This is not an encyclopedia, a textbook, or "music for kids. This is a guide for those who want to listen to music the way we read books: following the story, learning new things, empathizing. It is mostly about what is called "classical" music, which is what the listener usually needs to find the "keys" to. But the concept of "classical" has no clear boundaries, so with this book you can listen to any "smart" music - meaningful, deep, unusual - whether it be jazz, electronics, rock or folk. You'll read this book easily if you already have a little listening experience and an interest in music. Generally speaking, that's enough. Being able to play an instrument, knowing the notes, and loving to sing is useful for a competent listener, of course - but it's not absolutely necessary. I think it would be interesting for you to read this book with your parents, or to tell them what you have learned. Often even adults don't know or have forgotten about many of the things we will touch on. Simple rules The idea of listening to music according to the rules seems a little ridiculous: after all, it is such a natural, organic, intuitive thing to do! Should listening to music or mp3 download become an exercise that has to be done by making sure it's done correctly, like in the gym? Of course not. Music that finds its way to you, that grips you and opens up to you without effort should be experienced as something spontaneous and magical - bypassing reason and analysis. But it is only a tiny part of the music that we are used to hearing: only the music we are used to, the closest and most accessible. "Intuitive" music, which does not require skill to listen to, is not even the tip of the iceberg, but the snowball at its tip. Underneath it are terabytes of audio information, which still requires a navigator to comprehend. Just imagine how much beauty we are deprived of by reducing musical art to something that must somehow delight us by itself, without any steps on our part!
7/10/2021It may sound funny, but lots of people, when they go to a concert, say they went "to see John" or, worse still, "to see a violin. Imagine that you are reading a book without knowing the title, the author, the time it belongs to or the language in which it was originally written. Or that you go to an exhibition and look at pictures for a long time, not knowing who, when, in what country and under what circumstances they were painted. You'll be much more interesting to listen to if you understand the structure of the piece and remember who it was composed by. Look at a photograph or portrait of the composer and find out when he lived and his place in musical history. Sometimes this information is given in the program,booklet or in Youtube converted mp3, but it is very easy to find out on your own. I don't think anyone would want to waste their time that way! Don't let this happen, if you find yourself at a concert. Be sure to clarify what is being performed, in what order, how many parts it consists of, and when it begins and ends. How to listen to music Rule 2 - Don't listen to music in the background
7/9/2021