How to Listen to Classical Music Critically
Classical music needs no introduction; it's part of our everyday life. Devote a little time, and you can develop a more discerning ear.
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Things You'll Need
- Biographies
- Music Theory Books
- Classical Music CDs
- Concert Tickets
- Symphony Tickets
Instructions
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Listen actively and patiently.
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Determine what kind of piece you are listening to: sonata, symphony, concerto or tone poem. Learn the differences between these forms.
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Listen for a theme and variations on that theme threading through the music. Each movement within a piece has its own structure, but each one typically elaborates on the same theme.
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Consider which instruments are used at what point in the piece. Try to determine why the composer might have chosen those instruments.
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Tips & Warnings
Learn basic terminology and music theory to enhance your understanding.
Read about the composer, his or her influences, and music history for more background.
The type of piece often relates to the number of instruments. A sonata, for example, is a piece made up of three to four movements for one or two instruments.
Movements often follow a pattern: exposition of the first and second themes, development of those themes, and a recapitulation of the original themes.
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Comments
View all 13 Comments-
Nice tutorial! In the end... be patience and learn to feel... and listen :)
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Jason Gonzalez
Jan 22, 2011
It does not take skill, intelligence or intense thinking to interpret classical music it is the same situation as looking at a pretty painting made of a series of colorful blotches of paint and trying to make sense of it. PS: Classical Music does not make you smarter, although it stimulates your mind JUST like any other song or sound you may enjoy, mental stimulation just means making you happy the same kind of stimulation can come from any other kind of bliss; food, music, sex, other signals made in your body. Although if you are being stimulated with classical music or any other kind of music, you will probably get some sort of motivation, which if you act productively during you can actually just attempt to learn something and get smarter. -
Varshrei Frleis
Oct 03, 2010
Think of yourself standing on a endless and open field, whatever's gonna happen next you build up yourself by what your listening to.
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kronobotz-com
Jun 22, 2009
"Determine what kind of piece you are listening to: sonata, symphony, concerto or tone poem. Learn the differences between these forms." These are interesting terms I heard but don't know the definition of. Now you might write an article "How to understand the definitions of..." these.
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sma3272
Aug 28, 2007
tioning by short, simple melodies found in popular music). Also, listen for tone color -- various instruments and combinations of instruments are used by composers to create different sounds. Thirdly, don't listen to classical music in the car, while doing work, or in any other context where it functions as background music. There is a reason that at orchestra concerts everybody sits quietly and listens instead of dancing, chatting with their friends, and having a drink. Listen to as much as you possibly can within the context of a single piece. Are you hearing the color added to the tone of the low brass chords by the bassoon? Do you hear the cellos' countermelody being played under the violins? Are you allowing the polyrhythmic motifs to excite you? Only when you can attentively listen to and appreciate everything at once have you completely appreciated a piece of music. This
