The music thing is strickly personal. Fro some people, ti might distract them from LDing, for others no effect, and for some others it helps them be lucid because the music is a link back to the waking world. Experiment for yourself. As for the journal, its up to you to, makes no differecne. however, if you have a physical journal you can wirte down your dreams faster the secon you wake up, or if you wake up in the middle of the night.