8 Suggestions on Types of Music to Listen While Reading

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Plato

To those who are avid multitaskers and prefer accompanying elements while you’re enjoying your daily routine of reading, good music could be the answer you’re looking for. A complementary ambient music to enhance your reading experience may make the storyline so much better, which is what we’re covering in this topic with greater detail.

1. Concentration

Different individuals possess varying degrees of concentration level. Some are easily distracted and some are just focus powerhouses. Having said that, listening to music that you’re extremely fond of is a totally bad idea – try to identify an average music that you’re willing to listen to but not too distracting. There are also those who need total silence in order to concentration fully at the task at hand, hence the best possible solution is ear plugs. Ultimately, if you’re considering music to accompany in your reading adventures, consider these few aspects before going full swing.

2. Instrumental, Ambient, Atmospheric

Instrumental music without vocals are perhaps one of the best music to move along with your wondering mind. Some might redefine this as subtle, ambient, atmospheric or even chillout music. Some examples include:-

• Jon Hopkins
• The Cure – Mixed Up
• Brahms
• Bernard Herrmann
• Explosions in the Sky
• Philip Glass
• Max Richter

3. Classics / Jazz

Pretty self-explanatory choice of music. Some examples include:-

• Ludovico Einaudi
• J.S Bach
• Alrio Diaz
• Rolf Lislevand

4. Movie Scores

Now this genre of music is somewhat a hidden treasure in terms of enhancing your reading experience. If the score is meticulously chosen to suit the title you’re reading, it could assist your imagination in epic porportions. Examples include;-

• Hans Zimmer
• John Williams
• James Horner
• Michael Giacchino
• Two Steps From Hell

5. Symphony

Being a potentially non-vocal piece, this is probably another genre of music that worth exploring if it’s your cup of tea. Being a popular form of performance, symphony pieces are in abundant and highly accessible. Try them out and see how they go. Examples:-

• Tchaikovsky
• Chopin piano sonata
• Mahler Symphony No. 9 in D Major
• Haydn Symphony No. 34 in d minor
• Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in c minor

6. Post Rock

Another great music genre which typically goes without or very minimal vocals. If you’re into rock and roll and find that the it’s too aggressive to go with reading, this is perhaps a appropriate alternative solution for you. Examples include:-

• Slint – Spiderland
• Explosions in the Sky – The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
• Mogwai – Rock Action
• Cul de Sac – China Gate

7. Connection

Creating a close connection between the book you’re reading and the music you’re listening is perhaps one of the intricate things one can do to enhance the overall experience. If you’ve read reviews on the book you’re about to read and generally familiar on the flow of the story, you can easily pinpoint the suitable music to accompany you all the way. Go further – create a mixtape of an exclusive playlist just for that particular book you’ve always wanted to read.

8. Weather / Sleeping Apps

The main idea behind these kind of apps are usually to influence the subconcious mind to have a more relaxed mind and subsequently a more composed and calm body. Simply put, to get you into a relaxed state or simply put you to sleep. Apply this theory with a typical reading session and you get what some may call an extreme involvement of the journey you’re about to partake in. Now that’s what we call an awesome reading experience.