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Listening without Music...

Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2003-06-19 03:05

I was just wondering this... I can't focus on a song unless I'm looking at the music! For instance, if I just pick up a CD I've never heard before and pop it in, I can't keep my mind focused on a song (as far as decifering thematic material and development) and I just generally wander. Like I've tried to listen to the Hindemith Concerto and many other pieces that I don't have the music too, and no matter how hard I try, I can't focus (no matter how many times I listen)... If I look at the music, I completely get the song, can pick out all the thematic stuff and everything... after looking at the music once, I can totally follow the music each time I listen to it without looking at it. Is this a common situation? Also, I can't play by ear very well, but I can look at something and memorize extremely quickly... Does this mean i'm a "visual learner"? If anyone else has similar experiences, let me know.

Don

PS - is there any way I can train myself to be more aurally perceptive? It would make familiarizing myself with the rep easier (and cheaper).. Thanks

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Re: Listening without Music...

Author: William
Date: 2003-06-19 15:18

Music is sound. And it is that sound that "speaks" to us, not the notes on the score or the arrangement of it's thematic scheme. It may be that you have inadvertantly trained yourself to rely on these visual cues to focus your aural efforts in listening and that may be why you have difficulties "playing it by ear." My only advice would be to throw away the scores and just listen, or learn to play simple melodies by ear and gradually develope an ability to play some jazz. Whatever you decide, you really need to just get back to the sound and try not to be too analytical about what you are hearing--just appreciate and enjoy. That is what it is really all about.

It like the old saying about not being able to see the forest because all the trees are in the way.

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