On meditative music

I am in the habit of watching/listening to TV when I work. As strange as it sounds, I need some kind of noise in order to work.

But I'm trying to get away from watching TV and movies while I work.

So I'm trying to shift to listening to meditative music while I work. This way I can get the noise I want while I'm writing, but I don't have the distraction of hearing actual words, and I'm not tempted to get drawn into a story of a film or TV episode and end up watching just one more episode of American Horror Story before I get back to working on that project that's due today.

I've added a meditative music channel on Pandora, so now when I'm working, I try to remember to turn that on instead of streaming Netflix in the background. I think it will be better for my productivity, and will help keep me centered and focused. Meditative music is good.

Of course, if I need a little extra motivation, I can always switch to my Harpeth Rising channel.

What do you listen to when you write? Why?

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Music

This morning, my church celebrated our music minister's 25th anniversary serving as choir director. I'm in the choir at church, and since joining the choir, I've been reminded of how important music is to my spiritual life.

I was told once that music is a form of prayer, and that has always stuck with me. And I've found that, when I feel the need to pray but I don't have the words, my mind turns to familiar hymns I know by heart.

Music can encourage, inspire, uplift, and let you escape--even briefly--from whatever has been bearing down on you throughout the week. Generally, you can find music to fit any mood, or to speak to you in exactly the way you need, regardless of what you're going through. So I encourage you to turn to music if you need to renew your spirit. Turn on Pandora or set your iPod to shuffle or pick a favorite song. Whether you like to listen to hymns or classical or trance or country, let music touch you today.

Music (and lyrics) to write by

In yesterday's article about writing to music, Stephanie commented:

I don't know about anybody else, but I can't listen to music with words when I'm writing. The words distract me from what I'm trying to write. That's the reason I listen to classical music or movie soundtracks or something like that.

This is an issue that often comes up as writers try to find the perfect writing music, and there are pros and cons for both scenarios.

(Continue reading)

Music to Write By

Hubby was kind enough to get me a green iPod nano for my birthday (and gave it to me early so I could actually use it).  I've started adding songs to it, and find myself listening to it frequently while I'm working during the day.  In fact, it's slowly replacing my usual schedule of L&O reruns on TiVo.  I usually put it on shuffle, and let the music act as background noise while I'm working.

Here's a random selection of songs currently on my iPod:

• "For You I Will (Confidence)" from the single by Teddy Geiger
• "Baby Mine" from Disney's Dumbo, sung by Julie Andrews
• "Down to the River to Pray" by Alison Krauss, from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack
  
• "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter's self-titled album
• "I Will Be Here" from Steven Curtis Chapman's Greatest Hits
• "Remember When it Rained" from Closer by Josh Groban
• "A Little Fall of Rain" from Les Miserables
• "The Way I Am" from Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson
• "Colors" from Dance for the Sun by Kira Willey
• "Carry On My Wayward Son" from Wynners 6 in 1 Box Set by Wynners

The music you listen to is important when you're writing, as illustrated by this comic by Debbi Ohi.

Music influences my mood.  After all, that's why I listen to it to begin with!  So I don't always listen to all the songs that come up when I'm working, depending on what I'm working on at the time.  I've found the music does help motivate me, but it can also make me counter-productive if I don't listen to the right type of music.

What do you listen to when you write?