For most people listening to music is a passive experience. We turn on music and engage in other primary activities like reading, surfing the web, writing etc. The music is playing, and we are aware of it, but it serves more of a decorative or soundtrack-like purpose for the other stuff we are doing.
Although having music playing is better than no music playing at all, something can be lost to not giving your music the attention it deserves. After all, crafting and getting that music to you is no easy labour and don’t we all want to be better listeners anyway?
Without getting too deep into the inherent qualities of listening to your surroundings and the meditative value they hold, active listening simply means listening as your primary focus.
Rather than using music as background noise for another activity, focus your attention entirely on what you hear without doing anything else. This kind of attention takes time, quiet and focus (all valuable life traits).
Turn on some music and shut out all distractions. No matter what your sound source is (computer, phone etc) try not interacting with it whilst the music is playing. Another great thing to do is close your eyes while you listen.
What you are doing now is not trying to listen to anyone particular thing, rather, generally listening. You will be instantly amazed at how much more you hear and how much more the music has to offer.
After getting used to listening actively you can start to dissect the music in your mind. Start by listening to all the different layers the music has to offer. Sound, timbre, texture, harmony, melody and rhythm all have their own intricate attributes to uncover.
Subjectively speaking this mode of listening also helps to teach you how the art form of song actually works; helps you understand your responses to sound and further more your surroundings.
When you listen passively it is normal to have an emotional response to music but when heard actively and as your sole focus you start to uncover the reasons why you have such responses.
At the end of the day music is an art form specifically for the sense of hearing (well mostly) a sense so immensely important to the fabric of the human condition that to take it for granted seems a huge mistake.
If hearing is so strongly attached to who we are as individuals then music is there to assist us in building value in it and help us to grow our auditory awareness and appreciation for sound in all forms.
A recap:
- Put on some music.
- Shut out all other distractions and temptations (including other people).
- Close your eyes.
- Calmly focus on the different layers of sound you hear.
- Calmly focus your attention to the emotions you feel through listening to the music.
- Repeat.
“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen” — Ernest Hemingway.
