in no matter what I'm reading. Normally something from 倖田 來未 or 浜崎あゆみ.

[.closed.]

I have always wondered how people can listen to music on headphones and read. I struggle to keep a train of thought when I am surrounded by even low background noice let alone music, especially wordy songs and rock music would have me tearing my hair out. Near perfect Silence is my perfect reading companion.