Re: working memory and melody

[Chandan Raghava Narayan <cnarayan@xxxxxxxxx>]

I find a similar effect myself, but it crucially interacts with my 
familiarity with the music. For example, if I'm listening to a Bach 
cello suite, which I've heard numerous times in the past, I can 
re-create the listening experience even though I'm 'passively' 
listening during a reading task. In essence, I can predict what the 
music sounded like (or should have sounded like) and feel thoroughly 
satisfied with the reading and listening experiences.

Now, if I'm listening to chance compositions (Cage),'avant garde' 
(Kagel, Scelsi, AMM, etc.), soundscapes (Alan Lamb, Arnold Dreyblatt, 
etc.)reading does have an effect on the listening experience. Without a 
doubt I re-visit the music soon after reading.
Take home: If I can hum it, I can read with it.



Quoting Bruno Repp <repp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> I am an avid music listener and listen to classical music practically 
> every morning and evening. Classical music requires full attention to 
> be appreciated properly. However, because the listening takes up a 
> lot of time, I have often tried to combine it with other activities. 
> I soon found out that reading, even of the most trivial text, is 
> totally disruptive. I feel I have not heard the music at all while I 
> was reading-a very disheartening experience.



================================
chandan r. narayan
dept. of linguistics
university of michigan
cnarayan@xxxxxxxxx
www-personal.umich.edu/~cnarayan
================================