Critical listening....

I was talking to Alex about music and he presented me with an interesting thought. I've always felt a bit inadequate when it comes to listening to some music, a song, or something, and being able to tell anyone exactly what it was about it that interested me. I know what I like when I listen but other than simply saying "I think it's very good" I am hardpressed to be able to decipher why I think that or why something moves me. Alex pointed out that I seem to be able to do that for other artforms, in particular, acting.

I have acted in many, many plays in my life. Acting has always been my first artistic love. I can watch a performance in a film or play and if it's good I can talk about exactly why I think it is and what makes it so. I can see, feel and hear the details in the performance and speak to the layers the actor created in it. I can also do this with visual artforms. I can instantly relate to what it makes me feel and why.

I love music for so many reasons. I want to be able to describe what it makes me think, feel and why it does so. I want to be able to hear the technical aspects in the composition and the interpretation of the artists and producers. Alex suggested that what I should do is start to expose myself to all kinds of music - to not only listen to it but to read what other people say about it and why. I've been thinking about this a lot today and I have to agree. So that's my plan. I'm going to try to embark on a musical discovery tour of my own - just listening to many, many varied songs and then see what other's had to say about why they feel the music is so good. Maybe, over time, I can train my critical ear and finally feel confident to discuss the music in the way that I do hear it but just can't find the words.