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Miguel de Maria -> Listening to music ? (Sep. 27 2003 15:44:56)
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I am in a really weird state right now. Kind of scary, kind of exhilirating.
What it is, is that a few weeks ago I decided to make listening to music a part of my practice schedule. So, sitting down, putting on a CD, and listening. Following one instrument, really carefully, then going back and following another instrument. First listen, following the congas, the second, the palmas, etc. Now I'm just starting to think that this is a very important thing to do.
Of course, it's one thing we all get tired of--these smug pro musicians telling us to listen to music. Well, I think these guys are on to something.
I should insert here that I was the guy who couldn't play by ear, who raged in despair at the guitar interviews of the rockers who learned to play by wearing out their KISS records--because I coudln't do it at all! I couldn't figure out how to play Happy Birthday (c) by ear, man! I'm not lying. Yeah, I played classical, and heavy metal, but I could not for the life of me play by ear.
Of course, over the years I've worked on it gradually and gotten much better, by such things such as "guess the melody" (this is when you play melodies by ear for your mom or girlfriend or wife, and you get happy if she figures it out, kind of like when you can't draw and people have to guess what it is you're trying to draw). Jamming with various groups and being in bands, of course, helps this as well.
But listening! Oh man! I have made incredible progress in just a few weeks! Guys, I can tell you how to play guitar in just 14 years--listen! I am in this state of excited sensitivity, whenever music comes on I'm picking out the compas/beat, where the drums are, what the bass is doing, not to mention the guitar part... Not only that I CAN SPEAK SPANISH NOW.
I'm not kidding. I was just listening to some cante the other day and I realized I knew what they were talking about. I always knew how to speak a little, but now these words are floating by my ear and it's like I can read them as they go by. I was thinking of learning to sing some bulerias, now I realized I don't need the letra written down it's right there in front of me.
Hey, man, same thing with the guitar/bass/drum parts. I don't need it written down, it's right there, I just heard it!
I'll quit now, but I encourage those of you who don't listen regularly, and I know some of you such as Ron do--but make this a part of your life. Listen to a piece, one instrument at a time. Tap your foot to the beat and relate the music to the beats--on or off. You will be loving life!
Your fiance may get a bit sick of that glazed look on your face. The one that shows you are not listening to her...
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