Music & Homework

[dimanche0829]

Just curious as to whether or not you like to listen to music while studying. If so, what do you usually listen to?

If I'm studying for an exam, I always go classical: Klaus Schulze, Balmorhea, Mozart, Chopin, London Symph.Orchestra, &c.

If I'm just working on homework, I prefer more mellow tunes. I'm on a big Mumford & Sons kick right now.

Edited December 19, 2011 by dimanche0829

[cquin]

Ambient music works for me. Boards of Canada or Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works" are my go-tos.

[bdon19]

I have to, HAVE TO listen to music while I do work. I also have to be in a somewhat noisy environment--coffee shops, talking floors of libraries, etc. tend to work best for me. Typically, I listen to the same things while I work that I do as I go about any other business. Typically indie rock/folk type stuff. @Dimanche, I could never really get into Mumford and Sons (though "Little Lion Man" is THE best song ever once I have a few drinks in me). I listen to a lot of The National, The Weepies, Rilo Kiley, Belle & Sebastian...that kind of stuff. And when I'm working last-minute on anything, Taylor Swift is the best. Guilty pleasure music to the max.

Edited December 19, 2011 by bdon19

[rainy_day]

bdon, we have very similar music/work habits! I have to be somewhere where there is action going on around me. I think it has more to do with the presence of other people than the noise, though, because I almost always pop on my big noise cancelling headphones. If I'm at home, I just flit about on the internet or do the dishes or take a nap. Seeing all the other people around me working is very motivating! (They might actually just be on facebook, but I don't know that.)

I listen to mostly indie stuff (Some favorites this finals season: The National, The xx, Girls, Broken Bella, Bon Iver, Passion Pit, Freelance Whales). I can't listen to anything *new* when I'm trying to write, because I will just listen to it, instead of write!

Edited December 19, 2011 by rainy_day

[marlowe]

I can't listen to absolutely anything. I get distracted both by music that I know, and music that is new to me. I can't work terribly well in the library because I get distracted by books. I guess a lot of things tend to distract me.

Also, happy birthday bdon - i hope you get the day off, or something equally pleasant.

[truckbasket]

I can't listen to absolutely anything. I get distracted both by music that I know, and music that is new to me. I can't work terribly well in the library because I get distracted by books. I guess a lot of things tend to distract me.

I'm the same -- I can only do one thing at once, so I need absolute silence to concentrate. The weird thing is that limitation carries over into music for me in that if I'm paying attention to melody, I can't follow the lyrics and vice versa. It's actually been an issue with poetry as I'm crap at tracking both content and rhythm simultaneously.

[bdon19]

Also, happy birthday bdon - i hope you get the day off, or something equally pleasant.

Thanks, marlowe! I'm actually spending today working, and then finishing my Cornell application...of course. But I made a point to take the entire weekend off, so it's time to get cracking! Haha

[especially]

Stuff without vocals, please! I usually pick an instrumental mix from 8tracks.com/mixes/study

[cquin]

Stuff without vocals, please! I usually pick an instrumental mix from 8tracks.com/mixes/study

Well, thank you for that link.

[user_name]

Ambient music works for me. Boards of Canada or Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works" are my go-tos.

Volume 1 > Volume 2

Also, Stars of the Lid and Hammock.

[especially]

I hope I didn't come off rude, sorry if I did.

[cquin]

I hope I didn't come off rude, sorry if I did.

What?? No way! I was genuinely thanking you for the link to that website, it looks really great! (I can't actually listen to it right now because I'm at work, but I definitely will when I get home tonight.)

[MrBrooklyn]

I've mostly been listening to dubstep and future garage lately. (Or the tinny Christmas carols being piped through my neighborhood over loudspeakers.)

Edited December 19, 2011 by MrBrooklyn

[especially]

Ah, okay, good! It's nice to have a variety of mixes to draw upon. : )

[pinkrobot]

This varies wildly for me from one day to the next--one day I can't pull anything off without music, and the next I can't pull anything off unless I have total silence. And some days I can't pull anything off. (But I can never work in a cafe--if not at home, libraries are the ideal amount of noise for me.) Right now I'm bugging on an album called "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" (mostly instrumental): it's an absolutely brilliant collaboration album with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and a couple other geniuses.

Edited December 19, 2011 by pinkrobot

[user_name]

i like this Yo-Yo Ma:

[lolopixie]

I cannot listen to anything if I am reading; however, if I'm writing I listen to hip-hop. Weird, I know.

[rawera]

Explosions in the Sky is good for pretty much everything. Reading, writing, driving, sexual activity, meditation with and without the aid of chemicals. etc.