Poll

I can only read in silence or to very soft classical music that I don't know.

I listened to ADTR and Emery with my headsets while tackling Steven Erikson and Glen Cook.

I got into a weird rut where I had trouble reading for as long a stretch as I used to, and then I started putting on classical music (mostly Chopin and Beethoven) and it's helped a lot. I always have it on while reading now. When I'm writing I also usually listen to music (typically metal, prog-rock, or post-hardcore instead of classical and it's been going on for a lot longer).

By brain left to fend for itself in a silent room is a far bigger distraction to reading than any music. Can't shut the thing up. I need to have a show or something playing in order to fall asleep as well.

I like listening to music that kind of goes with the book I'm reading. Sort of like every movie has it's soundtrack, every book does too.

It's interesting to hear music while reading :)

Mark wrote: "I listened to the Moulin Rouge soundtrack while reading One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and it's created some interesting mental linkages between those two things. Typically, I try not to be listen..."

The same thing happened to me except it was a Wynonna Judd cassette tape and Chain Letter. This was in the early 90's, to the best of my recollection. Now every time my mom (or anyone else) plays that tape, I think of a certain part of the aforementioned book so, no more music + reading for me. I'm just as easily distracted by classical music since I have a bit of an obsession with picking out all the different instruments. Particularly violas and cellos. I suppose there are worse compulsions...

Brad wrote: "It depends on what music you listen to. I normally listen to Khachaturian, Lalo, Sibelius, Suk, and the like, but they tend to be too distracting. I generally listen to some calm Debussy or Bach pa..."

Debussy and Bach would totally distract me! I've tried to use both to help me sleep but after all my years in orchestra, I hear that & immediately started counting/listening for "my part". Then I just want to get up and play!

Kadi wrote: "I can't listen to music while reading, it's so distracting. I can listen to a track of 'white noise' though, which helps, as it blocks out all other noisy distractions so that I can focus on my rea..."

I often have white noise on while I read too. Just no music or TV, and preferably no talking. I'm apparently very sensitive! LOL (Yet I can listen to an audio book - with the white noise still going - read a {knitting} pattern, and knit all at once.) I'm just a bit strange...

Depends on both the music and the book. Sometimes music is all I need to get deep into the book and get emotional about it. But sometimes it happens so that music is the worst distraction ever and I really can't listen to anything while reading. The books which need lots of thinking are one of those which don't let me listen to anything. Easy reads, however, are the exact opposite. They kind of even need music.

Depends. I've found orchestral music without lyrics to be the best for me. Listening to words I can understand distract me from what I'm trying to read.

If you mean the book distracts me from the music, then yes! :P

Depends!
I like listening to The XX whilst reading

When I read a book I'm going so much into the character I forget I even hear music :)

I was listening to dub reggae while reading all your comments and I think I read them pretty fast and made my account so I could post this comment. And I don't have to flip my tape yet. King Tubby. Good reading sounds. Who the he'll asks Google if you can read and listen to music hahahahaha. Just try it bro.

cool

hihihihihihihi

I can't read well without Jazz/Classical in the background.

I listen to movie and tv scores while reading(BBC's Sherlock, Lord of the Rings, etc.) Classical is always a good option too.

No! Honestly, it's all about focus. I find music kind of blocks out outside noise (cars, tv if you live with someone, kids playing, people talking) I do admit, sometimes I break for a few seconds out of reading and sing a bit

Maybe classical or jazz, but other than that, it's impossible for me to listen to music (or anything for the matter) while reading.

If I listen to music while reading, I start singing the lyrics and have my mind on the music and don't even understand what I'm reading... :/

Music with no lyrics work on me, and it can be anything like classical, acoustic, EDM, etc.
But once lyrics get in a song, even if it's just a single word repeated throughout the song, BAM!
My eyes glaze over from the words in front of me.

I find myself pausing any lyrical music whenever I come across any interesting article online even, and it's so annoying!

I like music with no words

I can not listen to music with lyrics. My go to is Pandora's Indian Flute Music.

It really depends on my mindset that day. Sometimes I get distracted with my favorite artists playing. Other times I don't. It alk depends on my mood.

it depends

I found that listening to music with lyrics can be distracting for me, however, music without lyrics, such as, instrumental or ambient, do not distract.

Silence can make me uncomfortable, so I prefer to listen to instrumental or classical music at a low volume. It's soothing and adds some background noise. :)

Can't do it. I've got real concentration issues and if my mind catches onto a hook in the music, that's it. I'll sing or hum along and it pulls me straight out of the story. If I miss music, I know that the book isn't good enough :)

Can almost always read with instrumental music playing. Can only listen to music with words if I don't know the lyrics because I will just think about the song

I can't really hear anything when I'm reading lol so it's not a distraction, hell, I don't even bother listening to one.

Depends on the music. Spotify has an awesome reading soundtrack. Awesome for the days when the house is too loud. Put on my headphones and start to read and I'm in my book for hours.

Listening to meditation music helps me concentrate, but any other type of music is too distracting (especially if there's singing in it).

I can't concentrate on a book if I'm listening to music, even if it's just one song on loop. I don't understand how people can do it :P

I cannot read at all if there is ANY kind of noise... Music is apogee of noise. Either reading or either listening to music. It's impossible for me to put these things together.

I can read while listening to classical music and some jazz, blues and soft rock but usually prefer nothing on for concentration. ACDC and Guns & Roses just doesn't work while reading.

Usually it has to be non-lyrical, if it has lyrics I start focusing on the words. But some songs just don't get me distracted.

i listen to linkin park on loop while i do anything including reading and studying.

I can only listen to classical music while reading.. I live in an upstairs apartment and my downstairs neighbor has his tv super loud all the time which is a huge distraction.. It’s nice that I can turn my classical music on and avoid the distraction! Other than classical music I can not listen to any other music as it is a distraction!

I listen to music all the time while reading. But it has to be something I pick myself (ie., something I like). If it's leisure reading anything is fine, Nightwish or Sonata Arctica or whatever included. In fact I LIKE to listen to music with earbuds while reading because it shuts out distractions.

I usually listen to music while reading because I don't like complete quiet. As long as I keep it low just for background sound I'm good (:

I've got some technical Bach on and am just weighing up whether to pick up a book or not. Those notes are as individual as words I don't think the two are compatible.

There are books that I read with the right song selection. I do it a lot. It's like the background music in a movie scene which tells you what mood everyone is in, and it works out great :)

Other times, I don't find the perfect song/s or the book has so much detail that I'd get distracted.

The type of music I listen to depends on the genre of the book and whatever scene I'm going through. Stirs up emotions.

the only thing I can listen to while reading (on low volume):
https://youtu.be/2L9vFNMvIBE
And I play it on my TV often to keep me from being distracted by other things. ex: my phone. lol

Personally I like it listen to music quietly in the background because i can't focus with blaring music nor can I focus in total silence.

Light musics help me to focus

If it's downtempo music like Bonobo or Thievery Corporation, then I don't mind. But if you're going to blast pop music from a Fios music channel, then I couldn't focus.

Music designed as game BGM are helpful. They are designed such that it does not grab your attention, and for some, they help you concentrate.

Personally, the worst choices are music that 1) have lyrics, 2) intended for attentive listening, or 3) changing, dynamic, or dramatic.

These criteria eliminate most classical music (excluding some forms of chamber), all pop, rock, and contemporary music.

Other alternatives to game BGM might include jazz chamber, techno (beware of the taxonomical genre), or noise rock/music.

I would recommend looping a song as it will become familiar and you won't focus on it.

Otherwise silence is the best.

I prefer to use themed background ambience. Eg if I'm reading Harry Potter I can put on some Ravenclaw Common Room background ambience :)