2 km

This exercise is suitable as a small adventure or for learning new things. Enjoy the changes in mood and discover new acquaintances! Different eras produce different search results; be prepared for time travel and musical variety! A suitable duration for this exercise is about 15 min. If listening feels too hard and you feel the impulse to stop, try to get over it twice and only stop on the third such impulse.

1. Select a composer you already know. Find a list of his or her compositions (e.g. ‘Beethoven compositions’) and select a piece you do not know and listen to it.

2. Find an unknown composer from the same era or a different era, depending on how you liked what you heard (e.g. ‘composer 18th century’, ‘music 1682’) and listen to one or more new pieces.

Tips:

1. Adjust the volume so that it allows for great variations in volume. Note that in symphonic works the dynamic range is broad and that this is an important feature of the music. Avoid background noise, because that tempts you to turn up the volume too high. Remember to be careful about your ears, especially if you’re using earpods.

2. Write down the composers and their works that you’ve listened to. By doing this, you will compile a listening diary that you can return to.

3. A familiar work is often easier to listen to. Listen to a work several times to become familiar with it.

4. Feel your mood. Listening is easier on some days than others. Sometimes listening is best done when doing quiet chores, but at other times it’s a good idea to stop everything and just listen. Even if you can’t focus only on listening, listen anyway.