I've mentioned this before, but in grade school I got in trouble a few times when the teacher told us to put our books away and I didn't because I was reading and didn't hear him.

My (not biologically related) aunt is phenomenal at the listening to two things at once thing. I learned this at a restaurant one day when we were chatting and she suddenly piped up with why the financial advice that some guy was giving to his dining partner at another table was completely wrong. I was all, "Huh?" And then she revealed her superpowers of hearing to me. I was, and remain, in awe.

Yeah, I think I can hear two things at once, but if I'm reading I'll stop listening entirely. One organ at a time!

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My (not biologically related) aunt is phenomenal at the listening to two things at once thing. I learned this at a restaurant one day when we were chatting and she suddenly piped up with why the financial advice that some guy was giving to his dining partner at another table was completely wrong. I was all, "Huh?" And then she revealed her superpowers of hearing to me. I was, and remain, in awe.

oh, yeah, I can do that (...except without the ability to give any sort of financial advice).

I cannot listen to music and write at the same time though.

I cannot listen to music and write at the same time though.

Interesting. I find it helpful to turn on some music I'm familiar with when I need to concentrate-- it seems to run along the barely conscious track of my mind so that it doesn't interrupt the primary track.

I cannot listen to music and write at the same time though.

I think almost everything I do is done faster/better if I have music on. I do like to listen to music that I'm very familiar with. A) It gives me a tempo to work to. B) It blocks out other noises. C) My brain focuses on the music and my inner chatter/distractions are cut way down.

Listening to music and writing will become just writing the lyrics I hear very quickly, for me. OTOH, I find it very helpful to take notes when I am on the phone, it seems like I ca understand what the caller is saying better if I write it down while listening rather than just listening.

Listening to two people at once is completely beyond me. Cannot do it. Listening to one person at once is sometimes beyond me. It drives my DH crazy, we'll be in the middle of a conversation and I'll suddenly realize that I'm not understanding the words coming out of his mouth, so I'll ask him what he just said and he'll start explaining the concepts and I have to tell him "No, what words did you just say? Say them again but slower?"

Reading definitely turns the ears off.

I listen to music sometimes when I write, but it's all orchestral stuff. No lyrics to bother me.

I find it helpful to turn on some music I'm familiar with when I need to concentrate-- it seems to run along the barely conscious track of my mind so that it doesn't interrupt the primary track.

bon bon, thank you for explaining to me how come music helps me concentrate! I never could properly explain it, but what you said makes perfect sense.

For two weeks now, and for another week to come, most practicing Orthodox Jews don't listen to music (as a sign of mourning, since Jerusalem was defeated and the temple was destroyed on those dates, almost 2000 years ago). It's so very difficult to concentrate, especially on stuff like grading. Cleaning without being able to dance with the broom to the sounds of music is quite difficult, as well.