teachers, students, parents. what do you think about a kid listening to music

[seabeyond]

Poll question: teachers, students, parents. what do you think about a kid listening to music

while they do their school work.

i have read that children with certain learning styles does better with music. i personally cannot think or read with other noise. i get distracted. i have not seen others successful, though they swear it helps them.

recently, i read a study that said the distractions are hurting students. between facebook, text, music, they are being called away from study and not getting the focus they need to be successful. that, at first, we were cheering the multitasking to now learn the multitasking is not working.

so thru experience or what you have learned, how do you feel about a student listening to music while trying to focus on homework?

thanks...

[valerief]

1. When I'm doing tedious work (programming), listening to music helps.

It keeps my brain from being bored to death.

[seabeyond]

3. when i am cleaning the house or cooking dinner i listen to something also, but brain isnt

on something else. though, that does get me thinking, in a work environment, i (we) were able to have music on and still focus. which i guess, would kinda answer my question. thanks.

[dkf]

31. It wakes me up when I'm sleepy.

If I get the volume up and the adrenaline pumping I become super efficient.

But when I need to do more complicated analysis, I turn it off.

[polichick]

2. Music is good for memory because when you try to recall...

...you associate the concept or fact with lyrics, beats, whatever you were listening to while learning it.

It's how I studied for tests all the way through grad school.

(Provided the student is actually studying while listening.)


I'd say no to texting and facebook though - that's too distracting.

[blogslut]

4. It depends on the person.

Blogslut Jr. studied with music and came through like a champ. Blogslut, herself, cannot concentrate when music is playing but can totally concentrate with the television on.

[teddy51]

8. Exactlly.... I could not listen either, but my kids had no problem with that. n/t

[seabeyond]

9. really, with the tv? lol. wow, that is a huge no for me.

i do appreciate hearing what others say. looking at the world thru our eyes, we seem to focus on what we are able to do. it is good to hear others.

[teddy51]

5. There should be an "Other" in your poll and I think it has to be up to the student

and that can be determined by he or she's grades as they move thru our Education system.

[tinymontgomery]

6. Depends on the class

and how long the assignment is. Art, long and artistic okay, math could be short problems may take longer to put the music on then do the problem. I don't believe it is a black and white answer.

[catabryna]

7. I chose music "helps" a kid study...

but, that is based on my own kid and my experiences when I was growing up.

All kids are different.

[seabeyond]

12. ya, i got that. hence me asking.

i was going off what i feel. i needed to hear how others experience.

[a la izquierda]

10. Other: It depends on the music

Classical music is fine.
Metal, rap, punk? Eh, probably not so much.

Note: I don't have kids, but I do have a PhD. I study and write to everything from flamenco to baroque and occasionally the Tour de France or Auto Racing. But I have a hard time with my favorite music, punk rock and rockabilly.

[seabeyond]

11. interesting. nt

[NYC_SKP]

13. Correct answer: "Listening to Music Helps SOME Kids While Studying".

There you go!

:hi:

[dogknob]

14. Depends on the music...

speaking for myself while programming:

Anything without words, OK (but for some strange reason Steely Dan works, too, but Pink Floyd... nope.)

[markpkessinger]

15. As someone who was trained extensively in classical music ...

... i simply cannot have music on in the background when I am trying to concentrate on something else. If music is playing, my mind inevitably begins to listen analytically (for compositional structure, rhythmic and harmonic content, contrapuntal elements, etc.) to it. But I suspect it varies with the individual.

That said, your OP conflates music with all other distractions. Even for those who can listen to music while they study, I suspect other kinds of distractions, e.g., texting, facebook, phone calls, etc., are of a rather different order from music.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. I like total silence when I'm reading/studying/working, but my son always had

his TV on, IPod attached to his ear and his computer/Facebook on..add the mobile phone with texting going on with all that too. He couldn't concentrate without all the noise. Complete opposite of me. Though, in my younger days, I liked having background noise when I did homework or was reading a book.

My son made it through High School and is in college now....so his studying style it didn't hurt him. :)

[Dr Fate]

17. Music with lyrics distract me, jazz or classical works better. Nt

Nt

[JBoy]

18. I always found any kind of music distracting when studying.

Still can't work, other than truly mundane tasks, with music playing.

[virgogal]

19. I needed silence to study,4 of my 6 kids couldn't

study without music.

Different strokes !

[stranger81]

20. In my experience as a mother & a former tutor, this is highly kid-dependent.

I've taught some kids who are driven to distraction by music playing during study time, and others who seemed to double-down in terms of focus when given the right musical accompaniment.

[Zanzoobar]

21. How about more choices?

Like:

If my kid listens to music and gets straight As in fifth grade, does it mean he'll pass Calculus at the state U?

If my kid doesn't listen to music and thinks of nothing but playing stink-finger with his sweetie and is getting straight Ds, should I make him listen to music while he isn't studying?

Oh, the shades of...colors.

[seabeyond]

22. if your kid is playing music and getting straight A's, i would say it is not hurting her.

i am not doing an intense study. just looking for other perspective in regard to my children, that see things a bet differently. really doesnt hurt much.

[Zanzoobar]

23. Yeah, well, if your kid is making it work, it works.

If your kid isn't making it work, strong pressure can be applied. You hold all the cards.

[seabeyond]

25. no sheeeeit. opinion. i was looking for opinion. you have issue with it?

whatevah....

[Zanzoobar]

26. I gave you my opinion.

Yeesh!

[seabeyond]

28. thank you. nt

[Codeine]

24. I end up paying WAY too much attention to music to listen to it

while doing much else. I'm a very active listener, and generally I enjoy music while doing little else.

[seabeyond]

27. see, me too. i will dance and break out into song. i tell my boys,

how the hell do you listen to a song and just sit there. i can not do.

[Codeine]

35. I can't listen to music and drive.

Metal makes me speed.

[seabeyond]

37. lol lol, .....

yup, i have found that to be true (hard rock), but then, hard for me to go the limit as it is. doesnt bother me much. lol

[RooseveltTruman]

29. Two things

1.) It depends on the child in question. It works for some, it hinders others. I would say if they have a record of dependability and good grades, it is likely a non-issue. If you see slippage, begin cracking down.
2.) It depends on the kind of work being done. I know for myself, I could do tedious-type work (and some writing) while simultaneously listening to music. For others--in-depth reading, more advanced math, and other types of writing--it would have been impossible for me to do any sort of work (well, do any work WELL) while also listening to music.

[seabeyond]

33. i talked to my oldest tonight... the most insightful and articulate.

i had told him no music last year. i asked him tonight if he thought it helped him. he broke it down for me. saying the history paper looking up things, music worked. history is a really easy subject. when he is online trying to figure math out (math is a challenge), he turns off the music. when just doing math problems music is a huge help cause monotonous and boring and he will dieeee, but the music makes it more fun and helps him to get thru. otherwise he wants to quit.

so, at least he has thought it through and sounds responsible when he feels music interferes.

that was reassuring.

thanks.

[csziggy]

30. Music can help some kids

Heck, while I was in school, we did our homework on the table while Mom & Dad watched TV in the same room. But my family has good concentration - we all tend to read with a TV or some music is on. I surf the internet with the TV on in the background.

[dkf]

32. My final answer is...depends on how complicated the subject is.

If i pretty much have it down and I'm going through the motions of answering the questions music helps it move along.

If it is a complicated subject that I need to think through then I need silence or maybe white noise.

When studying to pass my licensing exams, I needed dead silence, no interruptions, and lots of coffee. But of course no coffee for kids...poor things.

[LWolf]

34. Other:

Instrumental music, no lyrics, can help.

Lyrics can be a great distraction for many. I'm sure there are some who can focus on ideas and content while listening to lyrics about something totally different, or just tune it out, but many can't.

And if you have to tune it out to focus, why listen at all?

Classical music is a great choice that most modern students want nothing to do with, lol.

I've read studies about different kinds of music affecting brain waves differently, so the type of music might be just as important, or more important, than whether there are lyrics or not.

[wickerwoman]

36. Different strokes for different folks.

I can't concentrate with any music whatsoever. I don't even like going into the computer lab because I get distracted even with whispered conversations in the background.

But I know people who just pop in earphones and they're as happy as clams and do fine with their work.

If I had to work in a noisy environment anyway, I could see using music on a ipod because then at least you're choosing your distraction. But everything being equal and given my druthers, I'd go for total sensory deprivation every time.

[seabeyond]

39. hey wickerwoman...

good to see you. havent seen you around.

hubby will turn on tv to read, and that puts a stop to my reading.

hear ya

[wickerwoman]

40. thanks

:hi:

I'm graduating in a few weeks so should really be hitting the books but... can't... stay... off.. DU. Speaking of study distractions.

I'd say let the kiddos listen to music but don't get them hooked on DU.

:D

[seabeyond]

41. and YEA....

to you.

congrats.

[bemildred]

38. Depends on what sort of music, and what sort of homework. nt