Reading this quote at first, I thought, “Well, duh. Listening is the key to everything good in music because if you don’t listen, you won’t know what to do next (more or less).” This seems so simple, but really, this concept is a lot harder the it sounds.
Active listening is something that I learned over the years from performing with other musicians in smaller groups or combos and larger ensembles. You have to pay attention to what’s being played around you; really listen to what’s going on. Is the energy up in the band? What is the overall feel that the soloist is giving right before you come back in with the bridge or the chorus? Does the piano player want to extend the ending of the song? Trying to listen and pay attention to what’s going on around you in a musical setting and attempting to respond accordingly leads to an interesting result: conversation.
When I witness conversation happening in a musical context, either on or off-stage, it really is one of the most intriguing things to see. It can be almost like standing in a room with other people who are communicating in a different language that you may not be familiar with. You can kind of assume what they’re saying or thinking by different mannerisms–hand gestures, nods, facial expressions, energy, etc.–and then anticipate the next phrase in the conversation. Usually, when I’m up on stage, I think of this interchange as reactions to each other. One musician “says” something, another listens and “says” something back ( a reaction to the first musician). It seems so simple and self-explanatory, but this type of performance is all the more enjoyable for not only the musicians playing, but also the audience. If the musicians are enjoying themselves and really digging into the music they’re making, the audience will pick up on that and enjoy it even more.
This all stems back to listening. Listening is so important in music, especially when creating and playing it. If you’re not listening, you’re not present in that musical situation, and it won’t be the best representation of who you are and what it is that you are trying to say. Listening is essential in discovering and creating your own musical sound.