I have had the tendency always to stick to music I am familar with, but of late even more so. I see it as a problem that is a symptom of a more general approach to life, so I have been determined to attend to it. What I have done is make a point when buying music to buy something I feel fairly assured I will like with the "penalty" of buying music that I am not the least bit familar with. It is a discipline, and I have to say I have stumbled across some music that I have really never come to understand and do not particulary care for. Less often I have come across a recording that totally suprised me and eventually became a favorite. The pay off here is that I would seek out other music that would fall into the same catagory and a whole new area of interest and involvement as developed as a result. Oddly enough, it has been true that the music I am quick to disregard upon first listen is assurdly the music I will most love after an initial exercise of repeated play.On the other hand,the music I have absolutely loved initially will usually come to bore me after the newness has worn off. I am not sure why this works this way, only that it has and does. as well, I have learned not to rid myself of music I have been unimpressed with initially because it seems I will come around to it again when the occasion arrives that I do. I believe it all has to do with timing- another kind of synergy where my mind and heart and events in my life have intersected and given that recording some meaning-perhaps revealed some meaning that had been previously absent. The result is I have a collection based on appeal rather than merit. It has not made for an impressive list of recordings, but what little I have has made me very happy overall. I admitt I have had to move from the desire to be more open minded to the actual effort of being open minded.It has been slow going, but I am pleased to say I do actually manage it and has had what I consider a positive effect on my general attitude and approach towards other areas of my life.
How do you 'listen' to new music?
Coming new to classical and jazz music (many years ago) I was overwhelmed. I'd sit and listen and except for the simplist of pieces, full of melody, I just didn't get it. I found it necessary to devote a lot of time and effort to get to an appreciation of the music. Too much like work!
Some where along the line I decided not to work so hard. I'd buy a piece and just let it play as I did other things (as I am doing now) and letting myself become accoustomed to it. When I finally no longer found it indecipherable, and was finding it pleasant/comprehensible, I would then sit and really listen to it. If after playing it a few times it still didn't do anything for me, I'd put it away for a few years and then drag it back out.
Is this pecular to me? How have others made the cross over into jazz and classical music?
Some where along the line I decided not to work so hard. I'd buy a piece and just let it play as I did other things (as I am doing now) and letting myself become accoustomed to it. When I finally no longer found it indecipherable, and was finding it pleasant/comprehensible, I would then sit and really listen to it. If after playing it a few times it still didn't do anything for me, I'd put it away for a few years and then drag it back out.
Is this pecular to me? How have others made the cross over into jazz and classical music?