Study music?
Posted by Tim.
So, now that a reasonable segment of us are burying our noses in the books, maybe it’s time for a survey?
Anyways, here’s the questions, which I’ll answer in the first comment thread to get us going:
1. Do you prefer to study with music, with some other background, or with silence?
2. If you like some noise to go with your work, what general sort do you prefer, i.e., type of music, sports broadcast, talk radio, etc.?
3. List some favorite artists, albums, pieces, or songs that get the ol’ noggin in the studying mode.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, August 30th, 2005 
at 2:38 pm and is filed under music, work.
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August 30th, 2005 at 2:49 pm Using
1. I definitely need some background noise; music is my usual preference, but the occasional Red Sox or Trinity football game are also nice.
2. Jazz is my standard study fix; most of my jazz stuff is instrumental, so there’s no lyrics to distract. Depending on the day and my mood, though, I’ve also been know to get some serious work done to the blues or some quality bluegrass.
3. Driving upbeat jazz pieces from the swing and bebop eras are always good; you’re hard pressed to go wrong with Duke, Count, Dizz, and Bird. I’ve got soft spots for Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt as well. As for the blues, electrified modern blues is best: Stevie Ray Vaugh, Muddy Waters, Albert King, B.B. King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, and Brownie McGhee are all good choices. Bluegrass favorites include Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, Allison Krauss & Union Station, the Del McCoury Band, and Ricky Skaggs.
One final note: as much as I love Charles Mingus, I tend to avoid his stuff when studying. I find his jazz compositions too heavy; they usually distract me more than anything with lyrics ever could.
August 30th, 2005 at 3:11 pm Using
(1) Unless I’m super locked-in, music/some sort of audio filler is helpful.
(2) Sports are great as long as I don’t have a significantly vested interest in the outcome (i.e. Sox game in July is fine, but in October not so much). In terms of tunes, totally varies – usually something kinda chill, instumental/blues is good. I need a bit of a beat, though, or else I just end up wanting a nap. If I’m at home/the office is empty, AC/DC is actually quite good for study music.
(3) I’ve found that high-quality music doesn’t make for good studying music: what I want is a simple melody, a bit of harmony, and a non-distracting baseline, and a hot guitar is a bonus… (Which is why AC/DC is so good, they’ve very formulaic.) Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Lee Hooker, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Satriani, Nelly, G’n'R, Dire Straits… If I’m not in danger of getting tired, then Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, Ellis Paul, etc are good. And of course, when I’m fighting the nap, gotta go with the Dropkicks.
August 30th, 2005 at 3:19 pm Using
1. I like to study with some music, though Mira sometimes distracts me too much to ever get the headphones out and put them on. Now that I’m alone in my office, though, this isn’t as much of a problem. I’ve also found that studying to the Red Sox does work for me as well. Except my landlord then asks how the game is going, and I can’t really answer. I definitely don’t like silence.
2. I go for music with lyrics, and not a lot of “noise” in them. Nothing heavy on drums. I hate bass. I usually go for familiar stuff, as well.
3. I’ve studied so far to Ray LaMontagne, Sarah McLachlan, and Alison Krauss. Some Santana slipped in there yesterday because I made it through the Sarah McLachlan and that’s what came up next in my library. Lyrics seem to distract me only when I’m trying to fall asleep.