Midterms week.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way that you could de-stress and simply get it all done? Well, assuming that you have a computer or headphones at your disposal, let me suggest an easy way to get through this week of fun.

I think anyone can relate to the experience of having too much to do. Homework has a bad habit of piling up, especially the day before you have a couple of midterms or a 10-page research paper on the effects of Book IV in Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics.

I know you probably already have your favorite musical groups, but let me make a suggestion: Mark Knopfler’s new album “Sailing to Philadelphia.” You may have just thought, “Yeah right,” but hear me out. Mark Knopfler burst onto the music scene in 1977 as the frontman for his band, Dire Straits; and since then he has made a name for himself as a guitarist, songwriter and film-score composer. He and Dire Straits have released several albums, including Brothers in Arms and Communiqu?, but it is as a solo recording artist that Knopfler has really shone.

In 1996 he released Golden Heart, which turned out to be one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the season. Since that time, he has worked around a busy schedule to get another solo album together that is full of heart and soul. The result is Sailing to Philadelphia, released this past May. This album features original tracks and performances by such special guests as James Taylor, Van Morrison, trumpeter Wayne Jackson and guitarist Richard Bennett. His scores have also been found in such movie classics as Metroland, The Princess Bride, Last Exit to Brooklyn and Wag the Dog.

OK. Now, what does this have to do with studying? Well, after you’ve put your new Knopfler CD in, you’ll see just how much music can affect your studying habits. This music could be described as a cross between jazz, alternative and soft rock.

Trust me, this CD is as “quality” as your grades will be after you start listening to it while studying. A