Writing and Music

            Ellison's essay is about his relationship to music, but it also tells the story of how he became a writer. I like the connection that he made about music and writing. It makes me think of the quote I heard in high school, "The greatest scientists are artists as well " - Albert Einstein. I say it reminds me of this quote because if you think about it, good musicians are writers too. Writing and music are also related because it's just like writing and reading. When you're listening to music and writing at the same time, most people tend to get distracted. Sometimes I write down what I'm singing because I'm so into the song. Ellison was "trying " to write, just like I always do. He was very distracted by where he lived, he couldn't even hear his own typewriter keys. There was a time where I got really distracted so I couldn't finish my paper at that moment. For instance, when I am trying to write a paper or read a book I can't focus very well unless it's just me, myself and I. .
             Music is something people use to connect with their emotions and writing can be used for the same thing. Writing is an emotional expression and can change people's mood just like music. Some people sit in silence, listening to the sounds in their minds, writing the notes on paper. Others might sit at the piano and test out chords and phrases as they write, my neighbor told me he does this. I can't do this, because I'm not good at multitasking. I can't listen to music and read at the same time at all. But sometimes I can listen to music and write a paper at the same time if it's a topic that I know a lot about. Listening to music for relaxation is common among students to counter the effects of stress or anxiety while completing difficult academic tasks. In one of my classes last year, we talked about how some studies supporting this technique have shown that background music promotes cognitive performance while other studies have shown that listening to music while engaged in complex cognitive tasks can impair performance.