Does music help you concentrate or does it do the exact opposite?

+5 depends on what i have my mind on.

i think it depends on what im trying to work on. if im writing, then its fine. but im horrible at math, so usually classical music is on. nothing that distracts me. =]

Often the opposite. As a free-lance professional jazz pianist & vocalist, I "hear" all music, absolutely - i.e., I can tell you all the notes and tones I'm hearing at any given time. It is a very complete way of hearing music as I have a "perfect" ear - or should I say, perfect (absolute) pitch, and relative pitch. Therefore, it can be somewhat overwhelming for me and highly distracting, since I am often thinking more about what notes I'm hearing, than the overall mood of the music or how it makes me feel. The analytical side is always at work, even when I want to shut it off!! When I am writing chord charts for my group or the male singer I work with often (we do a lot of Sinatra stuff, and other great swing tunes - http://www.gigsalad.com/andy_cowan__the_nina_beck_trio - sorry for the 'plug' there!), I must have quiet, so I can "play" the music in my head and write the chords from my "head tape" to paper. I find that Finale or Sibelius, while nice and quite functional, have that extra "step" of clicking, and I can write charts quicker by hand - just me and my "musical brain." That is off topic - sorry! But let's just say that only if I'm talking with someone and there is background music, can I actually not focus on all the notes I'm hearing. Whoa!!

Helps me. The heavier the metal the better i can concentrate.

Yes,I alays have music on when I'm doing artwork.It's great for that:)

At work, I can't STAND it when the place is completely quiet, it can be like a tomb. I have to hear some music playing quietly in the background. In that situation, I love the accompaniment that music provides, and I work better that way. It's great for my concentration.

At home, I used to love to play soft romantic music or easy-listening music at an extremely low volume throughout the night while I slept. I loved waking up in the middle of the night to an old love song that I hadn't heard in years. Along came marriage, and guess what? Mrs Randy is one of those people who can't sleep a wink unless it's deadly quiet for miles around. Who knew?

depends if I'm trying to read or not

The opposite if I'm trying to think or plan.

If I am doing physical labor it definately motivates, If I am studying or reading I can't have any noise at all.

If I need to read, I can't have music. If it's reports I'm just copying I love to listen while I work:)

ehhh....not really either one.It helps me feel better.

Helps with the thinking process, especially when you're also the creator of the music.