Imagine this: You teacher creates a system of albums (of your instrument) that you listen to. A different one every week. You reflect on the elements of their playing that you liked or disliked, and overtime, you start to adopt the things you like.
That was me two years ago, and it was a total game changer. Today we are talking about some steps to help you listen better.
And you know me, if it worked, we gotta talk about it!
1. Just start listening
This might seem obvious, but starting is sometimes the hardest thing. Find a time to listen everyday. For instance, I listened to the albums when I made reeds. It was something I did everyday, so it could be a reliable time.
When can you make time to listen? When you are going for a walk, or getting somewhere. Maybe you also make reeds.
Find that time a create the opportunity for you to listen.
2. Reflect on the parts that you like or don’t like
Maybe it’s their tone or phrasing. Maybe you enjoy their articulation. Whatever it is, make note of it. What do you want to incorporate into your playing? Always have that in your mind.
It’s also a good idea to discuss this with your teacher, and get their thoughts. They can be really great for insights into how you can incorporate this into your playing.
Reflecting on the sound was specifically important to me because I am moving from the US to the UK to study oboe. I will be transitioning from the US style to the European style of oboe, and before I made that decision to transition, I needed to see if I even liked the European style of oboe. I did a ton of listening for American players versus European players, and I reflected on what I did or didn’t like.
Before we go any further, let’s take a break and talk about a podcast that I have to share.
It is called Attention to Detail: The Classical Listening Guide, and it is hosted by the lovely Maestro Jacob Joyce, the Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In this podcast, Maestro dives into different ways that we can listen to classical music. If you want to expand your skills of listening, check it out here.
We actually recently chatted with Maestro Jacob Joyce on the Confident Musicianing Podcast, where we talked about many things, including studying music as well as something else at university, how Maestro networks, and how Maestro auditions and what we as younger musicians should be doing. Check out this conversation here.
3. Remember what you liked and take it to the practice room
This part can take some time. You aren’t going to automatically sound like the recording. But taking some time in the practice room to incorporate the things you liked is crucial.
A good way to help with this is using visuals when listening. One time I was listening to a recording, and the oboe was so light and delicate, that I kept imagining ballerinas. I took that visual into the practice room and imagined ballerinas when I played, and I was able to attain that light sound that I liked so much.
It’s okay if this part takes time. This is a slow process.
Happy listening!
Eleanor
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