How do you train your ears?

Listening skills are IMHO developed when you have a 'reference' and a 'goal'. If you don't know what is possible you don't have a reference. If you don't have a goal you don't know exactly what to listen for.

I agree with T Bone (mostly), you don't go to a live event for anything but to enjoy the music. While what you hear there could be a 'reference' it could never be a 'goal' because you could never replicate it at home (or even come remotely close).

Although I must admit the other night I heard a professional guitarist audition 3 new guitars against her own in a recital hall. The differences were clear for any one to hear but with her developed listening skills she could articulate the subtle differences in a more meaningful way when talking to the guitar maker. I could hear them, and they made sense when she discussed them, but I could never have described them so well. But now, if I were in the market for a new guitar (not an audio replication of one) I would now have a better 'reference', be able to create a realistic 'goal', and end up with a guitar I could be happy with.

In another, but relevant aspect, earlier that night she was conducting a master class with some college classical guitar students. She was talking about their technique in creating different complex tones. It was Greek to us, and the students as well, until she broke her comments down into playing just a few short notes using the technique, then it rang clear as a bell. You couldn't miss it!

I think many folks approach listening to an audio system's performance from the same prospective that they listen to music, they are 'seeing the forest'. When listening for system evaluation you have to be able to walk into the forest and examine each tree and learn to distinguish the difference between the Doug firs and yellow pines. It is there to hear but you have to learn how to focus on particular aspects and ignore others. Sonically there is an awful lot going on at the same time........

For example, how could you ever fully appreciate when you have achieved good soundstaging without ever having heard what is really possible.

You must get out and hear other well set up systems. Once you hear that 'great system' you have your aural reference, now all you need is a couple of great sources and some specific goals, and a lot of patience. It also helps when you can get other experienced ears to help you through this process.

FWIW.

Could you tell who she was?
What makers of guitar she has?
I play the classical guitar and own two luthier made guitars, so I wonder.

The guitarist was Sharon Isbin. She said the name of her guitar, I didn't get a clear understanding of the name, but it started with 'H' and might have been Holzgruber. I did a search and its tonal description matched my recall. There is a picture of her on the CAMI site with (I believe from visual recall) this guitar - perhaps you can pin down its identity. It was acquired (if not made) in 2007 and has a cedar board, rosewood sides and back which was either unstained rosewood or had inlay. I suspect the former but that is just AWAG, I saw it from 20 ft away. A gorgeous piece of work! It has a very rich tone which she attributes to the 1st string.

IMHO, the pairing of her and her guitar was just OUTSTANDING!!!! I'm going to get some of her recordings, she has a faily large discography. Especially her Rodrigo which she played for us. :-)

I've been to Sharon's concert twice. She is a goddess in the classical guitar world. She plays a Thomas Humphrey Millennium guitar. Humphrey is one of most renowned and innovative guitar makers in US. He passed away a year ago.
Sharon's Rodrigo guitar concerto is her signature piece.
If you like Sharon, check out her "Journey to Amazon," if you don't have it. ;-)

Good advice on training ears.

Ihcho - I am a professional orchestral musician who also has a music theory degree. I am trained to train people's ears, and have helped many in the past, and would be happy to give you some advice if you want to send me a private email. There is some good advice in the above posts, but if you wish, I can direct you to some books that will help you train your ears to enjoy music more.

One book I can highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about listening in general is one called "What To Listen For In Music," by the famous composer Aaron Copland. It is well written and easy to follow without being dumbed down.

Another piece of advice when attending orchestral concerts, and this goes for pretty much any concert hall - do not sit TOO close to the front. Sound travels up and out, so sit more towards the back than the front, though not under an overhang if you are on the floor. In many halls, some of the best seats are in the front section of the second or third tier of the hall, depending on how many tiers there are (and assuming there is not a "roof" over your head from the next tier up). There is often relatively better sound in the so-called nosebleed seats than in many other areas, again depending on design, especially in not-so-great halls. Every hall is different, of course.