Classical music was the gateway to the divine for me. I am a woodwind eve though I haven't played with a group since young adolescence. Without those very formative years spent appreciating sound, I don't know if I'd have ever reached symbolic literacy.
Thank you for posting this. Encountering the musical worlds of Wagner during COVID & 5 years of cancer in my 20s upended my life. I ended up changing my path of a depressed music producer to a piano teacher / amateur composer and I couldn't be more pleased.
"Classical music helped me train the muscles required to engage meaningfully with all art, from painting to architecture, literature, and more."
I've found this true in my experience. When any work helps you to recognize transcendence, that higher element becomes easier to sort out elsewhere. Once you see truth and beauty, you can't unsee it.
I just looked, and although this isn't the same exact course I took (for starters, it's now hosted via Coursera and costs $49), it's by the same professor and seems to cover much of what was in the original. Hope this helps!
Very well-put. I agree that classical music requires much more attention than mainstream music. This reminded me of when I was stuck listening to Polonaise-Fantaisie Op. 61 over and over while reading The Embers by Sandor Marai (it's quoted a few times in the book). It felt like it opened a new path in my veins. It was a more active way of listening; rather than being entertained, I felt deeply engaged.
I like the way you express how you see art, music, and literature as all intertwined. I’d like to read more of your thoughts and findings on this.
I have surprisingly similar experience. I started listening to classical and baroque music when I was teenager - just on my own as my family never listened to it.
I can confirm everything what you said about learning to listen and the change it brings. I am 40 now and I can't imagine living without it
Great article. I agree with everything you said. At 73 years old I listen to all types of music but classical/opera I prefer the most. Also reading Famous Puccini Operas by Spike Hughes (ISBN 0-486-22857-6) you might be interested in. Goes into a lot of which you wrote about.
I loved this piece; it really captures my journey as a classical music listener. I really love classical music, and I used to wonder whether I was listening to it properly or if there was something I needed to learn before listening, as I know nothing about music theory. But simply being exposed to it changes us; it really moves us deeply. It’s truly exciting!
Love this! I noticed thinking of different periods of my life I remember the music I was listening to vise versa. In the last few decades I have moved into my classical period, I guess you would say. All music is special to me.
You’re right – classical music does require attention. Nicholas Phan recently wrote for us on music’s ability to touch upon grief and empathy, and open up “the emotional floodgates for an audience”. (https://musiciansjournal.com/stories-nicholas-phan/ if you’re interested!) Classical music is so powerful in connecting us to universal human experiences.
This is why I taught music. To make lifelong music lovers. The way you experienced and consumed music so intentionally makes me envious! And it’s what I hoped each student would be enabled to do. Great article and insights. I need to make some more trips to Paris to get my fill. Or Phil, if you will 😅
A wonderful piece.
Classical music was the gateway to the divine for me. I am a woodwind eve though I haven't played with a group since young adolescence. Without those very formative years spent appreciating sound, I don't know if I'd have ever reached symbolic literacy.
Thank you for posting this. Encountering the musical worlds of Wagner during COVID & 5 years of cancer in my 20s upended my life. I ended up changing my path of a depressed music producer to a piano teacher / amateur composer and I couldn't be more pleased.
"Classical music helped me train the muscles required to engage meaningfully with all art, from painting to architecture, literature, and more."
I've found this true in my experience. When any work helps you to recognize transcendence, that higher element becomes easier to sort out elsewhere. Once you see truth and beauty, you can't unsee it.
What was the name of the Yale course you took? Is it still accessible?
I just looked, and although this isn't the same exact course I took (for starters, it's now hosted via Coursera and costs $49), it's by the same professor and seems to cover much of what was in the original. Hope this helps!
https://www.coursera.org/learn/introclassicalmusic
Very well-put. I agree that classical music requires much more attention than mainstream music. This reminded me of when I was stuck listening to Polonaise-Fantaisie Op. 61 over and over while reading The Embers by Sandor Marai (it's quoted a few times in the book). It felt like it opened a new path in my veins. It was a more active way of listening; rather than being entertained, I felt deeply engaged.
I like the way you express how you see art, music, and literature as all intertwined. I’d like to read more of your thoughts and findings on this.
I have surprisingly similar experience. I started listening to classical and baroque music when I was teenager - just on my own as my family never listened to it.
I can confirm everything what you said about learning to listen and the change it brings. I am 40 now and I can't imagine living without it
Lovely recount! I also re-engaged with art, music, and poetry in young adulthood when I started having kids myself
Great article. I agree with everything you said. At 73 years old I listen to all types of music but classical/opera I prefer the most. Also reading Famous Puccini Operas by Spike Hughes (ISBN 0-486-22857-6) you might be interested in. Goes into a lot of which you wrote about.
Cheers
I loved this piece; it really captures my journey as a classical music listener. I really love classical music, and I used to wonder whether I was listening to it properly or if there was something I needed to learn before listening, as I know nothing about music theory. But simply being exposed to it changes us; it really moves us deeply. It’s truly exciting!
Love this! I noticed thinking of different periods of my life I remember the music I was listening to vise versa. In the last few decades I have moved into my classical period, I guess you would say. All music is special to me.
I love listening to classical music when I read!
You’re right – classical music does require attention. Nicholas Phan recently wrote for us on music’s ability to touch upon grief and empathy, and open up “the emotional floodgates for an audience”. (https://musiciansjournal.com/stories-nicholas-phan/ if you’re interested!) Classical music is so powerful in connecting us to universal human experiences.
O, how I enjoyed reading this!!
This is why I taught music. To make lifelong music lovers. The way you experienced and consumed music so intentionally makes me envious! And it’s what I hoped each student would be enabled to do. Great article and insights. I need to make some more trips to Paris to get my fill. Or Phil, if you will 😅
Great piece and very relatable to my own experience!