The Art of Active Listening
Improving your ability to actively listen will transform your playing.
Listening is a skill! Just like learning how to ride a bike, writing code or using a new software program, as musicians we must learn to listen.
Why Active Listening Matters
You might wonder, "Isn't hearing enough?" Not quite. Hearing is automatic, whereas listening is an art form in itself.
It means tuning in to every aspect of your playing – your tone quality, the smoothness of your legato, and how precisely you articulate each note. And let's not forget about intonation!
Listening is not just about correcting mistakes; it’s about seeking assessing your playing in a focused way to achieve greater consistency and clarity of expression.
Becoming Your Own Critic
At the heart of it, active listening is learning to become our own critic. It’s the ability to teach ourselves as we attentively review our playing. And to listen as if we were members of our own audience.
It doesn't mean being harsh, but rather kindly self-evaluate our playing to identify problems, errors and encourage progress.
Exercises to Engage Your Listening Skills
Tone Quality: Select a single note and sustain it for 16 counts at varying dynamic levels (piano, mezzo-piano, forte, etc.). Focus on maintaining a consistent and resonant tone throughout.
Drone Practice: Work with a drone - a fixed pitch reference - while playing scales or phrases from your repertoire. Concentrate on how your intonation aligns with the drone, adjusting as needed.
Legato Phrasing: Record yourself playing a piece requiring fluid legato technique. Listen critically to the playback, identifying areas for smoother connection between intervals.
Articulation Check: For rapid passages, record sections of your repertoire. Listen back, ensuring each note is clear and centered, avoiding any stuffiness or ‘scooping’.
Listen to Recordings: Listen to renowned artists and take note of how they interpret the same piece. Pay close attention to their treatment of phrasing and differences in tone, articulation, phrasing, and style. Reflect on what resonates with you and what you’d like to incorporate in your own playing.
Without continuing to develop this necessary skill in your daily practice, it is easy to fall into the trap of simply playing the notes rather than making music.
Ultimately, by training your ears as much as your fingers, you develop the ability to shape each phrase with intention, respond instinctively to musical nuances, and bring more depth and character to your playing.
Useful Resources
Art Of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Deline Bruser
Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
