Zen and the art of listening!

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I took a music appreciation class in college as a fun way to put units in the humanities requirement. The instructor was a local masterclass piano teacher who taught us the basics of structure in classical music. We had to write papers about the structure of music we listened to. Other topics included technical things line 12 tone rows. I find the "technical" approach is a great aid in concentration. Other things include dynamics and, for vocals and wind instruments, breathing.

I've thought of listening to and playing music as analogous to meditation for quite a while. I used to describe it as "getting inside the music." Like the guy in the Moliere play who was delighted to learn that he had been speaking in prose all his life, I discovered that I'd been following basic mindfulness since I was little when I listened to or played music.

 

[Anton D]

I discovered that I'd been following basic mindfulness since I was little when I listened to or played music.

Running into a concept and finding yourself nodding your head as you read it is a good sign!

 

[BobbyTimmons]

Listening to physical media helps, reading the liner notes. Turn off computers and phones nearby.