Classical music is one of the most beautiful things a human can experience in his or her lifetime. Yet it is also one of the most widely underappreciated. Why is it that many people that analyze works of literature and appreciate fine works of art don't listen to classical music? The difference between popular music and classical music can basically be summed up as the difference between magazines and works of literature.
Some classical listening tips:
Listen for melody! I cannot stress this enough. A lot of unexperienced listeners of classical music simply hear classical music in blocks of chords - either "happy" or "sad", etc. and completely overlook the beautiful melodies going on within the chords. This one of the chief reasons non-experienced listeners find slow classical works or movements "boring" --- they do not hear melody when the tempo is too slow(often due to such condi
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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
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Novice
