A Glassy Focus
I have had an amazingly productive day. I had two meetings, schedule a few more for tomorrow, cranked through my e-mail, converted a Photoshop comp into a working CSS and HTML template in our CMS, tested said template in IE 6 and 7, met someone who shared my name, and did a little research all while listening to Philip Glass.
This isn't the first time I've noticed a correlation between listening to Glass and getting things done. I'm not asserting some Mozart-effect like phenomenon. Instead, there's something about his music, something in all that repetition, those patterns, that building intensity, that allows my mind to focus and crank through tasks. Perhaps it occupies that part of my consciousness that is constantly eager for distraction.
Hell, even catching up on the unread headlines in my news-reader felt efficient today.
Whatever it is, placebo effect or no, I love his music and the effect is produces in me.
If you don't own any of his stuff I recommend Einstein on the Beach, Koyaanisqatsi, and The Fog of War. Glassworks, The Hours, Music in Twelve Parts, Kundun, and Powaqqatsi fill out my collection but those first three are far and away my favorites.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: A Glassy Focus.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.samfelder.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/235
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Who is this guy?
Sam Felder is a web designer and occasional writer in Los Angeles, CA.
Born in Washington, DC, Sam and his family moved to Peoria, IL, where he grew up and went to school. He returned to DC in 2003 and left for the west coast in late 2005.
Find Me Elsewhere
Search
Categories
Recent Activity
April 16
- Sam saved the link The Next Page: Thirty Tables of Contents Sam saved the link The Next Page: Thirty Tables of Contents Sam saved the link The Next Page: Thirty Tables of Contents 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-17T07:26:22Z
- Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z
- Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z
- Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z
April 15
- Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z
- Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z
April 12
- Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z
- Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z
April 10
- Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z
- Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z
April 9
- Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z
- Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-10T03:17:20Z
April 7
- Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z
April 4
- Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-04T16:49:16Z
- Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z
April 3
- Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-03T17:18:57Z
- Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z
April 2
- Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z
I am always in need of music to focus my mind, so I gave the Glass in my collection a try. All I have is Aguas da Amazonia (I think, it's not very well labelled), which I have to admit made me focused, but also rather anxious. Does his music ever have that effect on you?
It's interesting that you bring this up. There are times when the repetition is grating. This seems to happen when I'm stumped and am wrestling with a particular problem that just won't let itself be resolved.
At those moments I often find the best solution to be no music at all (or if I feel like giving up, I put on some Interpol)