If you ever wondering “How to Listen Classical Music” you are on the spot!
I’ve been listening to classical music since I was a child. My parents played me lots of Bach and Mozart records.
When I got older, I discovered Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. And then I found Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, Mahler, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Bartók, Hindemith, etc.
How to Listen Classical Music
Classical music is an art form that, for myriad complex reasons, is often perceived to be the preserve of a narrow elite; an exclusive party to which few are invited.
Nowadays, I’m still listening to classical music every day. But I’m not just listening to it; I’m learning it too. I’m taking lessons from a professional violinist. I’m studying piano with a teacher. I’m reading books about composition and theory. I’m writing articles about classical music.
And I want to share what I’ve learned with you. So here are five tips on how to listen to classicalmusic.
1. Find Your Favorite Composer
The best way to start is to find out what composer you really enjoy. You might love Bach, but maybe you’re more drawn to Mozart. Or perhaps you prefer something else entirely.
2. Choose a Piece
Once you’ve identified a composer you like, choose a piece. A good place to start is YouTube. There are tons of videos featuring live performances of pieces by composers you like.
3. Learn the Notes
Learn the notes on your favorite instrument in the piece. If you can’t do that yet, no worries. Just focus on the general theme or mood of the piece.
4. Study the Score
Once you have a grasp on the notes, study the score. Don’t read the whole thing at once! Focus on one page at time. It will take longer, but it’s important.
5. Analyze the Melody
When you understand the notes well, analyze the melody. What makes it special? Is it simple? Complicated? Make sure you know all the different parts so you can recognize them later.
How to Listen Classical Music: Classical Music for Beginners
If you want to learn how to appreciate classical music, there are many ways to start. You might already be familiar with some pieces of classical music, such as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Chopin’s “Minuet Op. 28 No. 2,” or Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik.” If you haven’t heard those songs before, though, you’ll probably find yourself wondering why you don’t hear them everywhere.
You’ve no obligation to like a piece of music just because someone said it was a true masterpiece.
The reason is simple: most people aren’t exposed to classical music very often. While pop music dominates radio stations and TV channels around the world, classical music tends to be relegated to niche genres like jazz, opera and ballet. And while you may occasionally see a performance of a symphony orchestra, you usually won’t encounter classical music in everyday life.
That doesn’t mean classical music isn’t worth knowing, though. In fact, it’s one of the oldest forms of art known to man. From ancient times, composers have used music to express feelings ranging from joy to sorrow to love. They’ve written hundreds of thousands of works over the centuries, and today we still use much of their work every day.
So if you’d like to learn more about classical music, read on for tips on how to listen to classical compositions.
How to Listen Classical Music: What defines classical music?
While you don’t need to know exactly what classical music is to appreciate it, it does help if you can grasp the fact that it is constantly evolving. Composers are still creating works that fall within the realm of classical music, even though some might consider those pieces to be outside of the genre. For example, while Beethoven, Mozarte, and Haydn are considered to be classical composers, there are plenty of contemporary artists who write classical music. These include such names as John Adams, Philip Glass, Michael Nyman, Arvo Pärt, and John Williams.
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