Listening. We think because we hear something, that we're listening.
Speaking of Listening… See below for a nascent work in progress.
Here is what ChatGPT (The Robot) has to say about listening:
Understanding the difference between hearing and listening is valuable in the context of experiencing music. While hearing music involves simply perceiving the sounds, deep listening involves actively engaging with the music, paying attention to its nuances, and allowing ourselves to be fully immersed in the experience. By engaging in deep listening, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry of music and the emotions it can evoke. Just as in communication with others, active engagement with music can enrich our experience of life and help us to better understand and connect with the world around us.
A little more from The Robot: (My additions in black)
Deep listening involves giving our full attention to the music we're listening to. It means setting aside distractions, focusing on the nuances of the music, and allowing ourselves to be fully immersed in the listening experience. Here are some tips for deep listening:
Find a quiet space: To fully engage with music, it's important to eliminate distractions. Find a quiet space where you can concentrate on the music without interruption.
Use headphones: or a really good hi-fi. Headphones help to eliminate outside noise and allow you to fully immerse yourself in the music. They can also bring out the nuances in the music that you might miss when listening through speakers.
Pay attention to the details: Listen to the individual instruments, the melody, the lyrics, and how they all come together to create the song. Focus on the dynamics, the tempo, and the emotions conveyed in the music.
Engage with the music emotionally: Allow yourself to feel the emotions conveyed in the music. If it's a happy song, let yourself feel joy; if it's a sad song, allow yourself to feel sadness. Emotions are an important part of the musical experience.
Don't multitask: To truly engage with the music, avoid multitasking while listening. Don't check your phone, watch TV, or do anything else that might distract you from the music.
Practice letting go: You can't actually experience what's going on right now if you're still admiring what just happened. You can't experience what's going on right now if you're busy analyzing what just happened. In fact, you can only experience what's going on right now when you find yourself right here, traveling, as it were, along with the moment. Surfing the now, I call it.
Deep listening can enhance your musical experience and help you appreciate the artistry of the music you're listening to. So, the next time you put on your favorite album or find yourself out in nature, try to practice deep listening and see how it changes your experience.
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This is a work just begun- “The Planets” (yes, it just ends like that for now- it's just a framework for what's to come).