Music - The Enemy of Getting Anything Done

Some say it is wise for one to listen to classical music, or just instrumental music, while they study or read. It is not so for me. I find that when I listen to classical music or really any music at all, my mind cannot focus on the task at hand. Immediately I am drawn into the emotion of the music. I find my imagination reacting to the nuances and I start to create scenes in my mind that would fit with the musical tone.

Classical music is by far the greatest instigator. When I begin to listen to Claire De Lune I picture a beautiful, lithe girl, wishing to be all she can. I see her at her window looking out on to a lake dreaming of a boy romancing her. Oh how romance often pervades our thoughts. Young girls, like myself, are so sentimental.

Music containing lyrics affects me as well. Only the words have already given me the plot, in my mind all I have to do is act out the scenario. When I listen to “Disaster Button” by Snow Patrol, I imagine the thoughts in a young man’s head, and the scenes moving before his eyes. I hear him reprimanding himself because he is not brave enough to pursue the woman he wants.

Sometimes lyrical music gives us emotions, but allows us to create our own scene. Hearing “Black Tables” by Other Lives, makes me envision a friend hopelessly trying to help a beloved. Perhaps I have not understood the true meaning of this song, but that is one of the beauties of music. Music is intended to be understood in your own way. While the author of the lyrics and the composer of the score may have one type of reaction to, emotion from, or reason behind a song, you may be given an entirely new one.

I once wrote about how music is like a drug. No matter how hard you try you are never invincible to its powers. Music is so very strong. You must do as the notes command you. The only way to escape its incredible force is to press the stop button, place aside your instrument, or leave the concert hall. Music will have its way with you. Be so ever careful with it. Like I have said I cannot go about studying when I have music on, so I don’t study with it.

My imaginations are beautiful to me, a place of momentary escape, but I know I cannot have them running about in my everyday life. It all would be so confusing. However, during parts of my day I turn on my radio, cd, Internet, etc. and I listen to my heart’s content and I picture wonderful scenes and I am taken to new places, put in the bodies of new people, given new thoughts, and for a few moments everyday I give into it.