I know that listening is really helpful to learn the tunes, but occasionally I have the music playing in the background, but I'm not REALLY listening to it - while working for example. Do you think it's getting into my brain somehow anyway?
Yes, I'm amazed how this works. None of us ever tried to learn the theme music to TV shows, Christmas carols, and our favorite pop songs -- but there they are. I have spent a lot of time over the years sitting and listening to tunes I don't know that come up at sessions, and I don't sit there thinking I have to learn this tune by listening -- it just happens. Eventually I'm playing the tune the same way I find myself singing along with songs I like or TV show themes. (TV themes when I was growing up were songs instead of instrumentals like they all seem to be today.) When I'm listening at home I'm also thinking about what I'm doing and not trying to learn the tune. Then the tune will come up at a session and I'll recognize it as something I've heard. This reinforces what's already loaded into my subconscious and the next time it pops up on my CD player I'll note which one it is and I'll find it very easy to learn. Other tunes will self-load into my subconscious over time and I’ll find myself playing along without ever having to “learn” them.
unconscious listening can do no harm in itself but if you want it to have any function, then percieve it ,don't just hear it.
if it's banjo playing though, unconscious listening is without question the best! sorry its late, couldn't resist!!!! he he!
What about when you're asleep? You stick on a CD, hear the first track or two, then drift off .... Anyone ever figure out if you can absorb the tunes that follow. Ah yes, I see a nice little thesis for somebody so inclined to investigate. But who cares?
w h - I've often wondered about that - as I'm usually so tired I fall asleep on about the 2nd track - sometimes I do seem to have some of the tunes I slept through in my head the next day, and kind of think - "oh, yeah ... last night...I remember, sort of."
As for listening without "listening hard" I think it may actually be more effective for many people - listening while driving, working etc. is the best way for me to get stuff into my head. Although I don't like to listen at all while talking or when other people are talking - can't split my aural attention at all. Unless I'm actually in the act of working on a tune with my instrument in my hands, I find my attention wanders very readily if I try to listen while doing nothing else.
Phantom Button - have you ever thought about starting up TV theme-tunes session? It would surely bring more punters into The Plough and Stars than traditional music. If I ever happened to be passing though Frisco, I could play you some tunes from the other side of the other ocean - Match of the Day, Blankety Blank, Bananaman...
martin,
Isn't unconcious listening to banjo music kind of an oxymoron?
There is something about banjos that make them grab your lapels, stick their noses in your face, and demand your attention, whether you want to give it to them or not--an "even if we have to roll through Belgium, we are going to visit your country in force" kind of approach to music.
Q: Why is a banjo like an artillery shell?
A: By the time you hear it, it's too late.
Yes! Having music play in the background that you are not consciously listening to works extremely well. I agree with Kris about splitting aural attention though. If your activity involves the use of your hearing, the background music will be wasted.
But alas, it doesn't work while sleeping. Turns out there is a huge difference between unconscious listening and subconscious listening. Playing music while you sleep will not help at all, and will most likely disturb your sleep patterns, doing more harm than good.
I don't think that concentrating consciously on the music helps much unless you are listening for something specific. Conscious listening places an interpretaion of the tune in a certain part of your brain. Subconscious listening places a different interpretation in a different part of your brain. When you pick up your instrument and find that you can suddenly play a tune that you have never played before, it most likely comes from subconscious listening.
I have found it works best for me if I concentrate on five or six tunes at a time, e.g., have them in mind as tunes I want to learn, and listen to them at least once a day for a week or so. At the end of that time, I'm pleasantly surprised at what I now know.
does unconscious listening help?
does unconscious listening help?
I know that listening is really helpful to learn the tunes, but occasionally I have the music playing in the background, but I'm not REALLY listening to it - while working for example. Do you think it's getting into my brain somehow anyway?
# Posted on March 29th 2006 by elvis2440
Re: does unconscious listening help?
Yes.
# Posted on March 29th 2006 by 54321
Re: does unconscious listening help?
Yes, I'm amazed how this works. None of us ever tried to learn the theme music to TV shows, Christmas carols, and our favorite pop songs -- but there they are. I have spent a lot of time over the years sitting and listening to tunes I don't know that come up at sessions, and I don't sit there thinking I have to learn this tune by listening -- it just happens. Eventually I'm playing the tune the same way I find myself singing along with songs I like or TV show themes. (TV themes when I was growing up were songs instead of instrumentals like they all seem to be today.) When I'm listening at home I'm also thinking about what I'm doing and not trying to learn the tune. Then the tune will come up at a session and I'll recognize it as something I've heard. This reinforces what's already loaded into my subconscious and the next time it pops up on my CD player I'll note which one it is and I'll find it very easy to learn. Other tunes will self-load into my subconscious over time and I’ll find myself playing along without ever having to “learn” them.
# Posted on March 29th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: does unconscious listening help?
It helps,but I think that if you concentrate on what you're listening,you won't need to play it a thousand times...
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by carolineBR
Re: does unconscious listening help?
unconscious listening can do no harm in itself but if you want it to have any function, then percieve it ,don't just hear it.
if it's banjo playing though, unconscious listening is without question the best! sorry its late, couldn't resist!!!! he he!
martin.
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by martin t
Re: does unconscious listening help?
What about when you're asleep? You stick on a CD, hear the first track or two, then drift off .... Anyone ever figure out if you can absorb the tunes that follow. Ah yes, I see a nice little thesis for somebody so inclined to investigate. But who cares?
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: does unconscious listening help?
w h - I've often wondered about that - as I'm usually so tired I fall asleep on about the 2nd track - sometimes I do seem to have some of the tunes I slept through in my head the next day, and kind of think - "oh, yeah ... last night...I remember, sort of."
As for listening without "listening hard" I think it may actually be more effective for many people - listening while driving, working etc. is the best way for me to get stuff into my head. Although I don't like to listen at all while talking or when other people are talking - can't split my aural attention at all. Unless I'm actually in the act of working on a tune with my instrument in my hands, I find my attention wanders very readily if I try to listen while doing nothing else.
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by kris
Re: does unconscious listening help?
Phantom Button - have you ever thought about starting up TV theme-tunes session? It would surely bring more punters into The Plough and Stars than traditional music. If I ever happened to be passing though Frisco, I could play you some tunes from the other side of the other ocean - Match of the Day, Blankety Blank, Bananaman...
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: does unconscious listening help?
I'm game, spoon, as long as we can include Christmas carols and advert jingles.
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: does unconscious listening help?
martin,
Isn't unconcious listening to banjo music kind of an oxymoron?
There is something about banjos that make them grab your lapels, stick their noses in your face, and demand your attention, whether you want to give it to them or not--an "even if we have to roll through Belgium, we are going to visit your country in force" kind of approach to music.
Q: Why is a banjo like an artillery shell?
A: By the time you hear it, it's too late.
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: does unconscious listening help?
listening is listening is listening
# Posted on March 30th 2006 by Brendan
Re: does unconscious listening help?
Yes! Having music play in the background that you are not consciously listening to works extremely well. I agree with Kris about splitting aural attention though. If your activity involves the use of your hearing, the background music will be wasted.
But alas, it doesn't work while sleeping. Turns out there is a huge difference between unconscious listening and subconscious listening. Playing music while you sleep will not help at all, and will most likely disturb your sleep patterns, doing more harm than good.
I don't think that concentrating consciously on the music helps much unless you are listening for something specific. Conscious listening places an interpretaion of the tune in a certain part of your brain. Subconscious listening places a different interpretation in a different part of your brain. When you pick up your instrument and find that you can suddenly play a tune that you have never played before, it most likely comes from subconscious listening.
# Posted on March 31st 2006 by Shrog
Re: does unconscious listening help?
I think it does.
I have found it works best for me if I concentrate on five or six tunes at a time, e.g., have them in mind as tunes I want to learn, and listen to them at least once a day for a week or so. At the end of that time, I'm pleasantly surprised at what I now know.
Works for me.
# Posted on April 1st 2006 by cathrynb
Re: does unconscious listening help?
I find it helps me play well when I am unconscious...
# Posted on April 5th 2006 by cag