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I read the OP to say that Mom thinks that listening to music at any time is harmful. I don't read any reference to music while studying.
If that is an accurate understanding, then, IMO your mom is misinformed. If anything, music stimulates the brain. There is some evidence (maybe not conclusive) to indicate that multi-tasking actually leads to reduced performance, so maybe she'd have a point if she is talking about music while studying, but that's not how I read it.
I too am a senior now, one that AARP has seemingly given up on, now resorting to sending things to my wife. But I digress!!!
I almost always read recreationally with music on in the background and often have a playlist on in my office. Heck Nara by ES Posthumus is playing now(Cold Case theme song) and next in the cue is Rocky Top. And its always with me when I run.
I sometimes do my journal reading in silence but doubt that it helps me concentrate any better.
I just enjoy music too much to be left in silence.
I believe music is perfectly fine for physical exercise, but it is left to the discretion of the listener in times of study. Now, I'm not so sure the argument is about whether or not you should be listening to music, or if it is about what kind of music you should be listening to. You'll find that parents generally accept classical or jazz, and tend to shun more modern hip/hop and rap. I, for one, do find classical music very stimulating when working.
I don't really see listening to music while studying as multi-tasking...I mean, most people I know use it as simple background noise...like someone else said, it can help block out other distractions. When I listen to music while studying, its usually music i've heard a million times, so it kinda just fades to the background, rather than becoming a distraction.
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