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Do any of you "meditate" on your music?

I'm convinced that music is perfect for meditation. The whole work of the meditation is in truly locating attention within the sound, gently relaxing into the music, noticing tones and textures, melodies, instruments, notes and all the rest. The meditating mind is one that learns to relax with the music, not straining to hear particular notes, just relaxing and allowing the mind to tune in. Increasingly simple attunement with the flowing, fluttering, singing, springing, dynamic, thumping music, has been my general approach. Unexpectedly, this frame of mind which might be known as a way of listening doesn't seem far off from what is practiced by some audiophiles, except that it moves away from much of what is critical. In this way, the music flows into the room and then it is received, simply, with relaxation. Critical reflection upon the music, which ancillary to listening, is gently set to the side. The practice of the preceding phrase is associated with building patience towards oneself.
listening99
listening99 OP
172 posts
 
I can't tell you how valuable it is for me to hear this diverse response.

I'm very appreciative of the example of Bach listening. Bach always has my respect, not to mention his heart. 

I'm interested in the essence of meditation, which I believe is what is: the real, with less mental comment. Thoughts endlessly create scenarios of division, discrimination, habitualizing, etc.  

In early 21st century, it would be rare to find someone who knows what it means to let go of "doing," for a few seconds, a few minutes. Non-doing, for periods of time, is truly listening to the music, or being with it.
 
Music is magic, in my view.

Truly relaxed, effortlessly interested attention, is very close to not doing. The effortless piece is right at the hub-nub of meditation, but here I'm nailing for a precise goal. That's likely a mistake. 

If, for decade after decade, a behavior can be strongly associated with "enjoyment," it has meditative quality, most certainly. 
dougsat
374 posts
 
Interesting topic thanks for bringing this one up.
Meditation with music works for me of course only on certain types of music.

One that works for me would be -
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way

One that wouldn’t work would be -
The Who - Who’s Next


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cleeds
5,919 posts
 
edcyn
I just enjoy music too much to call my listening meditation
Same here.
For true meditation, the only thing I might embrace is nature. Everything else is a potential distraction.
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
I’ve been listening to this or similar for about 20 years. Pretty well exclusively. (started moving in that direction, in my early teens)

Doing my best to stay away from anything with vocals in it. Classical, of course, is similar. No vocalizations. A key point in meditative practices.

Unless I'm testing gear for how it fits for the rest of the world. Then one has to go all over the place and use familiars with a more well known flavor. The usual suspects of recordings and artists.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
You can   meditate in the quite of a church , in the hustle and bustle of a
New York street  , the beauty of the Adirondack mountains , lying in bed and even in in a fire-fight of battle . I have done all that . There is no limit .
What carries me is the ancient prayer of Orthodox Christianity , " Lord
Jesus , Son of God have Mercy on me , a sinner ."That's all that is needed . But it must come , not from your brain but from
your heart .And that will come if you  practice it  a thousand times a day or only with your dying breath .
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