Good background music??

[mangopassion]

I'm wondering if any mamas here know of some good background music to put on while kids are doing "school work". I know that Dr. Frank Lawlis believes that certain kind of music can inspire kids and help them absorb information. However, I don't know how I can find out what kind of music this is. So any of you have some good ideas for background music? Thanks!!

[Nemmer]

Well, I don't know of any studies or technical reasons for it, but I'd probably just play classical background music. I've actually been thinking of doing that myself. Then we play kid music for a lot of the rest of the day. I'm interested to see what others say, though.

[MyBaby'sSmile]

I use a variety of music. Usually it is yoga / meditative style music. Deva Premal is a favourite here. Anything easy to listen to and soothing works well here.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by mangopassion

I'm wondering if any mamas here know of some good background music to put on while kids are doing "school work". I know that Dr. Frank Lawlis believes that certain kind of music can inspire kids and help them absorb information.

I'm a musician and the parent to four highly focused, bright, musical kids. I believe strongly in the value of music listening, but I thought I'd just point out that for myself and at least two of my children, music in the background during 'schoolwork' is a hindrance rather than a help. It works okay for relatively meditative physically-oriented things like yoga, handwriting, drawing and painting, but for academic work like math, writing and reading, we find that background music is mental clutter. Our attention is drawn to the music at the expense of the work at hand. We prefer silence.

If you're interested in classical music that supposedly activates and focuses the mind, you could look into CD's titled "The Mozart Effect" or "Tune Your Brain". Amazon carries plenty. Most of the music is excellent on musical/aesthetic grounds. I'm just not convinced that "improved academics" are a reason to listen to it. I think the best reason is "it's great music."

Miranda

[tallanvor]

Yes, as the pp mentioned, it does depend on the child and what you're doing. My son could have music on and it wouldn't bother him, but my dd wouldn't be able to concentrate, no matter what the music is.

But back to your question. Everything I've ever read concerning memory and music and whatnot, says to use classical. A lot of people use Mozart (I, personally don't care for Mozart). I would think Bach would be good, or Vivaldi. I'm trying to think of what I have in my cabinet, but several of my cds are compilations and I don't know who does what song. I would try avoiding the more dramatic pieces (such as Stravinsky's music) unless it is during a physical activity.

[KimProbable]

We have a local radio station that plays classical music and I often turn it on for background music. It's the only music that doesn't seem to add to the noise level and it has led to many conversations about the instruments used and the mood it creates.

[moonshoes]

Originally Posted by KimProbable

We have a local radio station that plays classical music and I often turn it on for background music. It's the only music that doesn't seem to add to the noise level and it has led to many conversations about the instruments used and the mood it creates.

This is exactly what we do.

[blsilva]

We like Laurie Berkner for active things. Quiet for more focused things.

[greenthumb3]

They Might Be Giants albums "No" and "Here Come The ABC's". They have a new album coming out next month about the 1,2,3's. Silly, nonsensical tunes that are fun for the kids and me. You can listen to samples if you follow the links above.

When we are not too silly, we have on fiddling, "dance" music--rock for kids, Jessica Harper, Frank Sinatra, Raffi, and the Laurie Berkner Band.

Have fun!

[b&c'smama]

I seem to remember that the whole Mozart effect thing has been somewhat debunked, but I'm not sure where I read/heard it. I think there have been some studies that show that students taking math test scored a little higher when certain types of classical music was played. I do remember that in particular Baroque (sp?) music was the kind that was supposed to be played. (I know nothing about music, but I think it has a certain number of beats per minute or something?)

Even if it has no effect, we like listening to Classical music during various times during the day.

[MonicaS]

When I am studying or reading, I have to have some instrumental music playing. I can't focus and concentrate when it's too quiet. My mind drifts off and I have to keep re-reading the same thing over and over. The music sort of centers me.

As far as my kids, we don't have a lot of sit down and "do schoolwork" times, but I haven't really tried playing music when we do. (Part of that probably has more to do w/ the fact that I listen to classical music online. My puter is in my bedroom. I can study there, but it's not practical for the kids.)

[UnschoolnMa]

I prefer silence or quiet TV/music playing when I am studying or concentrating. Ds on the other hand prefers Tool, RATM, or SOAD. So yea, it's different for different people.

[thehippiemama]

We play a variety of music throughout the day. As many have mentioned it really depends on what we are doing. Some activities my son prefers to have less background noise.

[Stinkerbell]

classical music makes me itchy and irritable. Always has.

I put on whatever makes them feel relaxed and positive. And that's different depending on the kid, the mood and the activity. Bob Marley has been a recent fave.

I do agree that if they are working on something requiring focus and deep thought, background noise is a hinderance. But who knows....everyone learns so differently!

[Lillian J]

And along comes Lillian with her eccentric take on background music .

I hate background music in many, but not all cases. I play music when I want to listen to music - but when I'm concentrating on something, I don't want speakers meddling with my ears. I haven't always been that way - i used to have rock n' roll playing when I studied during my teen years, and it worked well.

Sometimes I want to have music when I'm painting - sometimes it irritates me no end when I'm happily painting away and somebody pipes up with "We need some music!," and proceeds to put on something that's going to drag me down and inhibit my painting. There was this one woman in a group I painted with who would get a certain look when she headed over to the CD player that told me "OH NO! SHE'S GOING TO PUT ON NORAH JONES AGAIN!" And sure enough - I could always tell. And that kind of music really hampered my painting mood. If I have music while I'm painting, I want something uplifting or beautiful or something with a lot of life in it - even bluegrass might work, all sorts of things might work - but never blues.

But what drags one person down at any given time is the same thing that lifts someone else. So where I'm rambling to with this is that this seems to me like this is a great opportunity to ask your children to really feel it out for themselves - to really ask themselves how they feel about different kinds of background music vs. quiet - how if makes them feel, and whether the find that it helps or hinders their process. I think it's a very worthwhile thing to know about oneself. Lillian

[MonicaS]

I never really thought much about background music until I saw a CD titled "Music for Reading." I thought it was strange until the next time I was reading and realized I need music to concentrate on what I'm reading. I guess I'm not the only one, considering they have CDs marketed specifically for it.

[SquibsNCrackers]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

And along comes Lillian with her eccentric take on background music .

I hate background music in many, but not all cases. ...snip ... I think it's a very worthwhile thing to know about oneself. Lillian

another eccentric checking in ...

I hate background music/TV in almost all cases, including public places! Oh well, I deal. But my poor kids are probably background music deprived. :

ETA: To clarify, I love music, and we listen to and make a lot of music. I just don't like background music when I'm deeply engaged in something else (like reading, writing, painting, potting, napping , and, sometimes, conversing).

[b&c'smama]

I think a lot of this has to do with learning styles and preferences. I too do not like music or any background noise on when I am trying to focus. It is way too distracting for me. I even need to turn the car stereo off if I am trying to follow a new set of directions, etc. My dh on the other hand, likes to listen to rock or sports radio when he is working. How he can concentrate on creating complicated financial reports while listening to two guys drone on about football is beyond me!