We learn to practice a specific way of listening in music school.
Listen to assess.
It’s the first stage of an important recursive cycle that is essential to the growth we have to achieve with a music degree.
Listen to assess. Assess for flaws. Correct flaws to grow. Repeat.
It’s vital, but it’s not the only way to listen. And it can get oppressive after four years or more. (This goes double for busy conductors and educators, who extend that four years of practice into careers of spending hours a day in this way of listening. We need to learn to practice other ways of listening.
Listen for appreciation.
Listen for inspiration.
Listen for joy, fun, relaxation.
Basically: listen without assessment.
How do you clear your brain? How do you stop it from demanding to assess as you listen?