Last Friday I went over to Half Price Books to find some records to listen to during the next few weeks. My apartment has officially become "study central" as I prepare for final exams and finish up this semester. Actually, as I finish this...degree. That statement won't seem real until I have the diploma in my hand and even then...weird. So, I was really happy to stumble upon these great albums to help me focus and relax instead of typing away in stressed-out-silence. Quite a variety of music, huh? Surprisingly, I do listen to other music besides my beloved Frank and Dean. Haha. West Side Story, James Taylor, The Beatles, and The Sound of Music...I wouldn't exactly listen to all of these at once, but I do like each and every one. I hope The Beatles aren't offended to be in such company. ;-)
As I make my way through the next few weeks of anxiety, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your kind words more than ever. I am always blown away by your sweet and thoughtful comments, but this week they are really getting to me. I actually cried a few happy tears in the hall before class when I read a lovely reader email.
I'm going to try and not let my stress about school consume the blog, but that is my world right now. I am so thankful to use this space as an outlet for my nerves and will probably appreciate these posts some day when I am far beyond college...
What do you listen to when you study? I'm also a fan of the Downton Abbey and Pride & Prejudice soundtracks when I read for class. For those of you in the same boat, or who have already made it through a time like this, please share your wisdom.
For me, music and a good cup of tea are always a good combination, even when it includes a research paper.
I love the Sound of Music soundtrack. :) I scoured our local thrift stores for a copy for months (once I found the cover but it had the wrong record inside!). Then I came across two copies at the same store. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm reading or writing or doing something where I can't listen to music with lyrics, I always listen to movie soundtracks...P&P {probably my favorite film soundtrack ever, and definitely my favorite movie :)} Emma, Titanic, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, etc.
I have the "How to Steal a Million" soundtrack record, too...it's pretty awesome. :)
~Kristin
Oh I need to look for How to Steal a Million! :)
DeleteI can only study/write to things without lyrics, because I tend to get distracted and sing along. So I generally listen to film scores. My favorites are Harry Potter (only the first 3 at night, 4-8 are weirdly creepy at times), Star Trek, X-Men: First Class, and The Social Network.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried camomile tea It's reputed to be very calming. Eat well. Sleep well. Take plenty of exercise. The advice I continue to give both my daughters, the elder of whom is preparing for her second year exams.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the advice! :)
DeleteI used to listen to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, the original score by Howard Shore, when I wrote papers. Something changed, though. Now I can't seem to concentrate unless I have complete silence.
ReplyDeleteRubber Soul!!! I love The Beatles. Might I suggest some Beach Boys next time you go record-shopping?
Oh I love the Beach Boys! I will keep my eyes open!
DeleteI graduated a couple of years ago, so luckily I don't have to deal with the stress of studying anymore. (It's so weird sometimes still when I see/read others talking about their finals, and I'm not taking them myself!) But, I also listened to the P&P soundtrack when I read - but one of my other favorites was the soundtrack to "Amelie." So good! Check it out, hopefully that one helps you too!
ReplyDeleteOk, I need to see Amelie! I can't believe I have never seen that movie. I need to change that as soon as possible...maybe this weekend...
DeleteThanks Halie!
If you love Downton, watch Lark Rise to Candleford! It's another BBC show from a couple of years ago and Mr. Bates is in it and he's married to Charlotte from the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice movie. I've found that rewarding myself with period drama breaks makes me work harder on my papers and poems because I'm happier :)
ReplyDeleteI love that idea! I will definitely remember to take a few Downton breaks. :-) Thanks for the show recommendation too.
DeleteI agree, Lark Rise to Candleford is amazing! It's really more of a series rather than a mini-series, because there are hours and hours of episodes. :) Anyway, I'm a big BBC nerd and LRtC is one of my favorites.
DeleteThe best study recommendation I ever got (sadly, my last semester of law school) was to put on the Harry Potter PANDORA STATION! It includes great soundtracks from other films (LOTR, Last of the Mohicans, Inception) so you get to change it up a bit, but it's mostly instrumental so it's not too distracting. Try it! Study-life changing.
ReplyDeleteThat does sound life-changing. Thanks!
DeleteTake lots of small breaks for chocolate or tea...you will get through this, I promise! I remember holing myself up for days at a time, and it helps to just focus on one thing at a time...when i would think about all the work I had to do as one lump sum, I would get stressed out and frantic....one bit at a time and it'll get done.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great!
you can do this!!!one thing i regret about college was getting too stressed out about it. you have worked hard and tried your best, it will all come together for you just wait and see!
ReplyDeletealso i cant listen to anything while studying, but i did take regular breaks to make tea and eat chocolate. best of luck!
I was at uni 95-99 and I listened to a lot of weird, waily grunge music because I couldn't concentrate if I put on anything with lyrics. Best of luck with all your studying!
ReplyDeletewhen i study i put on indie rock radio via sky.fm :)! works great for me! i just finished my last week of school so stress is over for me! good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteif I am reading something I like to sometimes listen to music, but only music I dont know the words to, otherwise I get distracted...
ReplyDeletefor writing... I listen to anything... the more random the better--it somehow stimulates my mind...
I am doing creative writing, poetry or fiction, I need silence.
Nice finds! I love the picture on the cover of the sound of music record, and how worn out the Rubber Soul album is! So pretty :) I'm sorry to hear about how stressful school is right now.
ReplyDelete-charlotte <3
I always listen to classic rock, because it makes it feel like those training montages in 80's movies. I can't think of better motivation than that! Finals really do suck though. Especially papers!
ReplyDeleteI la-la-lahve that little studying gif!
ReplyDeleteI love listening to music without lyrics when I'm writing or reading, and my all-time favorite modern composer is Philip Glass. I love "Solo Piano," even though it's a bit melancholy, I find it really inspiring!
I like to listen to the Amelie soundtrack or The Civil Wars. I also like Devotchka, the Bach Cello Suites, and the Wailing' Jennys. It was hard for me to sit still in 2007 to finish my thesis and exams before graduation. Now I am working on my master's in Nursing and that can be frustrating but I work full time, so it gets broken up by real-life stuff. Home stretch!
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm no longer a student, I'm quite amazed at the dedication and discipline I had while I studied! I think I'm much too lazy to do that now. I remember liking quiet 'background music' type things to listen to, like movie soundtracks (anything from a Sofia Coppola film is perfect), or putting on episodes of my favourite tv-shows to half watch while I worked. And lots and lots of tea- I had a special pot and tea cup to keep at my desk.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I hope it all goes well and that you will soon be enjoying a well deserved rest!
Oh dear. That sounds like a looooooot of studying.I don't know what could be good for studying, but whenever you need a cheer-up or a bit of extra energy in between writing papers and all that, you colud listen to Jon Foreman's "Baptize my mind", Israel Houghton's "Just wanna say" or Ewert And The Two Dragons' "In the end (there's only love)". These songs make everyone happy ;)
ReplyDeleteAnyways, good luck with all that homework and your exams. God Bless!
Oh my... Sound of music. I haven't thought of it in ages. Thank you for making me think of "I am sixteen going on seventeen" and "favourite things" Gonna look it up in youtube right no ;-)
ReplyDeletePress thumps for your exams
Janna
When I was going through finals I used to think "BRING IT" --even if I didn't feel prepared for the tests or totally confident about the paper I was writing, it always psyched me up and got me feeling energized :) Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's Raising Sand album is fabulous, as well as the soundtrack from Chocolat. You'll do wonderfully, I'm sure!!
ReplyDeleteI'm like some others -- I definitely couldn't listen to music that has lyrics, and sometimes couldn't listen to anything, because I got too distracted. But when I did listen to music, I liked to listen to this album I found on iTunes called "50 Most Relaxing Classics". It's only $9.99 for 50 songs! I actually listen to it a lot now, the music is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteMy advice: Take it one paper or one assignment at a time. Get done with it, and move on to the next one. You can do it! This too shall pass. :)
erinsplayinghooky.wordpress.com
I definitely feel you about the studying, I have so many papers! I love that you got the west side story and sound of music records. I love displaying my records when I'm not listening to them, both of those are literally hanging on my wall right now.
ReplyDeleteI listen to Priscilla Ahn, Jim Brickman, Norah Jones, and Faith Hill. Mostly the first two, especially if I need to focus on the homework. But Faith Hill occasionally makes an appearance if I need a nostalgic pick-me-up... good memories of listening to that with with my mom.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck (and sleep) with all your studying! I am feeling that pressure, too, with the approach of finals and state tests and ap tests and research papers... yeah. I should probably be studying right now, but... procrastination in its most beautiful form sets in!
thanks for providing a most appealing distraction and diversion from the madness!
It's been a long time since I had to study. I went through a phase of listening to the Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks if I needed to have background music. If I put on stuff I like to sing along to it just ends up distracting me lol. At work I've been listening to Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard (the highlights with Glenn Close), Miss Saigon and a couple non-Musical albums like Christina Perri and Sweet Talk Radio. But I'm just in front of a computer all day so I can sing along in my head XD
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the studying. Keep that kettle boiling! ...I could use some more tea (I love your doodle!)
My nan also had that sound of music record. Oh the memories... Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! James Taylor and The Beatles! How wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteDefinite stress busters! The only one missing is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. :)
ReplyDeleteMay the Muses be with you in your upcoming challenges. Cheers!
OH, you really, really MUST see Amélie and you will love the music, too...
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh - my gran had that Sound of Music album, my mom the West Side Story one and my dad the Beatles one... When I was about 10, in the 70s, I was allowed to use my mom's precious record-player that she got for her 21st in 1962 - and I used it till I was 18, it was great. I listened to endless Sound of Music the first summer, and West Side Story later on, maybe when I was about 12.
As my dad liked 50s and 60s music, I grew up listening to Elvis and the Beatles and Stones etc. - I had a stack of his old singles, goodness knows what happened to them :o I learnt to read fluently with the Beatles' White Album because it was one of the first to have a word sheet included, as well as 4 large photographs of the guys...! Another one that helped my early reading was Status Quo's Piledriver (words on the inside of the album) and the Kinks' Lola versus Powerman, all of which are etched in my mind to this day :)
Although I still own 30-40 albums ranging from my childhood through to my early adult years - I loved them too much to get rid of them and replaced a few of them with CDs - I no longer own a record player. Seeing that photograph of yours reminded me to look out for one again, if I can find a stylus! Have you ever had to replace yours?!
I now remember I had a very tiny 70s record player at home, too... gosh, you jogged my memory quite a bit, there!
And good luck with your finals and graduation!!