Joe BrockmeierMar 15

RE: https://mastodon.social/@yayaver/116210451937109857

Listen to full albums, too.

Just listen: don’t just put music on as background noise. Pick a good album, and find a quiet place with a decent enough stereo or headphones (preferably not earbuds). Grab a cup of tea or a beer or a whiskey (whatever your sipping beverage of choice), get comfy, and really listen to the music.

When you were in grade school did your music teacher have you listen to music (say, “Peter and the Wolf”) and try to pick out the instruments? I hope so. Do that. Appreciate the interplay of instruments and vocals. Really listen to the lyrics (if it has them) if you haven’t before.

One of the tragedies of today is that people have basically all recorded music at their fingertips, but relegate it to background noise.

Show threadDanneau

@jzb @yayaver

Yes to books, yes to full albums.... I would add playlists, as sometimes there is a collection worth a listen to explore a theme, a particular instrument, to compare/contrast periods. artists, ensembles, or even to evoke and sustain a certain range of emotions.
As an aside, Peter and the Wolf loomed large in our household, but along with a barrage of classical stuff and some jazz and experimental material. I was tasked with an extended solo on PNTW in our school orchestra presentation, though I was a trumpeter and had to improvise on the string theme. My right knee shook and threatened to buckle for the duration.
Also, in terms of reading, while I love entire books, I need to acknowledge that all books aren't born equal and there are more of them than I can hope to read in several lifetimes. Daniel Pennac's Reader's Bill of Rights is a great document in reinforcing the idea that we need to give ourselves permission to read what, how, and when we choose.

Mar 15 at 9:37pmWeb