This may seem an obvious thing for a blog concerned with learning about music and composition, but I do not think that is as straightforward as it may first appear.
Many years ago, I followed a course from the Open University simply titled ‘Listening to Music’, just for interest. It was an interesting course and enlightening regarding the experience of listening to music.
The course was concerned with the idea of listening to music from a critical and analytical standpoint and made use of many different genres and styles. All those years I had thought I was listening to music, in the car, whilst studying, whilst reading, so many places. Then here I was being disabused of this notion. I had not really been listening, at least not on anything but the most superficial level.
It may have been good enough then, but not now that I want to learn more about how music is constructed, how it is composed. I think that the lessons leant in that course could well be important for the future. I will have to see if I can still find the course materials and revisit them.
Listening on a deeper level, critically, analyzing the structure and form of the music will lead to a deeper appreciation and understanding.
How do you listen to music?
What do you think are the most important elements of really listening to and appreciating music?
Comments always appreciated. I am sure I will eventually get a comment on this blog 🙂
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