LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Hearing Phenomena

SolArt -- 08/11/2006, 05:27:03 -- #29258

I'd like to share what happens with me sometimes when I'm playing or listening to music. I love it when it happens, which is this: All of a sudden you realize that you're hearing EVERY note in an instrument. So for example the CD of the Bossa Music of one of the groups I play in is playing nice jazz guitar,in which EACH string registers EQUALLY. It sounds Soooo different, soooo full & much more FUN to listen to & ENJOY; like night & day really. So it struck me as a "rubber band chorus" if you catch my drift. Then similar when I'm playing Italian Ballades the piano chords sound the same. "Normally" I hear the chord quality & type, with the top note & bass note "sticking out", which I would venture to say is how most people hear music. Anyway I hope this turns into a consistent thing, cause WOW it's SUPER. I explained it to a Chorus director & asked him how he hears music, & he replied he always hears this way. Do you guys have similar experiences?

SolArt -- 08/14/2006, 09:49:27 -- #29258

Apparently not...

jmkarns -- 08/14/2006, 10:41:23 -- #29258

Check out Albetan's room.  He covers this pretty well. I came to music from a linear approach, but there are many ways up the mountain so to speak.

albetan -- 08/14/2006, 12:45:02 -- #29258

I wrote an old post in my Room about Musical Perception. Please click on: oldest first Look for the sixth post: Musical Perception.

SolArt -- 08/14/2006, 14:22:02 -- #29258

Interesting, albetan. But man it sure does sound DIFFERENT hearing all notes equally standing out! Do any LJP members have a similar experience to the one I had/have? I mean it's "drug-like". The timbres of the different instruments of course make each one noticeable in an ensemble situation.

jmkarns -- 08/14/2006, 14:43:24 -- #29258

I think FM radio does something like this by compressing the sound.

7 -- 08/16/2006, 02:09:46 -- #29258

If you put your mind to it, anyone can hear all the notes that any instrument (including drums) is playing (if the mix isn't muddy). I'm not sure why this is a revelation.

jwv76 -- 08/16/2006, 05:31:01 -- #29258

It's an epiphany to me everytime I realize my consciousness is completely focused on the sounds i'm hearing at that given moment, if I'm playing or not. Especially when I'm playing, though.

SolArt -- 08/16/2006, 06:32:28 -- #29258

It's a revelation to me because the effect is so noticeably exaggerated and pronounced, I mean the notes are really s e p a r a t e d with each one as important as the other in their song. It's not a subtle thing, but a very strong DIFFERENT awareness. It's like having a too old prescription from not seeing the eye doctor in too long a time, & then getting new glasses. Years ago, when I first got contacts after going for years with too-weak glasses, when I finally got them I went for a walk in a strong downpour because the scenery was so amazingly sharp & interesting! And no "fish-bowl swaying effects" which strong prescriptions do. jmkarns, I don't understand.

SolArt -- 08/16/2006, 15:14:52 -- #29258

"epiphany"?

Styles -- 08/24/2006, 15:18:35 -- #29258

There are certain times when playing or listening to music when things just pop into place and I seem high... I had it last night listening to Miles Smiles, which is a free-bop ablum. It just started making sense, and I was pretty happy for no reason.

SolArt -- 08/25/2006, 12:56:09 -- #29258

I know whatcha' mean, Styles. With me at the start of a song or gig, with my very first line, etc; sometimes something just "clicks" & I know the session will be GOOD. It's amazing how just a few notes can foretell a successful and very enjoyable experience. Also this helps to put the rest of the band into a similar "popping into place and seeming high" state. This works all around, anyone can start it. What is it? THE BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC! It's very spiritual, like Scot says in another post.

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