For the highly visual (or simply very busy) person, listening to and appreciating new music can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. Here are some quick mental tricks for enjoying all kinds of music.

Listen uncritically at first; music is about the experience. Trying too hard to listen critically can ruin that experience.

Seeing music performed can help. If you’re watching a symphony or band, try to focus on individual instruments and hear their parts. See if there is a local symphony, orchestra, or opera company that performs regularly. If your favorite band comes to town, make a point to hear their music live. Attend coffee shop or house concerts for independent musicians; getting up close and personal with the music and its creators is a special experience.

Start with the music you already enjoy. Try sites like Pandora, which can take the music you already like, and introduce you to new kinds of music that may catch your interest.

Research. Try listening to classics in chronological order to understand the historical context. Read up on different composers and their time periods. The arts have always been responsive to cultural and political change; find out the stories behind big changes in styles and genres.

Don’t stress about it; while it’s good to appreciate all kinds of music, there’s nothing wrong with simply liking what you like.

I hope you found this article useful.  Have a good day and let me know if you need anything.