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Learning to Listen: Neurological Evidence
Neurological evidence indicates we not only learn to listen, but actually tune our inner ear response based on neural feedback from the brain. We literally are able to actively tune our own hearing.
When we listen for a flute for example, this is more than a conscious decision to focus on the flute. This creates neural impulses that actively tune ear cells to better hear the flute.
This whole video is fascinating, but I want to get you hooked right away so check this out:
https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1340
“Selectively changing what we’re listening to in response to the content. Literally reaching out to listen for things.”
Here’s another good one. Everyone can hear subtle details about five times as good as predicted by modeling. Some of us however can hear 50 times as good. The difference? Years spent learning to listen closely! https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1956
Learning to play music really does help improve your listening.
This video is chock full of neurphysiological evidence that by studying, learning and practice you can develop the listening skills to hear things you literally could not hear before. Our hearing evolved millennia before we invented music. We are only just now beginning to scratch at the potential evolution has bestowed on us.
When we listen for a flute for example, this is more than a conscious decision to focus on the flute. This creates neural impulses that actively tune ear cells to better hear the flute.
This whole video is fascinating, but I want to get you hooked right away so check this out:
https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1340
“Selectively changing what we’re listening to in response to the content. Literally reaching out to listen for things.”
Here’s another good one. Everyone can hear subtle details about five times as good as predicted by modeling. Some of us however can hear 50 times as good. The difference? Years spent learning to listen closely! https://youtu.be/SuSGN8yVrcU?t=1956
Learning to play music really does help improve your listening.
This video is chock full of neurphysiological evidence that by studying, learning and practice you can develop the listening skills to hear things you literally could not hear before. Our hearing evolved millennia before we invented music. We are only just now beginning to scratch at the potential evolution has bestowed on us.
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- 102 posts total
**** You nailed it nonoise. Phew, finally… **** First of all, let’s make it clear that no one is suggesting that one has to be a musician to “learn” how to listen, or what to listen to at a level that allows for reasonably astute discernment of differences in sound, or musical performance. However, the act of listening is, in most ways and innate ability aside, just like any other endeavor. In order to achieve a very high level of ability to discern, never mind the highest level, relying on innate ability, or casual exercise of the listening “muscle” is simply not enough. This applies to both the discernment of sonic issues as well as musical issues; two entirely different things. There is no issue of claim to superiority or judgment of anyone’s level of ambition to excel at this endeavor. The enjoyment of music and the process by which it is done is a very personal matter; no point in judging. However, it is also true that some listeners feel the need to assume that they understand all there is to understand about music and its performance; or, sound and all of its nuances. While that attitude may stroke one’s ego, it is also very limiting. One of the things that all musicians striving for the very highest level of understanding of all that music is have one thing in common. That is, that there is always so much more to learn, understand and be able to hear. It is literally endless. |
@tvad …could be that i got lucky…. A friend with a superb system circa 1983 or so…Infinity RS ( model down from IRS ), SOTA, Souther, Dynavector, CJ Premier… also a renowned music teacher in Mid Ohio..treated me to Mahler preconcert lecture / symphony in Cleveland … Part of the lecture ( i may have inhaled ) focused on the selection of material for the death blows…. Leather over wood with a massive wood mallet ( think sledgehammer )…. Amazing, near religious event…. Now is the SOTA at that time Infinity servo woofer cabinet capable of slam and nuance ?….. Better listener for sure… and fun. |
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@tvad …could be that i got lucky…. A friend with a superb system circa 1983 or so…Infinity RS ( model down from IRS ), SOTA, Souther, Dynavector, CJ Premier… also a renowned music teacher in Mid Ohio..treated me to Mahler preconcert lecture / symphony in Cleveland … Yes, I've heard that piece performed by the LA Phil. If I hear it again live, I'll pay attention to the mallet. Definitely a learning to listen moment. I don't recall anything that specific in our pre-concert lectures. LA Phil's principal tympanist, Joseph Prereira makes his own natural skin tympani heads, and his own mallets...several dozen mallets on his rack every performance. I'm sure the natural skin heads and custom mallets sound different than standard plastic heads and off-the-shelf mallets, but I've never heard a comparison. I also suspect sitting closer than 1st row balcony might be necessary to discern any difference. |
- 102 posts total