Do you read with background music? (human)

[baker Freesia]

No music here while reading, sometimes the tv. is on low, I can deal with that, most of the time I read in total silence.

[House4kids]

I'm distracted by the silence - i need something for background noise.

[njkate]

I can listen to mood music tuned low....like Sound Scapes, can not listen to anything with lyrics as it's to distracting for me when reading

[Mooseketeer]

It has to be silence for me as I find any sound a distraction. I certainly could not read to a commercial radio with adverts, or one which has talking either. Even Classical music is something I cannot get used to when reading.

And it a song has lyrics then it is an absolute no no as lyrics are hugely important to me and I actually listen to the words which then enter my head and reading is then over. Hubby can read with the tv or the radio on and it amazes me.

I need to retreat into my own little world when reading and noise ( even beautiful noise) is simply not conducive to concentration for me.

[TRosa]

Originally Posted by House4kids

I'm distracted by the silence - i need something for background noise.

This is me, there's usually something in the background, even if it's just the sound of the ocean when I'm at the beach.

[Ketabcha]

I can't listen to music while reading because I get very involved with the music. In other words, I take part in the music either by singing along with it or, in the case of classical music, getting so depressed I can't do much of anything else.

On the other hand, I can't drive without a CD playing. I'm one of those drivers you see on the road who is singing like there is no tomorrow.

Funny, though. I can read in a crowded waiting room with no problem at all. I guess I can tune out everything except tunes.

[TRosa]

Originally Posted by Ketabcha

I can't listen to music while reading because I get very involved with the music. In other words, I take part in the music either by singing along with it or, in the case of classical music, getting so depressed I can't do much of anything else.

On the other hand, I can't drive without a CD playing. I'm one of those drivers you see on the road who is singing like there is no tomorrow.

Funny, though. I can read in a crowded waiting room with no problem at all. I guess I can tune out everything except tunes.

I actually have to be careful what the background music is, can't be finger snapping upbeat tunes, or I'll be too distracted, I tried reading a serious toned book while listening to pop tunes and that didn't go over very well. Ketabcha, I'm the lady in the other car head bobbing, lips moving, body shaking to music as well. I know I'm a sight to see. But I like to have classical, alternative lite, easy listening like Enya (have six of cds), Enigma, or Sade, Seal Nora Jones and Marc Anthony. Those kinds of sounds I like in the background.

['M']

At home, generally, no...because I can't concentrate. Especially if I'm reading something 'technical'. But why is it that I can do it at Starbucks with their piped in music? Huh.

[cloven]

If I'm not watching tv shows online, then I'm listening to music.
It acts as a "white-noise" machine to help obscure/cover/dilute other sounds (made by other people). I don't pay much attention to lyrics, my reasons for wanting to hear songs usually have little to do with the words. Listening to a playlist on repeat (or full album) is much easier than having to stop reading every few minutes and decide which track to listen to next.

Speaking voice (from radio/tv/real life talking) does distract me, interferes w/reading. Can't mentally screen out (ignore) ads, find them very jarring (but I only hear them in stores, not at home). Concentrating on reading doesn't work well for me out in public, because I have too much on my mind to deal with in the present moment-but once I'm back home, I can settle into reading with focus (accompanied by soundtrack of my own choosing).

[Ketabcha]

I can't read if there is background music because I sing along with it and thus cannot read.