Music for reading

Angst · 02-21-2014, 05:55 PM

Do you listen to music while reading? If so, what type music do you enjoy listening to? Does it help relax you? Does it improve your memory? Does it enhance your reading experience?

I don't know why discovering listening to music while reading came as a big surprise to me. I've done it often enough, but I've never made a deliberate effort to combine two of my favorite pastimes. I do know one of my favorite places to read is while laying in hammock while camping in the mountains; preferably near a brook.

I am vary curious how others combine the two?

Samples of various reading music:
Nature Sounds
Classical Reading Music
Meditation/Zen Music
Jazz

Katsunami · 02-21-2014, 06:22 PM

Sometimes I want absolute silence when reading.

When listening to music, I listen to anything as long as it is not loud and doesn't have any vocals. It can range from David Arkenstone's New Age soundscape stuff to Classical, to the grooviness of Booker T. And The MG's.

Purple Lady · 02-21-2014, 06:47 PM

I always have music playing except when I'm watching tv. This includes when I'm sleeping - if the music goes out, I wake up. I listen to internet radio stations - usually either Metal Assault or Death Metal.

theducks · 02-21-2014, 06:55 PM

More towards new age, but whatever it is, it must not be a kind the wants your attention.
Toe tap'n music is an example of the attention wanting kind.
The music should mask other distractions without becoming one

cfrizz · 02-21-2014, 08:25 PM

I have my mp3 player hooked up to my audio gear and listen to all of my favorite songs all day long including when I'm reading.

MeSue · 02-21-2014, 09:56 PM

Yes, I find music helps me focus. I always listen to music while reading and any other time I can (meaning my husband is not in the room)--including working. I listen to all varieties of rock, and have recently started listening to classical. Familiar music is best if I need to concentrate, but silence is intolerable. I usually fall asleep with music on but don't have it on all night. When my husband is away I usually have at least four of my Squeezeboxes sync'd and playing the same music throughout the house. It's glorious! I find listening to film scores is very enjoyable for enhancing the reading experience.

icallaci · 02-21-2014, 10:02 PM

When I listen to music, I LISTEN to music. My poor brain can do only one thing at a time. I can't read with any kind of background noise, be it music, conversation, TV, barking dogs, etc.

barutanseijin · 02-21-2014, 10:03 PM

I can usually read in environments with music that i don't choose, such as in a cafe. It doesn't matter what the music is, i can usually tune it out. If i'm at home, i prefer silence.

cromag · 02-21-2014, 10:05 PM

I can read almost anywhere, with almost anything going on around me. But, when I have the choice, I have a seat in the living room and listen to Space/Electronic/Ambient music, not too loud. Examples would be anything by Jonn Serrie, Gert Emmens, David Wright (English musician, not American baseball player), etc. I have one album by a musician I first heard last year, Field Drawings by Ryan Teague, that has been getting a lot of play. Also, I'm within range of WXPN's (FM station in Philadelphia) signal and I listen to the Stars End program while reading. (WXPN can be heard online, but I don't believe Stars End is archived, so you have to listen during the show's broadcast hours.)

meeera · 02-21-2014, 10:28 PM

I generally prefer classical music without words, though some choral music in Latin is ok. I like music especially if I'm reading while out and there are conversations around me. It doesn't mystically fine-tune my brain, it just screens out other sounds.

Catlady · 02-22-2014, 01:04 AM

The voice of Frank Sinatra goes with everything.

WT Sharpe · 02-22-2014, 02:06 AM

I voted Classical and Zen/Meditation. I usually read in silence, but when I do have music in the background, it is either mellow classical music (Beethoven's 5th Symphony or Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries would hardly do for reading) or new age/space/meditation music.

CBG · 02-22-2014, 05:02 AM

I recently tried reading with Hans Zimmers filmscores going through earbuds - it greatly helps setting the mood and filtering out TV and whatever else the girls are doing in the house.

Freeshadow · 02-22-2014, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barutanseijin

I can usually read in environments with music that i don't choose, such as in a cafe. It doesn't matter what the music is, i can usually tune it out. If i'm at home, i prefer silence.

This. Don't need music to filter anything else out. When I read I'm already offline for the world around me.

When I listen to music I do exactly that and focus on the music (and lyrics within)

Ravensknight · 02-22-2014, 07:59 AM

I like listening to music when I read. I prefer something like Amethystium which I think falls under the Zen/Meditation, or it might go under Techno.

And I also like Enya or Classical. Thank goodness for Pandora!

View Poll Results: What do you like to listen to when reading?
I don't enjoy listening to music when I read	33	48.53%
Classical	19	27.94%
Zen/Meditaion	7	10.29%
Nature Sounds	9	13.24%
Jazz	6	8.82%
Popular music (Rock, Country, Pop, etc.)	6	8.82%
Talk radio	0	0%
Other: Please tell us!	13	19.12%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

02-21-2014, 05:55 PM	#1
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 2,819 Karma: 50921712 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Probably a library Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite	Music for reading Do you listen to music while reading? If so, what type music do you enjoy listening to? Does it help relax you? Does it improve your memory? Does it enhance your reading experience? I don't know why discovering listening to music while reading came as a big surprise to me. I've done it often enough, but I've never made a deliberate effort to combine two of my favorite pastimes. I do know one of my favorite places to read is while laying in hammock while camping in the mountains; preferably near a brook. I am vary curious how others combine the two? Samples of various reading music: Nature Sounds Classical Reading Music Meditation/Zen Music Jazz

02-21-2014, 10:05 PM	#9
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,279 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I can read almost anywhere, with almost anything going on around me. But, when I have the choice, I have a seat in the living room and listen to Space/Electronic/Ambient music, not too loud. Examples would be anything by Jonn Serrie, Gert Emmens, David Wright (English musician, not American baseball player), etc. I have one album by a musician I first heard last year, Field Drawings by Ryan Teague, that has been getting a lot of play. Also, I'm within range of WXPN's (FM station in Philadelphia) signal and I listen to the Stars End program while reading. (WXPN can be heard online, but I don't believe Stars End is archived, so you have to listen during the show's broadcast hours.) Last edited by cromag; 02-21-2014 at 10:07 PM. Reason: Spelling, of course!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PRS-T1 control music while reading	francisca	Sony Reader	3	05-26-2012 09:11 AM
Music while reading?	nimblem	Astak EZReader	3	12-29-2009 07:13 PM
Saw someone on the T reading Soul Music	JSWolf	Lounge	17	10-23-2009 09:45 AM
Music Set to Reading	Andybaby	News	0	04-30-2009 12:16 AM
Reading music	nesagwa	Sony Reader	4	09-16-2007 07:12 PM

02-21-2014, 06:22 PM	#2
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Sometimes I want absolute silence when reading. When listening to music, I listen to anything as long as it is not loud and doesn't have any vocals. It can range from David Arkenstone's New Age soundscape stuff to Classical, to the grooviness of Booker T. And The MG's.

02-21-2014, 06:47 PM	#3
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	I always have music playing except when I'm watching tv. This includes when I'm sleeping - if the music goes out, I wake up. I listen to internet radio stations - usually either Metal Assault or Death Metal.

02-21-2014, 06:55 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,779 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	More towards new age, but whatever it is, it must not be a kind the wants your attention. Toe tap'n music is an example of the attention wanting kind. The music should mask other distractions without becoming one

02-21-2014, 08:25 PM	#5
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 34583358 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I have my mp3 player hooked up to my audio gear and listen to all of my favorite songs all day long including when I'm reading.

02-21-2014, 09:56 PM	#6
MeSue Geek in the Forest Posts: 399 Karma: 1077186 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: FL Device: iPad Air, iPhone 4s, Nexus 7	Yes, I find music helps me focus. I always listen to music while reading and any other time I can (meaning my husband is not in the room)--including working. I listen to all varieties of rock, and have recently started listening to classical. Familiar music is best if I need to concentrate, but silence is intolerable. I usually fall asleep with music on but don't have it on all night. When my husband is away I usually have at least four of my Squeezeboxes sync'd and playing the same music throughout the house. It's glorious! I find listening to film scores is very enjoyable for enhancing the reading experience.

02-21-2014, 10:02 PM	#7
icallaci Guru Posts: 766 Karma: 6528026 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kobo Elipsa	When I listen to music, I LISTEN to music. My poor brain can do only one thing at a time. I can't read with any kind of background noise, be it music, conversation, TV, barking dogs, etc.

02-21-2014, 10:03 PM	#8
barutanseijin Nxfgrrjks Posts: 99 Karma: 925422 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York, NY Device: aura hd	I can usually read in environments with music that i don't choose, such as in a cafe. It doesn't matter what the music is, i can usually tune it out. If i'm at home, i prefer silence.

02-21-2014, 10:28 PM	#10
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I generally prefer classical music without words, though some choral music in Latin is ok. I like music especially if I'm reading while out and there are conversations around me. It doesn't mystically fine-tune my brain, it just screens out other sounds.

02-22-2014, 01:04 AM	#11
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	The voice of Frank Sinatra goes with everything.

02-22-2014, 02:06 AM	#12
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I voted Classical and Zen/Meditation. I usually read in silence, but when I do have music in the background, it is either mellow classical music (Beethoven's 5th Symphony or Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries would hardly do for reading) or new age/space/meditation music.

02-22-2014, 05:02 AM	#13
CBG Member Posts: 18 Karma: 2135990 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cannes (French Riviera) Device: Kobo H2O, Libra	I recently tried reading with Hans Zimmers filmscores going through earbuds - it greatly helps setting the mood and filtering out TV and whatever else the girls are doing in the house.

02-22-2014, 07:59 AM	#15
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	I like listening to music when I read. I prefer something like Amethystium which I think falls under the Zen/Meditation, or it might go under Techno. And I also like Enya or Classical. Thank goodness for Pandora!