Resources » Learn To Listen by Lawrence Arps

Learn To Listen by Lawrence Arps

What?

Music is heard by anyone who is within hearing of it. Listening however, requires an active participation by the listener.

Why?

Your ability to play, sing, write and perform will rest on the foundation of how well you can listen to music. The better you train your ears to hear music, the better you will be at all aspects of music.

How?

Prepare to listen critically to music:

1. If you are using an MP3 player, turn all the EQ settings to “flat”, “bypass” or “off”. If you are using a normal stereo, put all the tone and eq in the mid points.

2. Set aside at least 30 minutes each time you decide to “listen”.

3. Try to have an instrument available to check notes on.

4. Get a notebook to write your thoughts in.

Day One: Pick a song you like.

1. Write the name of the song, the artist and the songwriter in you book.
2. Listen to it at a moderate volume, this means about 3 out of 10 on the volume control (-20dB).
3. Listen to the vocals paying attention to the lyric.
¨    What is the story being told?
¨    Is it a sad or happy story?
¨    Is the singer telling the story about themselves or about someone else?
¨    Is the singing hard or soft?, low or high?
¨    Are there any other voices?
Write notes on all these things.

4. Play the song again. As you listen take notes on what instruments you can hear, and try to describe how they sound.
¨    Are they soft and gentle or Harsh.
¨    Are they clean or distorted?
¨    Are there guitars? One? Two? More?
Are there keyboard parts?
Are there other instruments?

5. Play the song again quietly. This means less than 1 on the volume control
    (-40dB). You may have to listen very carefully to hear it.
¨    What sounds different to you at this volume? Write this down.

6. Play the song again at a high volume. This means 5 or 6 on the volume control
    (-6db) (Note: never turn the volume control over 6 during this exercise)
¨    What sounds different to you at this volume? Write this down.

7. Put the volume back to 3. Listen again paying attention to the melody.
¨    Find the highest note in the melody. Try to sing the note. Is it in your
   range?
¨    Find the note on an instrument. What note is it?
Write these things down.

¨    Find the lowest note in the melody. Try to sing the note. Is it in your
   range?
¨    Find the note on an instrument. What note is it?
¨    What is the total range of the melody?
Write these things down.

8. Listen again, and write the form of the song that shows the basic arrangement, for example:

Intro/verse /chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / solo / chorus / verse / chorus / chorus

9. Count the beats for exactly one minute to establish the tempo. Write this down.

10. Read all the notes you have made so far. Try to “hear” the song in your head as you
     listen.

11. Listen to the song one more time, and try to find anything you have not noticed
     before. Note these down.

Day Two:

1. Write down the words and examine them for structure.
¨    Do they rhyme?
¨    Is there alliteration?
¨    Is there assonance?
¨    Are there metaphors?
¨    Are there Similes?

2. Sing along with the song 3 times singing very soft the first time, soft the second and with a strong voice the third.

3. Write down how you felt singing the song.

Day Three and Four:

Now that you have listened carefully to one song and made notes, choose another in a different style and repeat the process, following all, the exact steps.

Day Five and Six:

Select a third song and repeat the process one more time.

Day Seven:

Read the notes for all three songs and write down the things that appear top be
common, and the things that appear to be different. Try to “hear” the differences in
your head

Day Eight:

Play the first two songs. Write down any differences that are obvious.

¨    Do they sound the same volume?
¨    Do they feel like they have the same energy?
¨    Are they using the same instruments?
¨    Are they using the same notes?

Play the second and third songs and repeat the process.
Play the first and third songs and repeat the process.
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