Work music

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  • Dave2002
    Full Member
    • Dec 2010
    • 18021

    Work music

    It is surely well known that in the past some work activities were accompanied by music, often generated (e.g sung) by the workers. In some cases this has led to some "folk" music which will probably be lost unless it is recorded, or written down, as the work activities become either unncessary or taken over by machines.

    Anyone who has had work done on their homes will probably have experienced workmen coming along with battered radios, and having a form of continuous music (usually pop of some kind *** but see bottom of this post) while they work.

    Some people don't want to listen to music while they work, and I have found that for complex mental work it can be very distracting.

    However, for more menial tasks, listening to music might help to keep the momentum going, and also possibly increase the work rate (if that's important) without unduly stressing the workers. Some tasks, such as painting perhaps need a calmer approach, and work rate pressure might be best avoided, so more relaxing music might be more appropriate.

    There could be problems with music if several workers are involved as some may like what they hear, and others may not, which could lead to discord. Some people seem to actually like the most recent loud heavy rock/pop music, which i personally detest with a vengeance, so don't put me in a work team with anyone who likes that!

    Fortunately for the most part I don't work, but sometimes I do have fairly menial tasks to perform.

    Comments?

    *** A few years ago a discussion about workmen and their music elicited a comment from one woman. "Thank goodness those workmen finished. I couldn't stand their music". Turns out they had been listening to CFM (perhaps some round here would agree with her ...) but after they'd gone she was able to return to her preferred pop music.
  • BBMmk2
    Late Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 20908

    #2
    Well those workmen certainly were different in their choice of music! Albeit CFM! I always have music of some kind or rather. I would have music on all day, on and off, if I had my way!
    Don’t cry for me
    I go where music was born

    J S Bach 1685-1750

    Comment

    • Eine Alpensinfonie
      Host
      • Nov 2010
      • 20570

      #3
      The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.

      Comment

      • french frank
        Administrator/Moderator
        • Feb 2007
        • 30301

        #4
        Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
        The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.
        The dictatorship of the majority. The notion that "music" (uncategorised genre) is universally enjoyed is a … mistake. Being useless at multitasking, I never want to listen to music while I'm doing something else, however apparently menial/mindless/boring.
        It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

        Comment

        • Dave2002
          Full Member
          • Dec 2010
          • 18021

          #5
          Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
          The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.
          I agree, but mostly that doesn't happen. I'm suggesting that some people might find routine work easier with some music which is appropriate for them. Where do you think sea shanties might have come from? Also, work is not always inherently pleasant, so if the music is appropriate, it might become easier.

          I have been doing grunt work this morning, and will probably have at least another week of this. I do think it's easier if I have something to listen to, though I can switch it on/off and it's my choice of music.

          Re your statement (quoted) what about restaurants and eating establishments? I have been to a few which have a really great selection - but very probably not to everyone else's taste (Mozart, Beethoven, Bartok etc.), and to a lot which have awful pop c***p, or smoochy (yukky) background "music". Hardly any have jazz or brass band music (which might at least suit some of us here better). Some places even play CFM during breakfast! Including the adverts! Agggghhh!

          Comment

          • Dave2002
            Full Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 18021

            #6
            Originally posted by french frank View Post
            The dictatorship of the majority. The notion that "music" (uncategorised genre) is universally enjoyed is a … mistake. Being useless at multitasking, I never want to listen to music while I'm doing something else, however apparently menial/mindless/boring.
            That's interesting - but I'm not suggesting that you should be forced to listen to music you don't like while doing anything. That's very much your choice if you prefer a relatively quiet background under all circumstances.

            I just think that many people might find some music helpful. I know that purists don't approve of background listening, but again having a blanket rule that "thou shalt not have music as a background" would be another instance of other people trying to dictate how people manage their own lives.

            Comment

            • ferneyhoughgeliebte
              Gone fishin'
              • Sep 2011
              • 30163

              #7
              Originally posted by french frank View Post
              The dictatorship of the majority.
              Ooh, I don't think so - more usually, "the dictatorship of whoever has access to the radio/other Music playing device". (Or whoever's been "in charge" of said device since time immoral ... )
              [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

              Comment

              • Jonathan
                Full Member
                • Mar 2007
                • 945

                #8
                Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
                The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.
                I couldn't agree more.
                Best regards,
                Jonathan

                Comment

                • richardfinegold
                  Full Member
                  • Sep 2012
                  • 7666

                  #9
                  We had a worker once that brought his boom box with him and had a job that required several days labor in the house. I feared the worse but I wasn’t in the house for most of it. I did come home early on his last day and was greeted by Mozart’s Prague Symphony blasting from the boom box. He looked up in astonishment at my unexpected presence and immediately muted the box and began apologizing for the noise. I then gave him several CDs that I was looking for a suitable home after burning them to a hard drive and then we talked Music for a while

                  Comment

                  • richardfinegold
                    Full Member
                    • Sep 2012
                    • 7666

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
                    The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.
                    Especially these days with Blue Tooth earpieces being small and cheap and everyone possessing a smart phone. There is a special arrogance required to think that everyone within earshot needs to hear “your” music

                    Comment

                    • french frank
                      Administrator/Moderator
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 30301

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post
                      That's interesting - but I'm not suggesting that you should be forced to listen to music you don't like while doing anything. That's very much your choice if you prefer a relatively quiet background under all circumstances.

                      I just think that many people might find some music helpful. I know that purists don't approve of background listening, but again having a blanket rule that "thou shalt not have music as a background" would be another instance of other people trying to dictate how people manage their own lives.
                      I wasn't suggesting that you were suggesting anything, merely, solipsistically, expressing my own perception. Research is equivocal as to whether background music is an aid to studying, as some students claim, or whether it has an adverse effect on concentration

                      Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
                      Ooh, I don't think so - more usually, "the dictatorship of whoever has access to the radio/other Music playing device". (Or whoever's been "in charge" of said device since time immoral ... )
                      True, o sage. But given that the personal viewpoint tends to lump together all those who are 'not me' no matter how diverse, I can say with some confidence that whoever has control of the music source, they will have appalling musical taste, nothing like mine
                      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                      Comment

                      • Nick Armstrong
                        Host
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 26538

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
                        The concept of forcing people to listen to music is iniquitous. It should be viewed in the same light as smoking in the workplace.
                        I feel especially for people who work in shops during November and December and have to deal with the worst Christmas music in a repetitive loop every working hour for two months
                        "...the isle is full of noises,
                        Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                        Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                        Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

                        Comment

                        • cloughie
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2011
                          • 22126

                          #13
                          Originally posted by french frank View Post

                          True, o sage. But given that the personal viewpoint tends to lump together all those who are 'not me' no matter how diverse, I can say with some confidence that whoever has control of the music source, they will have appalling musical taste, nothing like mine
                          My musical taste is fantastic! Let's face it, FF, no-one has musical taste as good as one's own.

                          Comment

                          • Serial_Apologist
                            Full Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 37691

                            #14
                            Black worksongs were a means devised by the workers themselves for ameliorating the drudgery of working on cotton fields and railroads which in turn became an aid to greater productivity. One can just picture the smile on the face of the foreman thinking - how to keep a work team happy by them keeping themselves happy!

                            Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                            I feel especially for people who work in shops during November and December and have to deal with the worst Christmas music in a repetitive loop every working hour for two months
                            It's supposed to signify just how euphoric we're all rightly feeling at the festive time of year, and I often think must be even more humiliating than being forced to wear those ridiculous head dresses in the form Father Xmas hats, reindeer antlers, or pom-poms resembling snail antennae. "You can easily get struck by lightning wearing those in a thunderstorm" I say, to try and cheer them up!

                            Comment

                            • LMcD
                              Full Member
                              • Sep 2017
                              • 8472

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                              I feel especially for people who work in shops during November and December and have to deal with the worst Christmas music in a repetitive loop every working hour for two months
                              I feel sorry for the customers!

                              Comment

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