The students were divided into two groups “that were equal on academic performance.” Each group viewed a different version of an hour-long videotaped lecture on “Expertise in Athletics,” in which the talk was accompanied by synchronized slides.
For one group, the lecture was accompanied by a series of familiar classical pieces, including excerpts from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Bach’s Third Brandenburg Concerto. The other group heard the lecture with no background music.
I’m afraid it wouldn’t have been “background music” to me … I would have started listening only to the music and stopped listening to the lecture.
I know some will get all excited about this article, but it just bugs me.
But then I’m easily bugged.
Bugs me too. Like when people say they like classical music because it’s “so relaxing”. Well, okay, sometimes it is. But at least as often it takes you to more extreme emotional states.
I love your blog, by the way. I have it set as one of my homepage tabs.
Thanks so much for commenting, Elizabeth! (And it’s especially nice since we agree! 😉
Are you an oboist? Fill me in if you get a moment. If you have a blog or site of any kind I’d love to know.
Thanks, too, for your kind words about my blog. Much appreciated!
I don’t have any kind of blog or website. I was very serious about the oboe when I was in school, but I haven’t played at all in about ten years. My eight-year-old daughter recently declared her intention to play the oboe when she’s old enough (yay!!!), so that has me looking into the oboe world again.
Well it’s so good to meet you, Elizabeth, and I do wish you all the best when your daughter starts her oboe adventure! Good to know that you already know what it’s all about … some parents are rather shocked about the whole reed issue!