Deep Listening to Music: A Beginner's Guide

Oksana Pleskova
Jan 23
5 min read

Updated: Jan 24

In times of overwhelming information overload and constant stress, we desperately need accessible and effective tools to regulate our emotional state

Music has an incredible power to soothe, uplift our mood, energize, and inspire. However, to truly unlock its potential, simply listening to music is not enough. To make music an effective "regulator" of our emotional state, a more conscious and individual approach is required, namely – the practice of deep listening

Unfortunately, we lack a culture of deep music listening, and many music lovers are convinced that deep listening is something complex and accessible only to professionals. In reality, deep listening to music is a practice accessible to everyone, even if you have no musical education or professional experience

Yes, deep listening to music requires certain knowledge and practice, but it can be quite easily and enjoyably mastered by anyone who simply loves listening to music

Next, I will share some practical tips on how to start practicing deep music listening. Try it, experiment, and feel free to reach out to me with any questions!

What does deep listening to music mean?

Deep listening is a way to fully focus on the music and allow it to resonate with your emotions and feelings. Unlike ordinary listening, which is often passive and unfocused, deep listening requires concentration, openness, and a willingness to explore the depths of your own, very individual musical experience

Advantages of deep listening to music

Deep listening to music, as a regular practice, is capable of improving our mental health, positively affecting our emotional state and developing cognitive abilities

Emotional regulation: deep listening helps us to better understand and regulate our emotions – to relax, calm down, reduce stress and anxiety, recharge with energy and improve mood
Mental clarity: thanks to deep listening, we can get rid of the sense of information overload, organize our thoughts and experience mental clarity

Enhanced cognitive function: regular deep listening contributes to the improvement of concentration, attention, and memory
Creative inspiration: deep listening awakens creative potential, inspires new ideas and motivates action

Deeper understanding of music: deep listening reveals new facets of musical art, allowing us to distinguish the timbres of different instruments, feel the acoustics of concert halls, and perceive the subtlest nuances of performance

And sheer pleasure: deep listening gives us the opportunity to enjoy music in all its fullness

How to start practicing deep listening

Deep listening to music is a skill that can be developed through individual practice. Here are some suggestions to get started:

Set aside time for yourself: to begin, find at least half an hour that you can spend alone with yourself and the music
Create an atmosphere conducive to deep listening: turn your phone off, ask people around not to disturb you, find a comfortable place where you can fully relax, such as a soft armchair or bed
Choose music you would like to experience more deeply: for starters, choose musical pieces that you are well acquainted with, that are interesting to you, and that resonate emotionally. Over time, try exploring different genres and styles, expanding your musical horizons
Listen with your eyes closed: this helps to activate your hearing, fully focusing on the audio material and eliminating visual distractions
Be inquisitive: explore the music – pay attention to the melody, harmony, timbres of instruments and voices, rhythm. Track your feelings and emotions. Experiment
Surrender to the music: allow it to stimulate your feelings, smile, don't be afraid to cry, dance if you feel like it...
Analyze your experience: after listening, take a few minutes to think about your experience. What new things did you discover in the music? How did you feel before listening? What did you feel while listening to the music? How do you feel now?
Make deep listening a regular practice: set aside time daily or weekly to explore music and your feelings. Search, experiment, analyze, determine what works best for you

What music to choose

Music is capable of evoking a wide range of emotions; and certain musical genres, tempos, rhythms, pieces, performers and instruments can indeed be more or less effective for regulating a particular emotional state

However, choosing music, especially for deep listening, is a very individual process, and no one from the outside can determine what will be relevant to you specifically and at this very moment. Why? Because everything depends, first and foremost, on your personal perception and associations that have formed throughout your life and experience of interaction with music

Of course, there are certain general trends regarding the influence of different genres and tempos on emotions. For example, music in a major key is often associated with positivity, and music in a minor key – with sadness; fast music can add energy, and slow music – relax. It is said that classical music promotes concentration, rock – emotional release, light jazz – relaxation, and complex jazz – creative inspiration

But it is important to remember that these are only general observations, and your personal experience may differ. Therefore, my advice to you is – start experimenting and trust exclusively your own feelings!

What, however, should be avoided during deep listening, especially for beginners:

Heavy metal, hard rock, punk rock: the intensity of the music, with its high volume and sharp sounds, combined with the performers' emotional delivery, can be overwhelming, making it difficult to focus on the music and one's own feelings
Music with frequently repeating or simplified structures: simple music can be effective (for example, one where timbrally rich musical instruments and/or voices are used), but overly simplified music does not contribute to captivating focused listening, and you will lose interest in it too quickly

Music with strong lyrics: the lyrics of a song force our brain to simultaneously process two different forms of information – words and music. This can make it difficult to focus specifically on the musical component. Therefore, to begin the practice of deep listening, it is better to choose instrumental music, which allows you to fully concentrate on the sound itself

When is the best time to practice deep listening?

Deep listening can be practiced spontaneously, when you have time and inspiration, or you can make it a part of your daily routine:

Start your day with a short (5-10 minutes, 1-3 tracks) deep listening session to set the tone for your workday or for a relaxing day off
Take a break during work or study to recharge your energy, concentrate, structure your thoughts, and find inspiration

End your day with a deep listening session to slow down, relax, and prepare for sleep

In conclusion:

Deep listening is a pleasant and effective way to improve mental well-being for everyone who loves music. Experiment, practice, and discover new facets of musical art!

P. S.

It is worth to note that the quality of music recording and playback is extremely important for deep listening. High-quality audio material and a well-tuned audio system contribute to a deeper immersion, revealing subtleties of sound, enhancing the emotional impact of music, and providing greater enjoyment. So, if you wish to truly immerse yourself in the world of sound and experience the power of music, we invite you to the Human & Sound Insight Home, where Master and I conduct individual deep listening sessions and share our knowledge and experience