listening to music while reading

[asp3]

I usually listen to music when I'm reading. I'm usually listening to my iTunes on shuffle so it's mainly alternative and indie pop and rock, but it runs the range from a few classical pieces, some country, show tunes, bluegrass and light punk.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Any music diverts from reading or writing - the words just don't sink in. The only acceptable 'audio' is natural sound such as rain on the window, a cool night breeze, the purring (more likely snoring!) of the cat or the crackling of a log fire.

 

[Bick]

Any music diverts from reading or writing - the words just don't sink in. The only acceptable 'audio' is natural sound such as rain on the window, a cool night breeze, the purring (more likely snoring!) of the cat or the crackling of a log fire.

I'm the same really. And if I'm in the lounge and the other half is watching TV in the same room, I really find it hard to read.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I listen to my records. Joan Armatrading and Demis Rousos are my current favourites

 

[Astro Pen]

I am extremely glad that most of you are not air traffic controllers.

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

Anything with proper lyrics is out. As the OP suggests, it depends on what you're reading but I think for modernish hard/singularity/space opera or military sf (eg Quantum Thief, Accelerando, much Ian M Banks or Ken McLeod) you should try some classic drum & bass (1994 - 2002 vintage). Also, the "dub" music described in "Neuromancer" is like a description of junglist/d'n'b so it should work for ye olde cyberpunk as well

 

[Ray Zdybrow]

I'm the same really. And if I'm in the lounge and the other half is watching TV in the same room, I really find it hard to read.

Too true, especially if "My Lottery Dream Home" is on!

 

[Rodders]

I enjoy electronic music, so no words. I'll listen to that while on the train reading, but definitely no songs, as i'll get distracted. If i'm at home, i won't listen to anything.

 

[Tawariell]

I listen to the soundtrack of Lord of the Rings... or Celtic Music :')

 

[MartinChis]

Definitely no music for me and ideally I like to have as close to silence as possible. I usually wear earplugs since the world doesn't seem to care about my need for silence

 

[Foxbat]

I’m another that doesn’t listen to music and read at the same time. It’s just too distracting because, if I lsten to music, I often try and picture the chords and scales on the guitar in my mind and if I’m trying to read at the same time, they just get intertwined and become a right old mess.

Oddly enough, I can read if people are talking in the background. The more drivel people talk, the more easily I find it to read so it’s maybe more a clash of interests rather than a concentration thing for me (I’m interested in music but not interested in listening to drivel).

 

[Aurora Nights]

I used to listen to classical music when I was writing: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Handel etc.

Nowadays, I do most of my writing in silence, but I still listen to O Ignis Spiritus or Carnival of Animals – Aquarium if I’m writing something that I intend to come off as creepily wondrous.

I've heard Carnival of Animals – Aquarium in BBC documentaries, I've looked for what it was called before but never found the name, thank you I can add it to my playlist finally lol.

 

[pathfindersam]

I usually need a lot of white noise while I'm doing any sort of activity, so I'll just put on whatever music I like at the time

 

[BigBadBob141]

I tend to get distracted easily so I prefer silence, especially if the book needs a certain amount of concentration, i.e. military history of maths/science.
So I never to read in my garden (for garden read neglected jungle) no matter how nice the weather (I find sunlight, a slight breeze, any noise, birds, romping nudists playing all female volleyball next door (lol) all distracting, especially the nudists) and never in the park, just my own quite man cave.
P.S. The nudist part has never actually happened yet but a man can dream!