Well, I am a former elementary/junior high school teacher and I became an expert at multi-tasking with anywhere from 25-35 students in a classroom and knowing exactly what was going on and keep on a teaching. So, I have to have the television on because it is soooooo quiet in my sewing room with both my little Featherweight or the 301 not making any distracting noises at all. The TV just keeps me company!!!