How do I listen to music in the background?

Listening to music in the background means playing music quietly while you engage in another activity, often work or studying. There are several reasons why someone might want to listen to music in the background:

To boost productivity – Research shows that listening to music while working can improve focus, elevate mood, and increase productivity for certain tasks (Source).
To enhance concentration – The right type of background music can help drown out distractions and allow you to concentrate better on the task at hand.

To relieve stress – Listening to calming, familiar music in the background has been shown to lower stress and anxiety levels.
For enjoyment – Many people simply enjoy having music playing in the background as they go about their day or work.

In short, background music can provide mental stimulation, improve mood, increase focus, and make repetitive or mundane tasks more enjoyable. When selected carefully, it can be a helpful productivity tool for many people.

On a Computer

One of the easiest ways to listen to music in the background on a computer is by using a music streaming service in a web browser tab. Popular music streaming services like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music and Amazon Music all have web apps that allow you to stream music through your browser. To get started, simply go to the streaming service’s website, log in to your account if needed, and start playing music.

The benefit of using a streaming service’s web player is that it will keep playing music even if you switch to another browser tab or application on your computer. This allows you to listen to tunes in the background while you work, browse the web, or engage in other computer activities. Most streaming services offer both free ad-supported tiers and paid subscription options without ads.

According to a 2022 survey by Statista, the most popular music streaming services in Argentina are YouTube at 78%, Spotify at 68%, and Apple Music at 19%. Streaming services are especially popular with younger Argentinians, with 94% of 16-24 year olds using YouTube Music and 91% using Spotify.

With a music streaming tab running in your browser, you can easily listen to music in the background no matter what else you’re doing on your computer. Just be sure to adjust the volume to an appropriate level if you need to concentrate or avoid distracting others around you.

On a Smartphone

Using a smartphone to listen to music in the background while doing other tasks is very convenient. Most smartphones nowadays come with built-in music apps that allow continuous playback. Here are some tips for listening to background music using your smartphone:

Choose a music app designed for background listening like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc. These apps are optimized to keep playing audio even when you switch to other apps. Make sure the app has an option to prevent the music from pausing when your screen locks.

Use a free or paid streaming subscription for uninterrupted listening without ads. Downloading playlists for offline listening will also prevent interruptions to your background music.

Lower the volume of the music so it’s audible but not distracting. You can set different volume levels for media and ringer/alerts.

Use headphones or connect your phone to external speakers for better audio quality. Bluetooth headphones allow you to move freely while listening.

Put your smartphone in a stationary spot while listening to avoid holding and handling it. Let the music play as you go about your other activities.

Adjust audio settings like equalizers to optimize the sound quality. Set a sleep timer if you want the music to automatically stop after a set duration.

With a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant provide convenient hands-free ways to listen to music in the background. To get started, you’ll first need to purchase and set up a compatible smart speaker device such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home. Once connected to Wi-Fi, you can use voice commands to request music from streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora or Amazon Music.

With Alexa, simply say “Alexa, play some music” to start streaming tunes. Or be more specific and say “Alexa, play jazz on Spotify.” Google Assistant works similarly – say “Hey Google, play relaxing piano music on YouTube Music.” You can adjust volume, skip tracks, or switch playlists using additional voice commands. Both assistants allow you to group multiple speakers for whole-home audio.

An advantage of using a virtual assistant for background music is the hands-free convenience. You don’t need to pick up your phone or open an app. Multi-room audio support also allows you to easily listen throughout your home. However, the music selection may be more limited compared to a dedicated media app. But with subscriptions to leading streaming services, you’ll likely find plenty to choose from.

With a Media Player

Many people choose to listen to music using a dedicated media player device instead of their smartphone or computer. Media players like the Apple iPod or Sony Walkman are designed specifically for playing audio files and offer certain advantages for background listening:

Dedicated functionality – Media players are optimized for audio playback, providing easy access to music libraries, playlists, and internet radio stations.
Long battery life – Media players can play music for many hours on a single charge, making them ideal for all-day listening.
Storage capacity – High-end media players offer ample storage space for large music libraries containing thousands of songs.

Portability – Media players are small, lightweight devices that are easy to carry around for background listening on the go.
Durability – Media players are built to withstand everyday use and last for years of continuous music playback.
Distraction-free – With no apps, email alerts, or internet access, media players allow you to focus solely on the music.

Using a dedicated media player with robust playlists and streaming radio access makes it simple and seamless to listen to music in the background throughout your day.

With External Speakers

One of the best ways to improve audio quality for background listening is by connecting dedicated external speakers. Standard built-in laptop or phone speakers often don’t provide the full range sound needed for an immersive music experience. External speakers are specifically designed for audio playback and come in a variety of options to suit different spaces and budgets.

For small to medium sized rooms, bookshelf or tower speakers can provide a significant upgrade over built-in speakers. Models like the Edifier R1280T (Amazon) offer good sound quality at an affordable price point. For larger spaces, more powerful floor standing tower speakers or speakers pairs will be needed to fill the room.

Connecting external speakers to a computer is straightforward – most connect via USB, Bluetooth, or 3.5mm auxiliary input. For phones and tablets, Bluetooth is the most convenient option. One tip when positioning speakers is to space them apart rather than clustering together, which can help create a wider soundstage.

With quality external speakers, listeners can relax and immerse themselves in the music. The improved frequency range and stereo separation provides a dramatically better listening experience compared to small built-in speakers. For home or office spaces where background music will be played regularly, investing in dedicated audio speakers is highly recommended.

Bluetooth Options

With Bluetooth technology, you can stream music to speakers or headphones wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. Here are some tips for listening to music in the background via Bluetooth:

Pair your phone or computer with Bluetooth speakers or wireless headphones. Make sure the devices are within range, usually 30 feet or less. Open Bluetooth settings to connect the devices.

On your phone, use an app like Spotify to select music and press play. The audio will now stream to the Bluetooth device instead of the phone’s speakers. For a computer, use a media player app and select the Bluetooth device as the audio output.

Check the volume on both the source device and receiving device. You may need to adjust the volume on both to achieve your desired loudness level.

Be aware that the Bluetooth connection can drain your phone’s battery faster. Keep devices charged as needed.

Avoid potential interruptions by turning off notifications or putting your phone in Do Not Disturb mode. This prevents alerts from disrupting your music playback.

Considerations for Shared Spaces

When listening to music around others, such as at work, school, or public places, it’s important to be considerate of those around you. Using headphones or earbuds instead of external speakers can help avoid distracting or annoying others.

Headphones allow you to listen privately without interrupting conversations or disrupting others’ focus. According to etiquette expert Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, playing music aloud in shared spaces like offices, buses, or parks is inconsiderate to others (Source). She recommends using headphones to avoid conflict.

If you must use speakers, keep the volume low and be aware of your surroundings. Ask permission from roommates, coworkers, etc. before playing music aloud. Be prepared to turn it off if requested. It’s courteous to avoid playing explicit music around children. Overall, headphones are the best option for playing music around others while being respectful.

Optimizing Focus

When listening to background music while working, the type of music you choose can significantly impact your focus and concentration. Research has shown that certain music characteristics like tempo, genre, lyrics, and variety affect cognitive performance.

For optimizing focus, slower tempos in the range of 50-80 beats per minute have been found most beneficial, as faster music can overstimulate while slower music can cause drowsiness. Instrumental music without lyrics is preferable as words can be distracting and divide attention. Ambient genres like classical, chillhop, and piano instrumentals work well for focus. While epic soundtracks and video game music can also energize tedious tasks.

Having some variety helps maintain interest and alertness over long periods. Consider curating multiple instrumental focus playlists for different moods and tasks. Or use a service like Focus@Will that programs variety optimized for concentration. Just be sure to avoid listening on shuffle or switching songs too often as that divides attention.

With the right balance, background music can help you get in flow while isolating distractions. Experiment to find which types of calming, lyric-free music boost your productivity.

Conclusion

In summary, there are many ways to listen to music in the background on devices like computers, smartphones, virtual assistants, media players, and external speakers. Bluetooth options provide wireless connectivity for many devices.

When listening in shared spaces, be considerate by keeping volume at reasonable levels. Additionally, optimize focus by selecting ambient, instrumental tracks rather than songs with distracting lyrics. The right background music can boost productivity and enjoyment, while the wrong choice creates discordance. Select your audio carefully to balance effectiveness with etiquette.

For more productivity tips, check out this informative video: Unlocking Your Productivity Potential: 7 Tips to Boost Efficiency.