Can you work hard while listening to music?

I find it depends on the environment. When I was in an office with a lot of noise and other people talking around me, the music helped keep me focussed on what was important. Phone conversations do not work with music--for obvious reasons, but some of the time I really did not want to be talking to the person and would prefer to be listening (or concetrating on the music) and would tune the person out. That's really not a very good idea. Frequently I can get so absorbed in a project, even mathmatical proofs--I'll stop for a second and say--gosh I wish I had listened to that last track. As to the baby mozart--there are studies that have shown increase intelligence (there are studies that show just about anything you want them too--if you give enough of just about anything to a rat it will eventually die of cancer too). That being said, our toddler loves those videos and actually interacts with them--talks, counts, etc. as opposed to almost any other video. So I personally think there is something to them (but I have absolutely no qualifications here other than being a Dad).

Okay, CW, sorry about the "working" songs. To your point, I have found that I like to listen to soothing music while working. Something that doesn't require much attention. The hard rock stuff, although I enjoy it, has an agitating effect on me, and I get short tempered. I have found that "smooth jazz" is about right for me while I'm working. As for babies, anything that you expose them to will have some kind of effect on them, just as it does on us. They will view it differently, though, since they have limited experiences to relate it to. And BTW, I thought of "Workin' in a Coal Mine", but I couldn't remember it was Devo. :^)

I love working to music. I'm surprised I don't drive my office neighbors crazy. The music can range from the Rolling Stones to Beethoven symphonies to (more frequently) chamber music and jazz.

I enjoy Mozart and Bach (especially by Glenn Gould - I swear he not only helps me think more clearly, he can cure my headaches). Classical guitar or lute is nice. I love the sound of the cello, e.g. the Beethoven and Brahms cello sonatas.

For jazz - the two artists I listen to most frequently are Bill Evans and The Modern Jazz Quartet.

For the most part, I cannot listen to vocal music while I am reading.

I am at this moment listening to Genesis Selling England by the Pound and banging out paperwork at my desk.

It is VERY therapeutic. As a matter of fact I am building a new building for my business and designing my office to better accommodate my system. I run a Resolution Audio CD 50 direct to a Counterpoint NPS 200A to Tyler Acoustic Ref monitors

Great fun

CW,

You wrote:

Or is the baby Mozart stuff just some hoax marketed to striving yuppie parents?

If you are referring to the study that claimed that children who listened to classical music became more intelligent, it is a hoax. I am friends with a psychologist that was involved in the study for the state of GA and he downplays it. (Remember those CDs that were given out to new parents???)

As far as music and work or concentration go (in my experience), when I am able to block out the music and concentrate on the task at hand I am much more deeply focused. It only lasts for minutes at the time, though. But, when I am distracted, I am DISTRACTED!!!!!

The way I see it is, when I can shut the music out and concentrate for a while, I then reward myself with a little musical distraction. I repeat this process until I have accomplished what I set out to do, or give up and listen to some tunes. If the distraction becomes too powerful I go with silence then binge on music later when I have time.

Brad Day
Atlanta, GA