<p>So my mom and I basically just had this ridiculous argument over my grades, behavior, and music. According to her, music leads to self-destruction and top students should not listen to it if they want to learn. She says that one major why she did not go to college after h.s. was because she loved music. </p>
<p>The reason the argument started was because:
1) my ipod was connected to my computer because I needed to upload a voice recording to help memorize lines
2) Yesterday at the gym I was listening to a techno song while running.</p>
<p>The whole thing irritates me because I barley have any songs, I barely listen to my ipod, and I use it in order to memorize lines/facts for spanish or ap euro. What is soo bad about this? She thinks that because in the olden days there was no technology, we do not need it, esp ipods. What do you think??</p>
<p>Personally, I cannot see how anyone can accomplish anything with music playing at the same time. I find it extremely distracting.</p>
<p>But I have to admit that most of the current generation of young people vehemently disagree -- and so do a lot of people my own age. I just bought my sister an iPod for her fiftieth birthday, and she loves it. But if someone bought me one, I would never use it. I only play music in the car, and even then it has to be instrumental music because lyrics are too distracting when I'm driving.</p>
<p>I am obviously a crackpot and an old one at that.</p>
<p>I used to be able to listen to music while doing homework. I got high grades in high school and college doing work with music on.</p>
<p>However, as I've gotten older I find having music on while I try to do something requiring a lot of thought (reading, writing, driving in heavy traffic, etc) is too distracting. I think as we age we lose some ability to multi-task. Perhaps your mom finds it hard to work with music on so she can't understand how you can do it.</p>
<p>Ask her if she'd feel the same way about classical music? </p>
<p>It's also possible that she's just intimidated because you're using technology that she doesn't understand how to use.</p>
<p>Lafalum, perhaps we used up our lifetime supply of the ability to multitask during the years when we struggled to attempt to do anything while simultaneously supervising small children.</p>
<p>This would fit in with the fact that my middle-aged sister who loves her iPod is childless. ;)</p>
<p>I gave my hubby an iPod for Christmas. He was initially reluctant, but now he has loaded it completely full of songs and never takes it off. It drives me nuts because I can hear him puttering around in the basement or walking around upstairs, but I call him and he doesn't answer me because he can't hear me.</p>
<p>When DS first got his iPod, he even had it on while brushing his teeth. Eventually the thrill wore off.... I hope hubby will re-join society soon.</p>
<p>My knows that I like classical, opera, and most of all...techno....</p>
<p>Most of what I listen to has no lyrics. I rarely ever listen to my ipod. I only did once when I was running, I do when I'm memorizing (I record my voice), and then sometimes at school... I realy don't see what her problem is! It's sooo irksome!! I NEVER listen to music when I do work/study. It's way to distracting. SHe thinks evryone who does well in school listens to no music. I think she always sees life in extremes or something.</p>
<p>I can't stand to write code (programs) without music - preferably something that moves like rock, oldies, 70s, etc. The noise actually helps me concentrate and focus on the code and if you've ever written code you know that there are times that one must concentrate heavily - juggling algorithms, variables, etc in one's head. I don't listen to talk radio when trying to concentrate - only music. I can't stand listening to 'slow' music though - no easy listening, slow jazz, or Mariah Carey type songs for me. I was listening to Chris Brown last night because one of my Ds likes him. I thought he was okay so I like a variety - even new stuff.</p>
<p>I had a colleague though that couldn't stand any noise when he was writing code so he wore ear-cup type headphones (with no music) to block out as much noise as possible.</p>
<p>I also can't stand to work out without a distraction of some type. When I do the lifecycle I usually have the TV on and when I head out walking I have a radio on listening to talk radio (since I don't have to concentrate).</p>
<p>Since music and sounds affect people differently your mom should try to realize that your experience and hers aren't necessarily going to be the same. Maybe your mom's more like my colleague and you're more like me in regards to listening to music. I don't really understand your mom's statement about how her love of music somehow prevented her from going to college. If you go to a campus virtually everyone is listening to music all the time except when they're talking on their cell phone.</p>
<p>I can listen to instrumental music while studying: for the past two hours I've been listening to Beethoven's "Ninth" while writing a Euro essay. (Ironically, it was about German nationalism... should've thrown some Wagner in there.) I can't listen to any vocals, though: I'll start singing along, and I won't be able to think about what I'm working on. I think it's good: I've always hated silence (it scares me) and music keeps my mind from wandering off and wondering if there's a horror movie killer behind me. I'm bringing in my CD player (no iPod...) to listen to during Gym class because I basically only do cardio and I feel dumb sitting there while everyone else is listening to music.</p>
<p>I don't get her argument that it's unnecessary, though: lots of modern things could be considered "unnecessary." Like, you know, computers. Everyone used to get along fine: why bother having instant communication and access to innumerable resources now? There are phones and libraries for that.</p>
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According to her, music leads to self-destruction and top students should not listen to it if they want to learn.
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<p>That's one of the silliest things I've ever heard. In fact I'd be willing to bet that top students are MORE likely to have a strong interest in music or a music background (e.g. playing an instrument) than your average student.</p>
<p>Music is a basic ingredient for us. My daughters would feel naked without music (and their iPods) 24/7. The older one is at Brown University (math concentration), is an accomplished musician & dancer, and never received a grade below an “A” though high school. Her younger sister is in the same academic boat, and is one of the top few sopranos in our State Chorus. Studies show a positive relationship between music & learning.</p>
<p>I just had my Physical on Friday. My physician went to Brown too. He majored in music composition.</p>
<p>At work, I have music on all day – unless I’m on the phone. In fact, among the first things you might notice as you enter my office is the pair of B&W 803 speakers that rise almost 4 feet off the floor.</p>
<p>Seems to me it’s an individual choice. Some people are distracted. Others can’t manage without it. You should be able to decide what works for you. </p>
<p>Of course, from your first sentence, it sounds like this argument isn’t really just about music & your iPod.</p>
<p>Music is very much an individual choice. We did not have much music in the house growing up, as both of my parents prefer quiet. If I have a long car ride (traveling alone), after about 3-4 hours of silence I sometimes put in a book on tape to relieve boredom, but never music and I don't even start the book tape until I have savored the total silence for a really long time. I feel claustraphobic to have the radio on in a closed environment like the car, although sometimes my H will put on NPR talk radio and I try to be a good sport about it. </p>
<p>My kids can listen to their IPODs all they want and can have the radio on in their bedroom or bathroom or any room where I can't hear it too loudly. H will also listen to classical music in his study, but that is about it in our house. I find silence relaxing and pleasant, but really do try not to impose that on others. We have always lived in a big house, in part so I can find a quiet area. For a special occasion (maybe once every few months), I might listen to a CD, but I just sit and listen to it and don't try to do some other activity like talk or read or work at the same time.</p>
<p>My H and I are opposites - He likes complete and total silence when concentrating, (and sleeping), and I like music. As I've gotten older, perhaps because of his influence, I've gotten used to the silence. But I had to remind him that not everyone is like him, because he used to get on our kids when he heard music coming from their rooms when they were supposed to be studying. He had a hard time with the concept. We compromised that if the kids' grades fell, then we as parents had a right to intervene in their study habits, but if all was well, we had no right. As far as I know, they still enjoy listening, but since they all have iPods and headphones, it's much less obvious - even when they ARE home.</p>
<p>So my guess is that your mom has a hard time with background music, so she thinks her way is the only way. Are you allowed to study with the door closed? If she can't see you, and can't hear you, will it still be an issue? But rather than make it an issue between you, or get defensive, perhaps you can calmly explain to her that you are a different person, and perhaps what always works for her is not the same as what works for you, but that you appreciate her concern, and will keep it in mind should your grades start to suffer. Ask her if there is a specific reason that she is concerned about you - is there something that has happened that makes her feel your current performance isn't good enough?</p>
<p>This is a personal thing. Some folks CAN listen to music and complete tasks (both of my kids, and I can do this). Others need silence (or close to it) to complete tasks (DH is like this). I agree with Binx...is your product (your task completed) a good one? Does your parent have reason to believe there is SOMETHING that is interfering with getting the job done well? Is the job getting done well or are there issues with that? If everything is going well, try pointing that out. If not, maybe you should consider suggestions to improve the end product.</p>
<p>My D and my students have said that music creates a sort of background noise that drowns out the outside world and the distractions that come from there. That makes sense to me.</p>
<p>This has a familiar ring to me. I think I understand where your mom is coming from and my reading is that it is possible that she is just...scared. She probably knows how competitive this whole high school and college process has become and she wants the very best for you. She is perhaps fearful that the music is a distracting influence and will impair your ability to perform at your best. If any of what I am suggesting is remotely correct, then I suggest you give her a big hug, tell her you love her, tell her you're working hard and doing your best and that the music actually helps you do better. I'm pretty sure that you're both going for the same goal of creating a good outcome for you in life and in college. Cut her a little slack and hopefully she'll do the same for you. </p>
<p>If I'm wrong, please forgive my judgments and ignore me.</p>
<p>My kids all study with music on and they do very well in school. Nothing too loud, mostly listening to their ipods.
I have an ipod too ..mostly listen to it while on a dock speaker.
When I am working , I listen to a radio station on line that it in Mass. I do have to have it low because I am mostly talking to customers on the phone
My husband gets very distracted with music on. he cannot talk on the phone with any music.</p>
<p>I can't work to music with words, but I know plenty of people who are just fine with a constant soundtrack to their lives. (DH is one of them - Harvard undergrad, Caltech Ph.D.) I can't imagine trying to exercise without music going. I'm a bit surprised that your mother is so worried, since it sounds like you barely listen to music at all.</p>
<p>I also can't work to music with words. Even an instrumental version of a song I know the words to is too distracting. I "hear" the lyrics and they break my concentration. I turn the radio off when I'm driving downtown and there are a lot of one way streets and construction going on - I need the inside of the car to be quiet so I can concentrate on my route. But my husband and my kids can all do complicated tasks listening to any type of music; it doesn't bother them at all. My husband is from a lively household (7 kids) and I think that when he was in high school, he needed background music to study to drown out the rest of the hubbub of the house. </p>
<p>I have accepted that my kids can study while listening to music, but I have to admit: I can't stand to see kids doing real homework in a room with a TV on.</p>