The key to good background music at a party is that it will leave room for conversation, that it be positive (you don’t want the music to depress your guests) and that the songs flow into each other. Have you ever been at a party where the music playing goes from something slow and melodic to something loud and with a totally different beat? That can be a conversation stopper–something you want to avoid.
For the best results, pick a genre like jazz or reggae or swing, then gather together several classic albums from that genre. Often the songs on albums are arranged so that one flows easily into the next. That means, in most cases, you can just play an album front to back during your party, which frees you from having to make a playlist or constantly fuss with the music.
At a business function, you want the background music to enhance the flow of ideas or support productivity. Classical music may be a good choice. Researchers from the University of California in Irvine found that when college students listen to classical music, it temporarily improves their ability to solve certain kinds of problems. Playing classical music in the background of your next business meeting may help participants think about problems in a new way.
Whether you’re putting together a slide show of photographs from your latest overseas trip or editing your most recent home movie, adding background music will enhance the viewing experience and can help to convey the feeling of the moment captured in the pictures or video. In this case, the music you choose is very personal. Base your decisions on what music you think will best draw your viewers in and help them share in the experience you’re trying to relate.