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Can you concentrate better with music or in silence?
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silence.
When I was a kid I could do my homework with the music blaring, but that's changed in my old age. ;-)
Posted by: Lisa | February 21, 2006 at 12:15 AM
dead silence
Posted by: plumkrazzee | February 21, 2006 at 12:29 AM
defintely with music.
Posted by: barbie2be | February 21, 2006 at 12:30 AM
depends on what I'm doing. :)
Posted by: zee | February 21, 2006 at 12:32 AM
yes
Posted by: caspar | February 21, 2006 at 12:49 AM
I like perfect silence.
Posted by: Marybeth | February 21, 2006 at 01:01 AM
Depends what I am working on...And my day! Before motherhood, raging loud music...Now that I have a toddler, silence is golden!
chelle
Posted by: chelle | February 21, 2006 at 01:45 AM
It all depends on the music...I think I would rather just "listen" to music and not be doing any other kind of thinking/concentrated work...I'f I'm cutting up vegetables, music is perfecr, but if I'm trying to write...I get so very involved in the music (which is great for me..) that I can't really concentrate on what I'm writing....if that makes any sense!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | February 21, 2006 at 03:36 AM
Silence!
Posted by: emaleejayne | February 21, 2006 at 04:11 AM
Depends what I'm doing. Silence for creative work when I need to hear what's inside my head, music to keep me going through tedious tasks.
Posted by: Zinnia Cyclamen | February 21, 2006 at 05:01 AM
Music, to numb the bits of my brain that try to sidetrack me from what I'm working on. Music is like sweets to keep the little kid in my head occupied when it wants me to come out and play instead of doing my job.
Posted by: Kat | February 21, 2006 at 05:17 AM
I think silence is better than music but music is better than general noise so it depends what I'm doing and where I am.
Posted by: Jo-less | February 21, 2006 at 05:25 AM
Usually silence.
Posted by: Scouser | February 21, 2006 at 05:45 AM
My answer would be the same as Zinnia's and Naomi's. For example, I love to have music on when I am cooking, but if I am trying to decipher a new recipe, I'd have to have silence.
Posted by: kenju | February 21, 2006 at 07:15 AM
for me, music is good when cleaning the house. it's up so loud the floors vibrate.
when I was in college, like other who have commented, it was easy for me to blare the music and study. nowadays, I prefer silence.
Posted by: amy | February 21, 2006 at 09:06 AM
I'm good at blocking out the noise around me, so either works for me.
Posted by: Mo | February 21, 2006 at 09:16 AM
silence. I also have to have silence to sleep.
Posted by: deana | February 21, 2006 at 09:31 AM
Depends. If I am creating with the computer I like to listen to Black Sabbath.
Other times I need the quiet.
Posted by: Nancy | February 21, 2006 at 09:31 AM
definitely with music.
Posted by: Noelle | February 21, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Depends on the task.
Posted by: Courtney | February 21, 2006 at 10:11 AM
Shhhh! I'm trying to work.
Posted by: Nienke | February 21, 2006 at 10:14 AM
Depends what I'm doing. I really enjoy silence when I can get some though!
Posted by: Marie | February 21, 2006 at 10:30 AM
It all depends...when I'm cleaning, I need music, when I'm reading, I need silence.
Posted by: trinity13 | February 21, 2006 at 10:42 AM
depends on what i'm working on... sometimes i find myself halfway into something and realize it's silent. other times i need music to set the tone.
Posted by: monique | February 21, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Usually silence, although I love music. I never quite got into that theory that listening to music while doing artwork or writing keeps the logical part of your brain occupied so that the creative part can have full sway.
Posted by: robin | February 21, 2006 at 11:11 AM
Silence, blessed silence!
Posted by: JAnet | February 21, 2006 at 11:19 AM
I have to have silence. I get too distracted. When I'm in the zone, it doesn't take much to get me out.
Posted by: Maryanne | February 21, 2006 at 11:27 AM
Depends greatly on what I'm doing. But most of the time I find dead silence un-nerving and distracting. There is almost always SOMETHING playing noise in my house . . . tv, stereo or computer. :)
Posted by: Phil | February 21, 2006 at 11:47 AM
Silence, most definitely. If music is playing, I'm either singing along, or become extremely annoyed trying to block it out.
Posted by: intuitivewoman | February 21, 2006 at 12:22 PM
It depends on what I'm concentrating on. When I was taking my college algebra (which tried really hard to kick my ass) I could only do it with really loud country music blaring on the stereo.
Then when I was taking one of my Psych classes, I needed total silence, which is hard to find in my house. That is when I began reading in my walk in closet. Now, I go there (to my closet) to read some my history books for class because that is the one place in the house the kids don’t bother me.
Posted by: keb | February 21, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Usually with music
Posted by: Dorkette | February 21, 2006 at 01:08 PM
Silence, my mind is like a leaf in the wind.
I don't even like it when the organist plays while the preacher prays in church. How am I supposed to concentrate?!?
Posted by: Jennie | February 21, 2006 at 01:46 PM
Silence if I'm working; music if I'm reading.
Posted by: Thumper | February 21, 2006 at 02:27 PM
Depends on the activity really, but I'd say without music mostly.
Posted by: archshrk | February 21, 2006 at 03:36 PM
Music! Luckily I have a job where I can listen to my iPod. It helps me focus, otherwise I am up in everyone else's conversations.
Posted by: Shannin | February 21, 2006 at 04:12 PM
Depends on what I'm doing, and what type of music. Usually, I have music.
Posted by: Jill | February 21, 2006 at 04:30 PM
Depends on what I'm doing, and what type of music. Usually, I have music.
Posted by: Jill | February 21, 2006 at 04:31 PM
silence. No breathing please.
Posted by: Valderbar the Cat | February 21, 2006 at 04:50 PM
depends on what i'm doing.
Posted by: better safe than sorry | February 21, 2006 at 05:20 PM
Music (usually piano & sax)
Posted by: Viamarie | February 21, 2006 at 05:35 PM
Silence when reading. Silence, I guess, period.
Posted by: Jessica | February 21, 2006 at 05:35 PM
Music.
After this day, http://johnwaynesdaughter.blogspot.com/2006/02/king-of-bedside-manor.html
I've been suffering from tinnitus ever since!
Posted by: Marisa | February 21, 2006 at 06:31 PM
That depends...if I'm working on my writing, the only music I can have on would be anything by Enya or Yearning, Romances for Alto Flute and it's incredibly beautiful and mystical.
Posted by: Terri | February 21, 2006 at 06:37 PM
Music - but *only* if I'm controlling the selection, volume, and duration. And if I'm really trying to concentrate, whatever you do - DON'T touch the music and/or try to talk to me...!
Posted by: Betsy | February 21, 2006 at 07:43 PM
Music. And I must be the one to choose it. Why yes, I often answer my own questions. Don't you?
I do not function well in silence. No, not well at all. I must have music.
Posted by: Mamacita | February 21, 2006 at 07:55 PM
Normally I find silence distracting. But sometimes, I can't work any other way.
Posted by: sandy | February 21, 2006 at 08:00 PM
Depends entirely on what I'm doing. I need silence to write...to hear the words tumble around in my head. For design work, I'm far more efficient when I've got good music on. I also can't manage to get ANYTHING done with disparate types of music and/or tv, or other competing noises. For example, if the TV is on and music is on at the same time, I get...well...so distracted and irritated by not being able to hear myself think that I don't get anything done.
Posted by: callie | February 21, 2006 at 10:17 PM
music on. It's like white noise to me.
Posted by: chronicler | February 21, 2006 at 11:29 PM
silence
Posted by: margalit | February 22, 2006 at 04:41 AM
silence
Posted by: margalit | February 22, 2006 at 04:41 AM