This Music Helps Productivity
Finally, I’ve found music that doesn’t distract me with it’s catchy and rhythmic beats. I decided to play some—watch out fellow Gen Y‘ers—classical music while working on a project.
More specifically, I tried playing my dad’s copy of Romanza by Renato Lucas & Raul Sunico (a pianist and a cellist). Old school sound, yet on a easy to rip medium. Good thing iTunes pulls the song names from the net.
But I digress. A few minutes into Romanza, I realized that I was totally into my work, focused on what I was doing. After finishing the first draft, I paused and thought about what happened. Then it hit me.
The classical music album helped my productivity because it was relaxing. It’s always nice to listen to our favorite pop/rock/jazz/yada yada songs. But again we encounter the problem of beats and rhythym. They’re designed to attract your ears and attention, and they do a good job of doing so. You have listening to the music, but your productivity suffers.
Some kinds of classical music on the other hand are subtle; they don’t try to grab your focus. And even if I lose myself in favorites like Canon in D, it only happens briefly. After the relatively minor distraction passes, returning to work seems a lot easier.
I could rave some more about classical music and productivity, but I’d like to hear what you dear readers have to say. Does slow-tempoed classical music really improve your productivity? Or is it so relaxing that it actually makes you sleepy? And, by talking about classical music even if I’m 25 years old (as of this writing), am I already showing my age?
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POSTED IN: Ramblings of a Freelancer, Ways to Work Faster
8 opinions for This Music Helps Productivity
Vyoma
Jun 8, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Ah. Music.
You should have seen me during my days as a engineering student - rock, hard rock and heavy metal. And it was all battle of bands and such stuff. (Those days - I feel nostalgic).
But then, once I got a job (day job albeit), and thought I should learn an instrument and not just listen to music, I started of with guitar. I got a teacher who taught classical western music. It changed my perspective. Classical music meant being uncool before.
But now, even though I do listen to the stuff I used to listen to earlier, I have started to appreciate classical music. Its depth, its richness, and yet, most of the time, its subtlelity seems to relax me and also enthrall me at the same time.
But I never tried listening to music and working anytime. I think I will give it a try. :)
Samuel K. Ackerman, CMT
Jun 10, 2007 at 10:29 am
Have you considered contemporary genres such as many forms of Trance and most Ambient styles. These also fade into the background and typically contain few or no vocal or lyrical components.
Rico
Jun 10, 2007 at 11:37 am
Vyoma: Well, I may find rhythmic music distracting, but music’s effect will always depend on the listener. Tris for instance says that he “needs it to get any work done.” Whatever works for you works. :)
Samuel: Ah, you mean music like “New Age” and “Chill” right? Hmmm… some of the louder examples I still find distracting, but maybe I should try out the more subtle ones…
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Jun 11, 2007 at 5:00 am
[…] at Contract-Worker tells us about how classical music actually helps get the job […]
Des Walsh
Jun 12, 2007 at 9:55 pm
I recall listening to a tape by sales expert Brian Tracy who said baroque music (about 1600-1750) actually helps creativity while you are working or, say, learning a language: e.g. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi,
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Jun 13, 2007 at 8:55 am
[…] at Contract-Worker tells us about how classical music actually helps get the job […]
Rico
Jun 15, 2007 at 5:50 am
Des: Perhaps I should try that out too. I’m not familiar with Baroque, is it also relaxing?
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Jun 16, 2007 at 5:04 pm
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