Listening examples

Why are we doing this?

Think about the music you listen to on a regular basis. When you listen to music, what do you hear? What is going on in the various instruments and vocal parts? How is the music put together? How many different styles of music make up your playlists? How are the styles different? Why does it sound the way it does? What pieces of music on your playlist have made an impact on the future development of music? How do you recognize music of quality and thoughtful artistry?

The more you listen to different styles of music, the more you will recognize that music comes in many different forms. Styles of music are influenced by culture and trends in the visual arts and architecture, historical events, and pre-existing musical styles. Every piece of music has a story behind it. Some of these background stories are easier to find out than others, but nonetheless, there is a reason for every piece, and every note in every piece is a decision made by the composer. Think about one note in a piece of music: Why did the composer choose that note over so many other available options? There is a reason!

The end goal of these examples is in four parts: 1) To expose students to music they might otherwise not encounter on their own and to become familiar with composers who have been established as distinguished historical examples of their trade; 2) To learn to articulate and describe music using generally accepted music terminology in order to have informed conversation about music; 3) To learn to listen to music actively, which means listening with attention to detail and not passively as background music to another task, critically thinking about the composers' choices that give the music its distinct qualities; 4) To learn to recognize in quality music a manifestation of beauty in a world that obsessively (and mistakenly) places supreme value merely on what is "useful" and not on what is intrinsically true, beautiful, and good.

Avoid making this just another memorization exercise. Live with this music for awhile, even if you do not like it at first. Each piece is a glimpse into the life and heart of another human being. Try to connect with the humanity of each piece. Listen to them daily if you can! You may find that you will begin to hear things you were not hearing in music before!

Hovering over some titles will display lyrics and translations (where applicable).

A star (★) before the group name indicates the listening example group currently under study.