From Andrew Bradbury
The practice of listening to music while studying has been around and
tested repeatedly for nearly 40 years. So I am surprised at the generalisation
in your report suggesting we should “kill the music” if we want good grades
(17 March, p 17).
Proponents of music as an aid to study such as Georgi Lozanov say
that only specific kinds of music should be played—many of the baroque
composers and Mozart, for example—and the music must be used in a
carefully controlled manner, not just blaring away in the background or over
headphones.
I have personally used this approach with great success in various
contexts—including training computer programmers and sixth-form students
(and myself)—over a period of 20 years.
Researcher Sarah Ransdell responds: Sweeping generalisations are never the
intention of individual experimental reports. The experiment merely indicates
that music was disruptive in the instance described. Humans are flexible and can
be trained to do many things. With rather extensive practice, some college
students can read aloud while simultaneously taking dictation on another topic.
I, however, will continue to read and write in perfect, blissful silence.
Hove, East Sussex
