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Do you listen to music while reading?
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message 51:
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Paul
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Dec 05, 2013 07:26PM
Only music that's already in my head ...
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I listened to tools Lateralus album while reading Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the dead. So now every time I hear a song from that album I'm reminded of scenes from that book.
Let's face it, we often listen to music while reading. We do it to block out the world and immerse ourselves in the world built by words. We do it with a focused mood, adding ambiance to the narrative. Much of the music we listen to deserves better treatment and more respect than being relegated to "background music", but there you have it. This is where two of my passions collide - music and books. Clearly you don't want to be pulled out of the narrative, so instrumental music works best. For me, the genres that work best are classical, jazz and soundtracks.More on a little book music: http://wp.me/p2XCwQ-aa
Joe wrote: "Let's face it, we often listen to music while reading. We do it to block out the world and immerse ourselves in the world built by words. We do it with a focused mood, adding ambiance to the narrat..."Unless you are using the royal "we" for some odd reason, then I must take exception to your initial assertion. Some people may often listen to music when they read, but many of us (in a non-royal sense) do not.
I enjoy working out, say on an eliptical while I read, and while music happens to be playing its not by design...
I like to listen to music while I read. I have the Kindle Keyboard that allows you to add MP3 and listen to them while you read. I generally listen to instrumental stuff so the lyrics don't get me off track while I'm reading.
I used to while writing. Now, silence is golden
I used to listen to music while I read when I was a teenager. I particularly enjoyed listening to a classical group called "the Rachels" while I would devour Anne Rice's vampire chronicles, downing bottles of red wine late into the night. Nowadays I prefer silence when I'm reading mostly. Every once in a while, I can listen to traditional Indian music while I'm writing, because it gets me in a kind of sublime mood that is conducive to visualizing the world that I write of.
I sometimes have the TV on. It really depends where I am reading however.
For me, it depends on what I'm reading. If I'm reading an action packed book, I love having some pumping music in the back ground. If I'm reading a Romance or a slower paced book, I prefer it to be quiet or have the tv on (very low volume) in the background.
Sometimes I can listen to soundtracks , but typically it 's too distracting!
Can't listen to music while reading or while writing, as I seem to need silence in order for my brain to function properly. I do listen to music before writing, however, usually something that suits the mood of the passage I'm about to write, something that could easily be a score to a film version.The time for music is when I'm designing and creating my covers; then it's max volume!
I love to read in a quiet house or outside with the breeze and birds for backgroud. But let's face it, I dont get that chance too often. So usualky, I read with someone else's music or sports on in the background. As long as I am nit interested in it, I can read fine.
Amazing how different we all are, isn't it? I wonder how much our preferences are to do with our developmental environment. I was raised in a house where the radio or TV were only on if someone actually wanted to listen/watch. So many people these days just leave them on for 'background noise' or to entertain the kids.I think, as a result of that upbringing, if there is noise of any sort, I'm going to listen to it. As a consequence, I like silence for reading or, like Suzi, breeze and birds - just the sounds of nature.
On the other hand, I tend to play music when I'm writing, to block out extraneous noise, but it has to be instrumental - again, vocals draw my attention away from what I'm supposed to be doing.
Right, back to writing that novel I'm neglecting...
For some reason I don't generally enjoy music while Reading. More often while reading I listen to local sports talk radio.
It depends on the book. I couldn't ever read say Harry Potter, listening to anything, even classical. I listen to classical string music when reading romance, historical fiction. I listen to epic soundtracks reading sci-fi or fantasy makes it just soo much more intense.I listen to Eminem when I write though.
I like some background noise while reading most of the time. The noise a train makes is very nice I think (but not the talking people). During the day at home I like music without a lot of lyrics, so classical music, soundtracks or instrumental music. During the day I just have to have some background noise. Before I go to sleep I like the silence while reading. So no music then.
I'm with you with the sound of the train (rather than the people), I find it soothing :-)I certainly enjoy reading on the train
S.K. wrote: "It depends on the book. I couldn't ever read say Harry Potter, listening to anything, even classical. I listen to classical string music when reading romance, historical fiction. I listen to epic s..."I had never really thought of listening to background music as a "soundtrack" while reading, but I like the idea. I may try it! (definitely instrumental though)
Yes, on Spotify, NPR affiliates, KPFA (San Francisco Bay Area Pacifica radio), Radio 365 and some folk stations online. I also listen while writing, especially when I can pick the artists/"station" and type of music to match the mood or purpose of the part I'm working on. This Changes Everything
No, I do not listen to music when I read, nor do I like to have the television on either.I usually read late at night with all lights and TV off (I use a e-reader), or in the backyard with a cup of coffee and just the sounds of nature.
I find that music or the television/loud noises take away from my reading pleasure.
Most of the time I like it to be quiet when I'm reading. Most of the time it's because I find it distracting but there are sometimes it's pointless to have on. That time is when I get into a book so much I block everything out.
I can read almost anywhere and under almost any circumstance; however, I prefer quiet whenever possible.I like music and listen to it often, but not when reading.
As long as it's instrumental and with a smooth rhythm, then it's fine for me to listen while reading. It sometimes feeds the imagination.Original soundtracks all the way.
I used to be unable to focus on reading while music was playing, especially music with English lyrics. Now, I can usually do it (mainly because going to coffee shops to read conditioned me).I still can't listen to most music with lyrics when I write, though. Hearing the words distracts me from the rhythm of those I'm writing.
Charles Bukowski always listened to classical radio stations whilst writing. He drank wine at the same time. I often listen to music/songs with lyrics from Sinatra to Donovan etc. if correcting or copy typing but not when I've got a burn on and am slaughtering the keys. Then my head has to be clear for that 'divine breeze over the forehead'. I never listen when I read though. That, for me, would be a way to organise schizophrenia.
Before, I just loved a quiet room to read, until recently, I learn to incorporate classical music to my reading habit and it's so much better.
I learned when I re-enrolled in college that I actually focus better on my homework when I listen to music. There are some stipulations though, as I can't listen to anything with music. Thanks to Spotify though, I've found that I really enjoy electronic music for some reason (I've never listened to it before,) when I'm trying to focus on something like reading or doing homework. So now I have a playlist full of synth and electronics to get me through my work.
Interesting question, and it's been cool reading people's answers. I guess it depends on how you feel about music as a background thing, As you can tell by my name, I have a particular genre that I gravitate towards, and that is not music that tends to sit quietly in the background. However, for fantasy and sci fi books, a lot of metal music has similiar themes, and it can be a great way to enjoy both book and album concurrently. For example, I love to listen to Star One while reading old school science fiction, Blind Guardian for epic fantasy, etc. Often my husband and I will choose an album and lie around the house and read with the music blasting - soooo much better than TV :)
Non-fiction I read sans music, and I'd say I maybe read to music 30% of the time. I also can't write with music on, but love to edit to a soundtrack.
Too distracting. I don't think I am a great multi-tasker.
Nope, distracts me from getting immersed in the words.
I enjoy it (: but somehow it has to be in different language or not its really distracting somehow
Yeah, when I was a teen, I listened to music while reading as well. It's odd, when I read those same books now, those bits of music seem to pop up in to my brain.Nowadays tho, I can't seem to listen to music either. For books at least. If it's a graphic novel or something, I sometimes pop on a film soundtack and can get away with it.
While I can read pretty much anywhere (and write pretty anywhere in any kind of circumstance), I prefer not to read while listening to music. That's because when I have on music, I want to concentrate on the music. Music is something I typically listen to in the car on the way to work (with a 45 minute drive) and I like to sing along. I can write to music, but not always.
Sometimes silence is golden.
I prefer classical music myself, but only when I'm eating and reading. My favorite is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. That's my reading and writing music.
For me the end of the day means retiring upstairs, turning on Pandora, and settling in to read for the rest of my night. Music and reading are my way of relaxing after a stressful day at work.
The only music I can listen to while reading is Radiohead's 'Kid A' played at low volume.
I like to have music that is instrumental if I am reading or writing, as lyrics distract me otherwise.
Yes, I do! I'm currently listening to Derek Fiechter's Two Moon's Inn and Enchanted Mirror, while reading Writers of the Future Vol 30. I like adding a soundtrack most of the time. Sometimes the music can become distracting, so I keep the volume pretty low.
Just like Clare, I tune out everything. I like to let my senses get absorbed into the book.
I remember reading some of the early books in the Wheel of Time while laying on my bed and listening to music during the summer of '93. To this day I'll remember parts of books I've read while listening to those songs. Even today, I'll listen to music while writing, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
While I'm reading no. While I'm writing I try to listen to music that fits the mood of the scene I'm working on. As if it were in a movie.
Rhett wrote: "While I'm reading no. While I'm writing I try to listen to music that fits the mood of the scene I'm working on. As if it were in a movie."Same here! I listen to music whilst I write and each book has its own soundtrack XD. While I edit, it's always MJ ad J5. As for reading, no music. I get so immersed into the world I need to shut out everyone, family, telly, phone and just curl up with a good book. If they're too much, I sit outside.
I was younger I used to write to music all the time, mostly soundtracks. But its harder now since I often see the scene from the film in my head and it's at odds with what I'm putting down on the page. It's better now if I've never seen the film, or if it's a television score. But one thing for sure... nothing with words.
Randy wrote: "I like to listen to classical music while reading. But I can't do it with music that has lyrics that I like, because I do find them distracting."Same here. Classical or instrumental jazz are good reading music. Stuff with lyrics just becomes a distraction to me if I'm trying to concentrate on a book.
Actually, the last time I reread The Lord of the Rings I played the sound track from the three movies in the background! That worked really well. :-D
Michael wrote: "Actually, the last time I reread The Lord of the Rings I played the sound track from the three movies in the background! That worked really well. :-D ..."That's a good idea! For some reason, lyrics don't distract me usually, and I use music more as a sound barrier to other external noises while reading.
♥,
Cat at Galaxy Press
