Background Distraction or Enhancement?

~ humoringthegoddess
Jenndalyn Art

Sitting on my sofa early in the morning, looking out the window at the cloudy and windy atmosphere,  a bit of You Tube’s April Jazz playing in the background, I started contemplating the day, and wondered…

Do you listen to music or watch TV while you craft?

I am a big background music person. I can handle total silence for only so long. Perhaps that’s because there is so much chatter in my head I hesitate to leave any more empty space for buzzing.

Fortunately, the Creativity I enjoy is more of a sedate kind. Creative thoughts but sedate positions. Angel Tears, sketching, garden designing, writing, all require little movement.

As I get into the “zone” I find that music helps get me pumped up, organized, calmed, and focused. After a while I push the music to the back of my brain so that I can concentrate on what I’m doing, but there’s something about the vibrations of notes and melodies that make concentration easier.

Sometimes, if I’ve been sitting too long, lost in whatever I’m doing, I find music turns into too much of a good thing, so I change genres or turn on a no-brainer movie in the background just to add a fourth dimension to my already crowded third dimension.

My son introduced me to an app called Video Lite that cuts out all the advertising on You Tube, so I am free to listen to uninterrupted music, which is perfect for crafting. Sometimes its Smooth Jazz, sometimes it’s Gypsy Jazz, sometimes its Upbeat Classical or Steely Dan. I have made playlists in a number of genres, all reflecting a positive mood. I’ve done the same on Amazon music, so I can find “mood” anywhere.

I find the music makes my head (and hands) calmer and more accurate. Which, for an older granny, is great.

So tell me — how do you create atmosphere when being creative?

 

 

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Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

11 thoughts on “Background Distraction or Enhancement?”

  3. Ahhh, we are kindred spirits, Claudia. I, too, make playlists that reflect my mood. I, too, like music in the background when I am creating.

    I think for me, this stems from growing up with four siblings. There was always noise in our home. Mom playing records, the television on, the boys roughhousing in their bedroom, my sister on the phone. If I wanted to do homework or read, I had to “tune the noise out.”

    Today, I can’t focus if there is silence. I need to tune something out. I am aware of my music playing when I write, but entire songs can go by, and I don’t recall hearing them.

    I love Steely Dan, and thanks for the recommendation on the app. I used to pay $14.99/month to get rid of YouTube ads, but I stopped that indulgence a while back.

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    1. I wanted to make a point to share that app, too, because not only is it FREE (which is all I can do) but I enjoy others’ attempts at playlists too. I’ve recently started listening to gypsy jazz — kind that “Midnight in Paris” sound — and Spanish guitar. They really create different “moods”, each one unique and upbeat. Keep the music going!

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  4. Great question and hope lots of people respond. I listen to New Age music when illustrating and 60s/70s rock when painting.

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    1. That is one of my backgrounds, too. And you know — I find it depends on where I am in my creation that determines the type of music. Never slow mo — but old time rock and roll gets me almost head banging while new age (smooth) jazz slides me into positive smooth work. I’m a riot, it seems! So are you!

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