Music you listen to whilst you study/work/read

[Mr F.]

After reading for a few strait hours (Humanities student. All we fucking DO is read. And people think we do no work. Because we barely go to lectures. And spend all of our time outside of lectures READING.) I decided it was time to procrastinate for a while. I mean, its saturday, I cannot spend ALL my time working.

So! Escapists! I was wondering what you listen to whilst working?

Due to losing my music collection when my last laptop caught fire, I currently combine the following two websites for my listening pleasure whilst I work. I find the mixture makes me calm, restful and able to consume political philosophy at a rate that means I might pass my first year. The latter website was introducced to me by my last girlfriend. The tag line is right, rain DOES make everything better.

http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=q7DBoiyBoJ8
http://www.rainymood.com/

As for the Gymnopedies? I believe that they are some of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. One of my happiest memories is associated with the Gymnopedies, it is both my parents "Song" (As in, the three combined works, which I listen to on repeat, is the song my parents listen to when they want to remember why they love each other.) and the "Song" of my relationship with my ex-fiance.

All this knowledge just sorta makes me restful and calm. And yeah. That is why I listen to it. Plus Erik himself referred to some of his music as "Furniture" music, the Gymnopedies are designed to be listened to in the background.

Went a bit deep into all of that crap. I guess I am procrastinating.

TLDR;

What shit do you listen to whilst working? Or do you just sit there in silence?

 

[Euryalus]

I generally listen to videogame music from youtube while I'm typing. For everything else just silence. Some of the most common stuff are these...

Spoiler: Vidya game music

 

[The Wykydtron]

Listening to music while doing other things like typing, gaming, reading etc etc makes me about 10% worse at whatever i'm doing. It's ridiculous.

Doesn't stop me from doing it though, except when i'm reading a book then it's just undoable.

Though music helps dull the pain when I (having missed my Sanity Medication) read random fanfiction.

Here have a sample from my playlist:

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

After reading for a few strait hours (Humanities student. All we fucking DO is read. And people think we do no work. Because we barely go to lectures. And spend all of our time outside of lectures READING.)

Quoted for motherfucking truth. I'm English Lit, second year. I get 6 hours contact time a week and about 30 to 40 hours worth of extra reading, including critical theory, poetry, drama, film script, novels, novellas, short stories, compendiums, collections, encyclopedias, journals, extracts, quotes and texts written in dead languages like Old Norse and Latin.

AND I LOVE IT

Anyway, OT:

I used to listen to a lot of heavy metal, thrash metal and punk when I was in high school and Sixth Form when I worked -

Spoiler: This kind of stuff

- except the problem with this is that trying to study to this is sort of impossible. Too fast-paced and I start concentrating on the music more than the texts.

Now I'm at uni I've started to study to either quieter or more mellow bands and songs, as well as some nicer ambienty pieces, especially stuff from video games. It's a lot easier to concentrate on the texts, and actually a lot nicer to study to quieter music I found.

Spoiler: Now I study to this kind of stuff

Spoiler: Separate spoiler for video game music. Some of this is relaxing and some of this is just awesome stuff that reminds me of great times spent playing incredible games

 

[DugMachine]

If i'm studying or reading it's got to be instrumental. Lyrics and voices distract me too much and I don't focus.

If I'm playing video games though.. usually electronic.

 

[Able Seacat]

I quite enjoy piano music. So stuff by Ludovico Einaudi and Helen Jane Long are good for me.

 

[Launcelot111]

I listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack on repeat. The non-Christmas carol songs are killer.

 

[Mr F.]

After reading for a few strait hours (Humanities student. All we fucking DO is read. And people think we do no work. Because we barely go to lectures. And spend all of our time outside of lectures READING.)

Quoted for motherfucking truth. I'm English Lit, second year. I get 6 hours contact time a week and about 30 to 40 hours worth of extra reading, including critical theory, poetry, drama, film script, novels, novellas, short stories, compendiums, collections, encyclopedias, journals, extracts, quotes and texts written in dead languages like Old Norse and Latin.

AND I LOVE IT

Anyway, OT:

I used to listen to a lot of heavy metal, thrash metal and punk when I was in high school and Sixth Form when I worked -

Spoiler: This kind of stuff

- except the problem with this is that trying to study to this is sort of impossible. Too fast-paced and I start concentrating on the music more than the texts.

Now I'm at uni I've started to study to either quieter or more mellow bands and songs, as well as some nicer ambienty pieces, especially stuff from video games. It's a lot easier to concentrate on the texts, and actually a lot nicer to study to quieter music I found.

Spoiler: Now I study to this kind of stuff

Spoiler: Separate spoiler for video game music. Some of this is relaxing and some of this is just awesome stuff that reminds me of great times spent playing incredible games

Don't get me wrong, I love the reading. BUT ALL WE DO IS READ.

Got second year humanities friends, they think the greatest problem with being a humanities student is if you can manage your time properly, nobody thinks you do anything.

Main reason I quoted you is to say "Cheers for reminding me about the Dropkick Murphy's and Flogging Molly". Since I got to Uni I have been rediscovering my old love for different music. Been listening to Frank Turner and more Frank Turner for ages, with various tracks from shows I like (So lots of random shit from House, such as My Body is a Cage - Peter Gabriel, or shit from Scrubs or Castle). I used to love Flogging Molly. It might be 2am but I will go and listen to a few songs, most of my flat mates are trying to extend the freshers week buzz tonight in town anyway.

As for the rest of you who have been posting (And you, person I am quoting), I find it strange the amount of Video game music that is being posted. Then again, I have no idea why, one of my favourite albums is the RDR soundtrack.

Oh, and guy I am quoting, my sisters bloke listens to metal whilst working on his PhD. Its strange. He gets really into it, you can hear him drumming on his desk if you are downstairs and you are playing games (I lived with my sister and a bloke for a year, I don't now that I am at Uni). I have no idea how he manages it, it is so gorram mental. Vocals auto-distract me when I am working.

EDIT


THANKYOU SO MUCH. I HAD NOT LISTENED TO THAT SONG IN OVER A YEAR. It literally got me through some hard times, it used to be my favourite song and I totally forgot about it. You are now my favourite internet person. Internet person of the year. This was "The" song of my first real relationship. So yeah. Man. Memories. 4 year old (Or as near as makes no difference.) memories.

University has been a whistlestop tour of my past with me cherry picking the best bits out of it. And you have taken part in that xD. Thankyou again, Ser.

 

[Verex]

I either listen to movie soundtracks or some alternative music. I save the rock for gaming.

 

[Marter]

Whatever I happen to be enjoying at the time. I don't change what I listen to based on the activity.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

When I study I always have some death metal, hardstyle or rap blasting full volume wonder through my headphones. It helps me focus more than coffee and calms me down immensely.

Spoiler: A Sample

In Flames Dozer Eyedea & Abilities

 

[Fijiman]

I can't really specify any music mostly because I don't listen to music while working. When I do I generally listen to a mix of different kinds of music ranging from rock to techno to random remixes of songs.

 

[Bat Vader]

It depends on what mood I am in or need to be in. if I feel/need to feel calm I listen to Chill Trance. If I need to feel some type of emotion I listen to Trance or Vocal Trance.

 

[neoontime]

I tend to focus better when there's alot going on in a song so mashups tend to be good material.

 

[AnotherAvatar]

Well most of the time I'm doing homework it's for a music course, so listening to music sort of throws me off. Especially because I now have a genuine tendency to be examining it while I listen and one simple interesting cadence can totally distract me.

That said I'll usually put on a mix of various types of EDM, anything with a solid drive to it to help me push through whatever the work may be.

 

[Mordekaien]

Usually this piece.


it's nice, relaxing, and when you put the volume down it's not so disturbing so that you can't concentrate on whatever the hell you're doing.

Or Stephan Micus. God, do I love his works, just liten to this


Awesome. Fuckin' awesome song.

 

[Slenn]

If it's some general studying, I like to listen to stuff by ATB. I really like it alot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqrTCyg1VpE&feature=BFa&list=PLA56323789E79F1B1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWZhqy7ly1A&feature=BFa&list=PLA56323789E79F1B1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_L6Tys0cA&feature=BFa&list=PLA56323789E79F1B1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajuY4ervxIg&feature=BFa&list=PLA56323789E79F1B1

Other times, it's usually the radio ambient music that's on Drone Zone on Soma FM. I like it alot.

Sometimes to have fun, I'll listen to music that would fit the theme of what I'm studying. For example, I'd listen to the Metroid Prime music for the Chozo Ruins while reading about archaeology. I also listened to the Zerg music from Starcraft while reading about the Black Death for a history class.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Whenever I have stuff that needs working on, I just turn on the old Pandora, set it to the Megadeth channel, and go on my merry way. Pandora freaking rocks.