While loading onto reels, I need silence. I haven't done it long enough for it to be second nature yet.
But, during my last printing session I had some Zeppelin playing in the office (darkroom is the tiny closet of the office), and that was very nice.
I think I'm gonna have to make an iTunes playlist of stuff that's good for playing in the background while doing things that require attention. Maybe some Crystal Method, Blue Man Group, BT, Days of the New, Dream Theater, etc... Maybe it'll keep my mind off of the fact that I'm in a stuffy little 2.5' x 7' closet with no real room to work. Can't wait til I convert my 10x10 shed...