Getting the Most from Classical Music: Try This

Listening to classical music can bring much joy, meaning, and solace to one's life. However, it can also be overwhelming or confusing. The following approach can help demystify classical music, whether you are listening to a recording or enjoying a live performance. It is a simple process that can elucidate the music, making it more accessible and meaningful. 

Let's say you are listening to a recording of a symphony or attending an orchestra concert. First, observe a memorable part in the music. When you hear something interesting or moving, write down the approximate time for that part. If you are listening to a recording, you can pause the track to do so. If you are listening to a live performance, you can make note of a memorable moment and refer to a recording later. What made the moment memorable to you? Was it the color of the sound? The texture? An idea that the violins played? Was it a series of low notes or a big swell in the sound? Revisit the moment and listen again. What defined that moment for you? Why? 

Next, recall the memorable part by imagining its sound in your mind or humming it. If you are attending a live performance, you’ll want to save this step for after the performance has ended. You can acquire a recording of the musical piece from your local library or music store for reference. Try to imagine or hum the memorable moment as described above. Now continue listening to the music. A few seconds or minutes later, pause the track, and see if you can recall the interesting part from before. Can you imagine that memorable moment in your mind? Can you hum it back to yourself? If not, rewind the recording to the approximate time you wrote down and listen again. Repeat the process as needed. For an added challenge, see if you can remember a single musical moment as you listen to an entire recording. 

Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of the interesting ideas that a composer explores within one piece. By imagining or humming just one interesting idea, you can strengthen your understanding of a piece - as well as your endurance for listening to the music. Does your memorable moment come back throughout the piece? Does it inspire similar ideas? It's alright if you need to refer back to the approximate time that you wrote down. 

Soon you'll be able to identify (and perhaps memorize!) many moments from specific pieces of music. You don’t need complex music theory or vast prior experience to enjoy the music with this approach. By referring to your own observations or learning certain parts by heart, you'll strengthen your appreciation of the music. You'll be able to associate different musical ideas with the names of classical pieces. You'll know what specific pieces mean to you, and what magic they hold. 

For more ideas and to join a community of kindred spirits, visit www.instagram.com/anjawademusicstudio. Happy exploring! 

© Anja Wade Music Studio 2024 

Updated 2025

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Care for and Maintain Your Guitar

Just like we need to sharpen our hockey skates and clean our dance shoes, we need to take care of our guitars. Ideally, the guitar should receive full maintenance at least twice a year. What’s involved in maintenance, you ask? Good question! Full maintenance, often called a setup, involves checking the height of the strings, the straightness of the neck, the tightness of the tuning pegs, and more. It’s similar to an oil change for the guitar. During a full setup, the guitar technician replaces old strings and adjusts the instrument for playability as well as longevity. It’s good to get a full setup done seasonally. This means at least once in cold weather and once in warm weather. In fact, you can use your car’s oil change as a reminder to get your guitar serviced. Put it on the calendar or simply remember to visit your local music shop when you check your car’s oil. You can also mark your calendar for service during major winter and spring holidays. If you play a lot, you may want t...
Read more

The Guitar Fretboard

Just getting into guitar and unsure how to approach the fretboard? There are many systems and methods available to you. Let's take a look. One of the most popular methods is known as the Three-Notes-Per-String system. In this approach, the guitarist organizes the instrument into patterns based on three notes per string. It's a method that's popular among metal guitarists given its adaptability for tapping and legato playing. Another well-known approach is called the Berklee method, named after the Berklee School of Music in Boston. This method combines a classical perspective with position playing. Huh? In other words, this system presents the fretboard as a formal set of patterns according to numeric position on the neck - fret one, fret two, etc.  Last but not least is the CAGED system, in which players conceptualize the fretboard as a series of predictable patterns resembling chord shapes. The open-string C, A, G, E, and D major chord shapes familiar to most beginners (o...
Read more