By the end of this post, I hope to inspire and challenge your music listening habits.
There is much to be discovered through music – lessons to learn, inspiration for our work, a soundtrack for our lives.
But do you slow down enough to really listen?
I love music.
What you could never get away with saying, artists get away with singing all the time.
What might offend when spoken may soften hearts when communicated through music.
I actually consider myself quite a nerd when it comes to music.
Confessions Of A Music Nerd
My resume of music nerdification:
- When I was in junior high I used to listen to worship albums and write my own charts for every song. Then I would put them together in binders.
- When I listen to CDs, I listen all the way through with the CD sleeve in hand, reading as I go.
- I don’t like having conversations while listening. I enjoy focusing on the intricacies.
- I memorize the musicians, producers, production styles, mixing styles, instrument tone, and the stories behind the projects.
- Music makes me cry…a lot.
Are you like this? Am I diseased?
Music is many things to me: it’s learning, it’s pleasure, it’s connecting with God, it’s a big part of my worship expression.
My goal with this post is that you would start enjoying music for music’s sake, again.
In our culture we are way too prone to multitask and have lost the ability to focus.
5 Tips For Better Music Listening
I believe there’s a wealth of learning behind albums, whether secular or sacred.
For your next listening session, employ these 5 tips:
1. Listen 3 times before you judge
We are way too quick to judge. I have a “3 listens” policy when it comes to music.
When an album first reaches our ears, our psyche searches out something familiar.
If it’s different, we resist it. Allow yourself to sit with new sounds for at least 3 listens before you dismiss it.
You’ll probably change your mind.
2. Try something new
If you’re like me, you have your favorite artists. And you listen to their music religiously.
As an experiment, try something new…often. I’m constantly on the search for new, experimental music.
It makes life more interesting and inspires my creativity.
Particularly if you’re an artist or a musician, constantly challenge what is comfortable to you.
If you have a certain “sound”, listen to music that is different. It’s the only way you’ll develop.
3. Play it loud
I’m trying to get my wife to understand this more, but music was meant to be played loud. Can I get an amen?
I understand there’s a time for background music, but everyone needs some margin in their life to sit down and listen to some good music really loud.
I do this in the car as well. Crank it up and get enveloped by the sounds.
4. Focus
Most of us are in too much of a rush. The thought of sitting down to consciously listen to music is uncomfortable. We’re so used to doing something with music in the background.
Let me challenge you – pick an album and listen to it without distraction. Do it now. Report back in an hour. Try listening to an album all the way through.
This iTunes generation is all about hits – picking and choosing songs off albums. Great albums are great albums, not just a couple great songs with filler.
Internalize what the artist is communicating – what the songs are saying.
Engage with the musical journey of the entire album.
5. Share
Music is best enjoyed and experienced in community. Think back to your favorite albums.
It was probably recommended to you by a close friend or someone you look up to.
Or you listened to an album over and over with your friends and a memory was created.
Keep doing that. There’s something special about enjoying music in community.
I gotta say Rdio is a fantastic, new way to share music. Sign up and let’s follow each other.
Question: What are some of your music listening habits? Enlighten us. You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Great listening tips and Rdio looks pretty cool, I was not aware of it. I’m looking forward to checking out your recommendations cause you’ve got great taste.
Dude, Rdio will change your life. Trust me. At least give the first free week a try, but I would recommend paying for a month and seeing how you like it. You’ve got to develop a rhythm to see its potential. I haven’t bought an album iTunes since I’ve started.
I’ll have to check it out when I get back in the country in Sept.
My music listening habits are:
1. Every week I listen to new music from here:
http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/freemusic.php
2. I listen to ChristianFM almost everyday
Franklin, thanks for commenting and for the recommendations! Do you purchase music or listen exclusively online/radio?
Well I purchase music from my favourite artist 😉
First: “Amen”
Old rule in high end audio that there is a certain volume where the music comes together. Below that you lose dynamics and intricacies of the “inner detail.” If you listen to a symphony by a large orchestra – it’s loud. Your listening space needs to provide the same volume.
OTOH, if you start getting distortion from any component in the reproduction chain, back it off until you can fix it.
BTW, part of the reason church music ends up loud these days is that you have to mix to the loudest acoustic instrument (usually drums and acoustic piano). That forces everything else up, and then vocals need to ride on top.
Second old rule is that you listen to the highest quality of reproduction you can. The factors hare are bit rate and quality of equipment. If you listen to low bit-rate MP3s, they tend to sound like mush. That leads to a lack of interest in the music. Most music these days – even music I don’t enjoy the style of – tends to be recorded really well [ed. note: this may not apply to Usher where all there is is compression and auto-tune – don’t send me mail on this – I can prove it]. That means that you can learn from the instrumentation, dynamics and arrangements if nothing else. You can enjoy parts of the band or orchestra that you may not have paid attention to. Dave’s notes on listening multiple times and without distraction hit this point. I often have people ask why I listen to all musical styles. As an engineer I learn from what’s there and what’s been done. I sometimes change the mix of a covered song because live music calls for different dynamics than recorded music.
As I’m known for saying: “live music is all about the dynamics…”
Love your thorough perspective, Lou. What music are you currently listening to?
AMEN to “play it loud”!
While I know this is dealing more with the purely aural aspects of listening to music, I would add #6 to this: Discern. While I find the labels of “Christian” and “secular” music to be more harmful than helpful, we still must always listen to any kind of music with a discerning mind. Are the lyrics beneficial to my spiritual health or harmful? What kind of subtle messages am I allowing into my mind?
I have no problem with listening to any good music, whether it be “Christian” or “secular” just so long as we have clear judgement as to being able to think on “whatever is good, true, admirable, and praiseworthy” from Philippians 4.
I’m glad you brought this up, Ryan. This will probably stir some good controversy. There seems to be a camp of Christians that are very discerning, like you mentioned, and another camp that just listens to whatever. They’re not concerned with swearing, negativity, or the like. What do you guys think? What’s your approach to the type of music you listen to?
I should clarify and add that I don’t think has anything to do with style whatsoever. There perhaps could be some styles that are dangerous to listen to solely because of the intent fueled into them (I’m thinking hardcore industrial, metal, thrash, etc) but even that might not be true as I’m sure there are many using those styles to reach a group of people that people like me could probably never touch.
As well, I don’t believe that every piece of music we listen to has to be overtly spiritual either. For instance, House of Heroes, an incredible group of musicians, spend the majority of the time telling amazing stories through their music, and the content is masterfully written, encouraging, thought-provoking, but not once inappropriate, even though they don’t necessarily come right out and mention God within the lyrics.
We just need to be generally careful (as with anything) about what we’re allowing to influence us.
Blast the music! I love to blast Leeland and Phil Wickham while I play my electric guitar over the music. It creates a loud environment! 🙂
I wrote a post about this a few weeks ago: http://bigb94.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/loud-amps-save-lives/
And to think I used to go search for bands on myspace to listen to their music. Rdio has blown that out of the water.
I really like Ryan Egan’s comment. It’s a struggle for me as I think I’ll miss out on a lot of good “art” if I can’t listen to music that might in some way have something contrary to Philippians 4. That said, I purchased the new Kanye West album and I’m having a hard time giving it a second listen because it’s, well, it’s just not very “noble”.
I hear you, Caleb. I never purchased Kanye’s album, but I did give it a listen and had to turn it off a couple songs in 🙂 It was a bit offensive to me and tough to listen to. I guess there’s a big difference between Kanye West and a lot of other great secular artists who are actually making positive music worth listening to. Wouldn’t you say?
Right on, David. Your last sentence is exactly my point.
Absolutely, but what about the ones who drop the odd F word? Where’s the line? Because then I’m throwing out Mumford and Sons, Bon Iver, etc.
Good question. Thoughts, anyone?
I’ll chime in. I don’t really believe that you can discount an artist just because they “drop the odd F bomb.” Art doesn’t work like that. Sometimes you have to look at the whole, not just a singular detail. For example, Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. The song is great (to me anyway), the lyrics speak to a place we all go (lonliness), but they drop an F-word. I overlook it because it’s once in the song, and the rest is ok.
That said, I’ve listened to Ke$ha before, and as much as I dig the beats, I can’t listen to the dumb lyrics anymore. It’s all trash, but I haven’t heard much cussing/swearing on her stuff (that I know of). Interesting thoughts.
Hey Josh. I hear where you’re coming from. There’s a handful of artists I like who drop the occasional f-bomb but their music isn’t vulgar, know what I mean? It’s really beautiful. Like Caleb mentioned, artists like Mumford & Sons, Bon Iver, or Iron & Wine. They just make great, meaningful, beautiful music. But then there’s music that is just straight up trash – filled not only with profanities but sick, skewed, sex obsessed crap. Basically mainstream pop music 🙂
I’ve never heard of any of the artists you’ve mentioned. I’m going to check them out. Do you have preference for one over another or is there a particular album you think I should listen to first?
Hmmm…of those three I mentioned, I’d probably go with Bon Iver. Both of his albums are great, each very different. His new self titled is getting really popular.
Sometimes I thnk a song has to grab you by the face, hold both ears and scream “listen to me”. Sometimes those songs are the quickest you get tired of. Sometimes a song grows on you after repeated listening. Sometimes a song just lies there and dies – Repeated listening not-withstanding. So… If a song shouts “listen to me” – great. If it doesn’t give it time. If it lies there and dies move on. Sometimes though its a song waiting for a great arrangement. We do a version of “praise belongs to you” that I think kicks Major buttocks. At first we kind of made fun of it because it sounds so much like youve got a fast car. Adam does his thing, I do my thing and we work vey hard on dynamics to take it in a different direction. Now I love it. Which is another point I guess – sometimes a song is like your own child – only cute to you.
Ron, I love your raw expression here. What I’ve found though is that on the first listen, most songs die to me. I’m not interested. But the more I listen, the more it grows on me. Still, like you said, sometimes it’s just dead.
Btw, what music are you into these days? I can’t help but remember the old Delirious songs we used to play in Powerhouse 🙂
I like your list David. A listening habit that I have just started is to take a ‘music fast’ once a week. I immerse myself in music too, when I do, it is easy for my ears get ‘numb’ to it; when I take a break from listening it allows me to refresh my ears!
That’s something I haven’t tried, but may be healthy. How long is your fast? One day?
Yes, but if my ears are really tired it may be longer!
I always feel like going on a music fast after church on Sunday. My ears are music’d out!
Really great tips, David. What helps me with #4 is actually having the lyrics in front of me while I listen. It helps me focus when I’m reading while listening. Sometimes seeing the words brings them alive to me in a way that I miss while being enchanted by the melody.
I agree. I like an album 100 times more when I read the lyrics. It’s becoming less and less a habit in our digital age, though.
I like the “music fast” idea as well. Every now and then I have to take a break from modern worship music or it all starts to sound the same. That’s when I know there’s a problem with ME, not the music.
A problem I have is that when I hear music, my ears instantly start dissecting what the instruments are doing. Drum patterns, guitar tones, etc….. I have to make a conscious effort to stop and listen to the words and get the meaning. It also doesn’t help that I rarely ever buy an actual “cd” so I don’t have those liner notes in front of me. I’ve started looking up the lyrics online and reading along while I listen.
And yes, Rdio rules! You got me hooked a few months ago and I can’t believe it. Not only does it have current new releases every week, but you can find just about any song you can think of. I was waiting last night at 11 pm (central) and then BOOM, Redman’s newest one was available at 11:01.
Haha! I was doing the same thing with Redman’s album all day yesterday. Eventually, I just went to bed 🙂
I do the same thing with dissecting the instruments. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. That’s how you learn and grow as a musician. Wouldn’t you agree?
I guess it’s not necessarily a bad thing, I just feel like sometimes I’m worshipping along to chords & lead lines, you know, “atmospheric” type stuff. The way songs build to a peak…..am I peaking because of the words or because of my emotional reaction to the music? It’s something I deal with, but it’s not the end of the world. 🙂
“Holy” by Matt Redman is on repeat inside my head right now. WorshipTogether.com has a New Song Cafe video up about a few of the songs off of 10,000 Reasons. Good stuff.
I actually do generally practice these things…I really like #1…I’m a big fan of “letting the album breathe”…too many times I hear people say that an album is their favorite album of all time when it has been out a week…I don’t consider anything to be a favorite unless it has been out at least a year, maybe two, giving it longevity. Being a reviewer I often have to make quick judgments and occasionally I go back and listen and have a different opinion after some time away from it…some albums take time to “get” and some get old quicker than we’d like
Tyler, I was hoping you’d comment on this. I’m intrigued by the life of a music reviewer 🙂 Wow, two years before you determine if it’s a favorite?! That’s radical, my friend. My respect level for you has risen! 🙂
well there’s a difference between “favorite right now” and all time favorite, of course, but yea I like things to stand the test of time. The life of a reviewer is like that of a scientist…the more you learn, the more you realize the amount that you don’t know 🙂
(sorry for the long comment)
Wow, great list…I to am music nerd, maybe not like you, but in my own way. I would definitely sit down and follow along with the CD insert, I would check who the musicians were and who wrote the songs, I would even type up some albums lyrics because having the insert was just not enough (the most irritating thing to me was buying a CD that did not have a detailed insert). Then buying music off of iTunes happened and that doesn’t happen anymore.
The biggest thing for me used to be rushing to judge. I used to have a big problem with giving the time of day to an album I thought had songs that were not usable in our Worship at church. If I thought the band could not do it (even a “watered down” version) or the congregation would not follow, I just wouldn’t listen. That changed for me a few years back when I realized I need to relax a bit and just enjoy the music and I don’t have to constantly be “working”.
ON a side note regarding the christian or secular music conversation, I pretty much listen exclusively to Christian music. Thank God, there are some very talented christian musicians and bands that have a high quality of musicmanship(I don’t think that’s a word) and they put a lot of effort and work into the art they put out. But I will not listen to music I feel doesn’t share the same values and ideals I have. If I want to exalt Christ in my life through everything I do and if I want to be a reflection of Him to the world, I don’t see how listening to Kanye, Dre, or the Rolling Stones,(I’m Hispanic) accomplishes that in MY life.
I love and appreciate music. I hardly ever miss the Grammys because I know there’s going to be some awesome music played that night…but I cringe at most of the lyrics and the way the artists dress and represent themselves (even if they are thanking Jesus for the Grammy they just won). I don’t know, I think I’m still young (only 33 yo), I don’t feel old-fashioned, but I don’t believe I need to make a habit of listening to music which I feel doesn’t lift Jesus up in my life and much less music I have to hide from my kids. Those are my thoughts 🙂
I appreciate your perspective, Daniel. So your approach to music is to listen to what reflects your ideals? I think there are some Christians who are different. They listen to and can enjoy any kind of music, even if it’s contrary to their faith. Do you think that is a bad practice?
Btw, I put I’m Hispanic because I thought I had typed a Mexican Nortena (Tigres del Norte)band in my comment…I did not proofread thoroughly :-).
My approach to music is to listen and enjoy it (I practice number 3 without mercy, much to the chagrin of my wife). I can listen to many types of music but as I said, I don’t make a habit of listening to secular music. Do I completely ignore it? No. I still keep up with some bands that are secular. I heard a message from Louie Giglio and he said something to the effect of us having a responsibility to be informed of the messages that are touching peoples lives in the world and he specifically mentioned the song Born This Way by Lady Gaga…and I agree, we need to be aware of what’s touching people’s lives so we as the church can do a better job in reaching out to them.
I know there are other Christian’s that are different. Bad practice? I believe it is bad practice for me. When I read my Bible it tells me, how can light relate with darkness (2 Cor 6:14). If the song I’m listening to has to do with violence, drugs, sex, adultery, etc., why would I expose myself to that. Some of the goals in my life are to walk in Jesus’ light and to be a reflection of him. Personally, I don’t believe I am being a good reflection of Jesus if I’m driving around with Gaga thumping in my car all day long ;-). So yes, for my life it’s bad practice, I know there are probably others who can handle it way better than I can. I’m imperfect and still have many struggles I deal with…I don’t need to add more to what I already have by listening to music that puts in impure thoughts and desires.
Do you think it’s bad practice?
I would agree that some music is bad practice – too much of it can have a negative effect on you. But I also think we don’t need to necessarily go and obey everything we listen to. We can use discernment. I once heard Derek Webb say that great artists look at the world and tell you what they see. I guess I’m able to enjoy music from non-christians and see the beauty of God in it.
Regarding the Phil 4 test, while I love new styles of music and have a pretty wide palate…it’s more important for me to be able to worship Him with my choices than to explore a new release that’s questionable. I mean what’s more important to me, experiencing a musical masterpiece or having an experience with the Master? I’ve learned over the years that while fresh songs may expand my artistic horizons, it can shrink my ability to Worship…and I hold the latter more dear. No judgment, that’s just where I am!
Wow, JJ, that was well said. I love that – “it’s more important for me to be able to worship Him with my choices than to explore a new release that’s questionable”. I think too much entertainment can shrink our ability to worship fully. Anybody disagree?
Some great thoughts here, David. I find that rarely do I turn on music for the sake of having something on or as background music. If I do, I either end up missing the music or losing focus on my task. The only exception would be if I need to cover other distracting noise, and then it’s usually familiar instrumental/classical stuff. I also like the three-listen rule. I’ve listened to something before, and not liked it and set it aside. Then someone will mention it or I’ll come across it in some other way, and I don’t dislike it as much. Thanks for the idea.
No problem, Chris! This post solidifies my fate as a hopeless music nerd 🙂
Love this post – music nerds unite!
One thing I’m a stickler for is boycotting the “shuffle” button. I can’t help but listen to an entire album front to back. If an artist spent enough time determining their track list, the least I can do is listen to it in sequence.
Also, I’ve long ditched the iPod buds … those things should be on every sound engineer’s hitlist of things to abolish from the good earth.
My playlists include music in foreign languages … I love the mental exercise that comes along with learning and understanding the lyrics, and studying the rhythms of a different language. It challenges me to think differently about how we shape the phrases in our own work using our own language.
As for “secular” music … I have to admit 90% of the music I listen to would fall in that category. 90% of my day to day interactions are with people who are secular. It’s a window into their headspace. And honestly, without getting into the whole “labeling Christian music” conversation, some of the most original work is coming from the secular stream.
That being said, I wouldn’t much enjoy hanging out with Eminem 12 hours a day without feeling the need to throw something, so I shy away from playing his tunes (or anyone I wouldn’t really want to hang out with) on repeat.
Haha! Your comment made me smile. You are a true music nerd and I’m glad you are commenting on my blog, Valerie! Welcome 🙂
David,. I know you advocate Rdio in this post, but do you still use it primarily or have you jumped on the Spotify bandwagon?
I tried Spotify but I just seem to like the UI and overall experience of Rdio better. I probably could give spotify a better chance but I just don’t want to let go of rdio. What do you use?
Thank you for your perspective! I’ll give attentively listening to a full album a shot and experiment with stepping out of my comfort zone with new things as soon as I can.
What I do sometimes while listening to music is freestyle dancing, which often leaves me all sweaty, lol. I think it adds to the experience in a way through the opportunity for self-expression… it might take some of your attention off the musical details as you try not to brake your leg though. But it depends – you can also make it gentle.
Cheers!
Hey David, I have a personal question. Do you think listening to secular music gets into the way when you listen to worship music or just your worship in life in general? I know it might seem like a religious question but it’s just hard to ask people when they don’t understand or avoid secular all in general. I was just wondering what are your views upon that. I guess some people feel like it gets in the way of our relationship with God, like a sin. Please get back to me thank you 🙂
Hey Jonathan, there’s a healthy balance here. There’s definitely some secular music I choose not to listen to because it’s too vulgar for my tastes. I don’t like the effect it has on me. But there’s a lot I enjoy because it’s beautiful, creative, inspiring, and gives me a glimpse into the wonders of the humanity that God created. Does that make sense?
Yes absolutely, but would you be able to clarify just a bit on what albums in particular, personally do you believe is vulgar. Also, what are some secular albums you’re listening to at the moment or just your all time favorite albums that might be considered “secular.” Can you also give me some albums you recommend that you truly see the beauty, and inspiring music that you can honestly see God’s beauty in hand, I truly want to worship God with everything not just limited to “sacred” music because it tends to lead people down the religious route, don’t get me wrong, I love worship music and of course, don’t indulge in something that is vulgar. At the same time, I don’t want to limit my musical experience because some “religious views” of thinking that I can’t worship God if it is not considered “worship” when true worship comes from faith.
A lot of the modern rap & hip hop music, while I love the sound, just doesn’t put me in the best frame of mind. I usually filter my listening through “What can I play in my house that I don’t mind my 2 and 3 year old hearing?” That tends to weed out certain artists for me.
If that’s the case I recommend that you check out Humble Beast Records if you have not heard of them. They’re really good and their faith-based. It consists of Jgivens, Propaganda (who is a spoken word poet/rapper) you might be interested if you have not yet, heard of them. If you have, then this may go to use for someone who wants to check out new hip-hop music. Reach Records is good too. Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Andy Mineo are in Reach Records.
Hey David, I have a personal question. Do you think listening to secular music gets into the way when you listen to worship music or just your worship in life in general? I know it might seem like a religious question but it’s just hard to ask people when they don’t understand or avoid secular all in general. I was just wondering what are your views upon that. I guess some people feel like it gets in the way of our relationship with God, like a sin.
I like the suggestion to listen three times before you judge. Usually, it takes me a while to truly appreciate a song. Although it is hard sometimes because some people want to know your opinions now. However, music is like food.
something new is here as far as music with direction! Art imitates life, so why not take the music back to trying to lift people up and not bring them down? Hiphop was once upon a time an Ivy League institution, but now it’s become a community college that you don’t need any qualifications to join! help us start this movement
support at: https://igg.me/at/krash/x/15786814
I like how you talked about music in this article. As you mentioned, you should listen to a song 3 times before you judge it. My fiance only listens to the song once, and I think that she would really benefit from listening to it 3 times. Thanks!