How to Broaden your Taste in Music

Broadening your taste in music is an awesome experience, and while it may seem more like a hobby more than anything, it also is a way of developing a healthy personality. Being able to try new things, explore the world outside of your comfort zone can be very difficult throughout life. However, by expanding your taste in music, you actually are expanding your life as well!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music of all genres
• Computer
• Music

1. Go to Pandora's website (see link below). Pandora is a site dedicated to bringing you music based on similarities, but not exactly the same. So, if you like acoustical music (like Jim Croce or Jack Johnson), it may give you some similar bands, but not exactly the same acoustical sound.

2. Go to Myspace (see link below) and explore the thousands of bands on there. That is definitely a place to experience music form around the world, and of all styles and genres fast and relatively easily.

3. Find a local university, college, or cultural center in your area, and go to some musical events. Participating in ethical and cultural music will help you understand how certain genres originated and developed into what they are today.

4. Go to music festivals anywhere possible. While musical festivals may be a bit more expensive than a typical concert, you get to experience day(s) worth of music that usually vary in genres.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, go to small, local music festivals to actually meet the musicians in person, and talk to them about music, broadening your taste in music, and other music related topics. Most of the time a musician or artist will gladly get into discussions of such.
• Always have an open mind when listening, and give some genres more than one listening try.
• While it is best to have the most open mind, it is alright to have your preferences as well, just to not create judgments or prejudices towards other music and people.

Resources

• Myspace Music
• Pandora website

[janellephant]

on 2/19/2009 I found animal collective through myspace..I fell in love. Check em out if you'd like, but thanks for the tips

[derbyka]

on 1/11/2009 Some of the best music I've found randomly through many of the sources you mentioned.

[etm1109]

on 1/7/2009 Jazz is an acquired taste. You may want to start with some psuedo-jazz groups and work backwards. Examples would be Jean-Luc Ponty, Steely Dan. If you play guitar, definitly check out Wes Montgomery. Greatest unknown guitar player ever. His rendition of Chim Chim Cheree is great.

[JackLTrades]

on 1/7/2009 I have found some odd stuff I like. I still can't force myself to like jazz. I just don't get it.

[LisaBud]

on 1/5/2009 Good to know about Pandora, I'll try it! Right now I learn about great new music from my local independent radio station, WXPN-they webstream too!