I did a test. I was playing music and I read an article in a magazine at the same time and it didn’t affect the music (although it took me longer than normal to read the article.) Then I tried reciting “The Road not Taken” while playing and was unable to adequately do both at the same time. Then I recited it in my mind while playing and I did much better. So I don’t think it has to do with multitasking. I think there is something intrinsic in talking that is incompatible with playing music unless you are singing along to the music. My hypothesis is that they are two contradictory acts. It’s like singing one song while playing another song. Or like revolving your hands in opposite directions.
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