Study Music

Cafe Society
1

This is my first post- so i should probably explain first that I’m an undergrad studying for a Joint MA in Philosophy and social and Economic History.

Whenever it comes to the dull task of revising (what im doing now), i like to alternate between listening to music and silence. I realise the silence is probably a better option for most, but i find that listening to music in the background actually helps stop my mind from wandering and is useful to pace yourself by.

It is however, difficult to find good study music. It needs to be enjoyable, not to intrusive but varied.

Today i discovered Elbow - leaders of the free world helps, as does lemon Jelly

cant really remember anything from my A-levels, but for some reason, the not particularly good charity album ‘hope’ worked.

Does anybody else have recommendations?

Are those classical ‘music to study by’ albums any good?

Apparently Blur works.

2

Classical music is good to study by, but I have a visceral dislike of those collections. They remind of K-Tel. I’d get some Bach. You can figure out which pieces you like at sites like bachcentral. Alternatively, you might try some Hüsker Dü from the mid-80s. Zen Arcade, Flip Your Wig, or Candy Apple Grey would be nice. I’m not so sure about mixing the two, though.

3

Brian Eno. Good new age stuff.

4

I prefer instrumental music when I’m studying (or writing a paper, or really needing to concentrate at work), and my favorite study music is by a group called Bond: four hot chicks, all classically-trained musicians (two play violin, one plays cello, one plays viola), performing a “fusion of pop, worldbeat, and classical instrumentation.” Their stuff is usually up-tempo, which helps my energy while concentrating. Of course, YMMV.

5

Hooray! my first post wasn’t a failure! thanks for your suggestions, i spent this morning CD shopping.

**Misnomer **, i remember seeing an advert (i think) for bond once. why would anyone want to play there instruments in the sea? That’s just silly.

6

Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould’s 1981 version. My favourite study music.

7

There does seem to be some evidence that listening to music while studying can be beneficial. See here.

Or try a search on listening to music while studying for some more research as well as some ideas on what other poeple like to listen to.

8

For me, the best study (or working) music must meet the following criteria:

  1. It should have a steady dynamic so I don’t have to worry about adjusting the volume constantly.
  2. It should be mid-tempo. Too fast becomes annoying and too slow will put me to sleep.
  3. There should be as little singing as possible. It helps if the lyrics are in a language I can’t sing along with.

That being said, here are my recommendations:

Classical composers

  • Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto #2, Piano Concerto #3, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini
  • Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherezade
  • Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (preferably the solo piano arrangement)
  • Bach: I second the nomination of Goldberg Variations.

Film Soundtracks

  • Much Ado About Nothing and Henry V - Patrick Doyle
  • Othello - Charlie Mole
  • The Piano - Michael Nyman
  • Master & Commander - various
  • Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
9

My study music has to be up-tempo and flowing (i.e., not repetetive). The focus shouldn’t be on the lyrics; instrumentals are better.

As others have said, piano music fits the bill nicely. I have a Chopin Etudes, Ballades and Waltzes CD which is my all time favourite. Alternatively:

Camel - The Snow Goose (Very beautiful, essentially classical with rock instruments)
Gong - Shamal, Gazeuse! (Jazz fusion, dominated by flowing percussion.)

And a few that don’t fit my criteria:

Kraftwerk - Computerwelt (very repetitive) (Classic ‘computerised’ synthesisers. Simple sounding - easy to follow.)
Air - Moon Safari (slow) (Ambient, yet catchy - very spacey. Synthesizer heavy.)
Zero 7 - Simple Things (slow) (Very similar to Moon Safari - perhaps a few more real instruments.)

I’d also highly recommend any of them for normal listening. Check out Amazon or allmusic.com for a better of idea of what they sound like.

I suppose Blur would work, but it’d have to be 13 or Think Tank.

10

My current favorite study music is an album I absolutely cannot get enough of: Bartok in the Desert: The Art of Iren Marik.

Normally I’m not a huge fan of Bartok or Liszt, but Marik makes it truly moving and beautiful. I also like her rendition of Beethoven’s Sonata 30 better than the other version I have (Alfred Brendel as I recall).

It’s good, dynamic music, soothing enough to help your mind think but at no point does it put you to sleep.

11

I really like studying to Paul Oakenfold. The stuff without lyrics or with repeating lyrics is really good as a non-distracting background.