Work music

[french frank]

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!

My mother had a story about my grandfather, who at one time employed a young maid from S. Wales. If he heard her singing soulfully as she polished the floor:"WherEVer you WANder, There's noo-ooo place like hooome", he'd come up and start singing, very energetically, "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay … " with the intended result.

Sorry

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My mother always said she detested Music While You Work, yet she listened to it frequently as she cleaned and tidied the house.

[Serial_Apologist]

My mother always said she detested Music While You Work, yet she listened to it frequently as she cleaned and tidied the house.

Musique d'ameublement?

[Serial_Apologist]

My mother had a story about my grandfather, who at one time employed a young maid from S. Wales. If he heard her singing soulfully as she polished the floor:"WherEVer you WANder, There's noo-ooo place like hooome", he'd come up and start singing, very energetically, "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay … " with the intended result.

Sorry

[Cockney Sparrow]

Can't listen when engaged in work? Of course it depends, but how else can I get through all those box sets I bought after they were listed in the Bargains thread?

I agree - concentration and taxing mental work - silence is preferable.

[Dave2002]

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

I agree in principle, but ...

Two things.

1. Some people - I might be one - seem to have problems with earpieces. I think earphones or earpieces seem to worsen my tendency to ear wax build up.

2. In the UK not everyone possesses a smart phone, or if they do have one, they don't use it. I'm in the latter category - though perhaps because the smart phone I have is just not up to the kind of things I would want to do. I still use my fairly dumb phone more - as a phone.

Re point 2, I see that even in remote villages in Burma/Myanmar people are likely to have smartphones, though not very many of the other "comforts" of modern life. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3g4x6

I have used headphones on long train journeys - but afterwards I may get problems as per point 1.

[Petrushka]

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

Agreed. I work in an office where we have the local independent radio station on all day long, seemingly playing the same five songs in an endless loop coupled with cringeworthy adverts. One learns to mentally block it out but retirement in 18 months time can't come a moment too soon.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Agreed. I work in an office where we have the local independent radio station on all day long, seemingly playing the same five songs in an endless loop coupled with cringeworthy adverts. One learns to mentally block it out but retirement in 18 months time can't come a moment too soon.

I've never been able to block out sounds. I'd have done something drastic years ago, had I been in a similar position.

[Petrushka]

I've never been able to block out sounds. I'd have done something drastic years ago, had I been in a similar position.

I've tried in vain to persuade my colleagues to turn the damn thing off or at least change station. Whatever else there is no way I want any classical playing while I work!

Believe me, you do learn to mentally block it out otherwise insanity is the only option.

[ahinton]

Does that mean music for the "working classes"?

OK, I've go me coat...

[Pabmusic]

I cannot work and listen at the same time. My 'listening' is far too deep for me to concentrate on ther things. That is why I could never listen to music when driving. This applies even to stuff I don't like - the latest pop (or whatever). I cannot tune it out.

[Dave2002]

Agreed. I work in an office where we have the local independent radio station on all day long, seemingly playing the same five songs in an endless loop coupled with cringeworthy adverts. One learns to mentally block it out but retirement in 18 months time can't come a moment too soon.

That sounds like cruel and unusual punishment. Court of Human Rights perhaps!

[ahinton]

I cannot work and listen at the same time. My 'listening' is far too deep for me to concentrate on ther things. That is why I could never listen to music when driving. This applies even to stuff I don't like - the latest pop (or whatever). I cannot tune it out.

Same here.

[Jonathan]

Likewise - I wish I could tune out things I didn't want to hear.

My current workplace will not allow people to have headphones (it's a safety risk, if the fire alarms go off, apparently) and we are also not allowed phones (no idea why). So I am forced to listen to whatever nonsense someone tunes the internet radio to. It's never anything I'd like to listen to but, seeing as it's my last week there this coming week, I think I might put on some R3 - as long as there is something suitable in the afternoon concert slot. Looking at the schedules for next week, I might be in luck!!

[MrGongGong]

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

Said the retired music teacher

(actually, I dislinke most publically broadcast music, which is one reason why we are using wireless headphone systems for some public performances etc )

BUT if you must have it
I would go for this kind of thing (though it does have effects on my driving which, without the cruise control, would probably result in a few speeding points!)

I did an education project a few years ago with an archive of work songs and recordings
the piece we made (with a group of A level students) was mostly made from Windows Computer error noises and other sounds..... the new soundscape of work ?