Music study develops active listening skills
Why does it mean to listen actively? Maybe it means to stay present and listen with our full attention to gather subtle meaning from the speaker. Instead of thinking of the response to pop in as soon as the speaker takes a break, we listen for the intent behind the words, and allow the speaker to find their own rhythm and phrasing. It’s a lot like listening to and playing music. We can, through our intention, create a quiet environment for sharing what we are feeling.
How does practicing and listening to music help us develop active listening skills? If we are doing something else, like exercising, or driving with music in the background, we may or may not be actively listening. A good way to practice active listening is to make mental note of the contours of the melody, or notice strong rhythmic features that may recur. As we become more aware of how music is organized, we can start to hear very intricate compositional elements that work to capture our interest and imagination.
How does active listening impact our daily life? Why are active listening skills important? Take a minute to tune in to our musical tribute to good listening skills, and consider listening carefully today to those around you.