Attention to Detail: The Classical Music Listening Guide

Guided Listening: Dvorak Symphony No. 8

After introducing our four fundamental techniques, we bring in some guests to join us in listening to Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. We'll demonstrate how many different ways there are to listen to a piece of music, and practice breaking down a symphony so our listeners feel comfortable doing the same!

Recording: Link

#4: Fundamentals: Mapping

In this final episode on fundamentals, we review grouping and introduce a new technique for hearing larger chunks of music. We'll discuss how to create your own mental map of a piece of music, ways to approach going to the concert hall and digesting a whole program, and strategies for combining the three techniques in our series on fundamentals.

Recording: Link

#3: Fundamentals: Grouping

In our second episode on fundamentals, we discuss the technique of grouping ideas. We discuss how our listeners can unlock their own artistic and musical mind, and how to apply that to listening to music. We also demonstrate several examples of how to group ideas when you are listening, using the music of Mozart and Wagner.

Recordings: Link 1Link 2

#2: Fundamentals: Hearing Ideas

In our first episode on fundamentals, we'll present our first fundamental technique of hearing ideas. We'll discuss why classical music is so challenging to grasp for newcomers, introduce the concept of a musical idea, and practice hearing ideas and finding their inner meaning, through the music of Beethoven and Boulez.

Recordings: Link 1 Link 2

#1: Listening Attentively

Classical music can be intimidating for new listeners. In this episode, we talk about the secret to understanding classical (and all) music better: listening attentively. We'll break down what that actually means, and discuss why classical music is particularly difficult for new listeners. We also touch on many other topics, like the relevance of classical music to millennials, our favorite orders at Chipotle, and more!

Recording: Link