It’s Music To Your Ears, But Are You REALLY Listening?

According to IFPI’s 2019 Music Listening Report, we spend an average of 18 hours per week listening to music. But how many of those 18 hours spent do we really take time to appreciate the music - to truly LISTEN to the art, rather than it being the soundtrack to our lives, fading into the background and becoming mere white noise? When was the last time we all set aside time to bathe in the harmonies, to let the music take us someplace only we know?

A few years ago, I read an article in the UK magazine Breathe written by a man called Nigel Huddleston that really caught my attention - it was a large reason as to why I decided to purchase a physical copy of a magazine. In the article, Huddleston writes:

“Giving your full attention to a piece of music is such a simple way to relax and escape, but when was the last time you slowed down enough to really listen? Not just heard some music, but actually sat down and listened to it?”

He also goes on to present readers with the steps to achieve this activity of musical active listening: i) Allocate time; ii) Eradicate distractions; iii) Make yourself comfortable; iv) Choose your medium; v) Choose your music; vi) Take a mindful approach; and vii) Enjoy it (Huddleston, 2018).

When you listen to music actively, you engage with it: you notice the nuances and small details you have never noticed before; you observe how your mind, body, and soul respond to the music - how it makes you feel; memories may come to the surface; and you may find yourself with new awarenesses and introspections. Music acts as a timeless catalyst in many journeys of our life. Opening your ears and heart to the music can be a transformative self-care tool, a way to use music as therapy at home yourself. But it can also be dangerous; with a lack of a Music Therapist present, make sure that you have someone you trust and can talk to on standby should you feel that the musical journey may take you to undesired places or unearth unwelcome feelings. If these persist, please seek out the advice of a professional.

Reference: Huddleston, Nigel. “Turn up the Music.” Breathe, Issue 16, pp. 64–67.

Your Guide to Musical Active Listening

Get the most out of the experience:

Set yourself up in a comfortable place with little to no distractors.
Use headphones or earbuds for the ultimate listening experience.
Listen to the music multiple times if desired.
Find a space to jot down your notes AFTER you finish listening → get started with my Music Listening Log Template (PDF)

Things to think about while listening:

How is the music affecting you? Notice how your body, mind, heart, and spirit react to the sounds.
What thoughts and feelings does the music evoke?
What images appear in your mind - is it a fragment of a memory, or perhaps a fictive world only you know? A dream?
If the music has lyrics, which line(s) resonate with you the most? Why do you think that is?
What is something new you notice about the song - could it be the instrumentation, harmonies, tone and delivery?