Music has meaning. Musicians, songwriters, and composers all put their souls into their art. Much like any artist, they consider every aspect of their compositions and performances. This gives music depth, and allows it to speak to human beings at a deep level. I studied music in college for some time, with vocals and guitar as my instruments. This gave me understanding of lyrical composition and the importance of timbre and tone.
I am ashamed that over the years I have forgotten the importance of this art. Definitely with the depth it deserves. I have treated music as a sonic space filler; something that plays in the background to cover noise. This short essay is to remind me, and maybe help others to learn, how to listen to music with intention.
For consumption, the base element of music is the song. Songs are arranged into albums. Some albums are collections of songs related in no other way than the time they were composed and performed by the artist. Other albums tell stories with their music or their lyrics. Both are important and are important in different ways.
Songs are written with a theme. They tell a story in music and often lyrics. They are made to convey emotion, with repeating themes throughout.
When listening to a song, try and consider the following elements:
Albums are collections of songs. Some albums are simply the songs a band wrote, composed, and performed in a given time period. Some albums are collections of hits, fan favorites, or songs meaningful to the artist. Other albums still are concept albums where all songs are related to tell a single story, repeat a musical phrase, or lyrical line. Each type has different elements to consider, but most generally they can be analyzed with some of the same considerations.
When listening to albums at a basic level, consider the following elements:
With a little bit of intentional listening to music, we can discover ourselves. We can hear what speaks to us, and try to find words that fit those emotions and thoughts. It allows us a space to interact with our world in a way that provides self-discovery and fulfillment. Music is an art through which the artist speaks to us. What they say is important; what we hear is equally so.
This is by no means a complete way to review music. It is a guide to intentionality. I am not trying to create an essay that replaces coursework or study in music theory or artistic analysis.
If nothing else, I hope this helps you listen to music with some more intention, even if you do only put it on to fill the space when you are commuting or doing other things.