Listen Up, Gang!
Are you dedicated to preparing yourself to this often arduous yet deeply meaningful and important profession? How much? The kind needed to actually be a successful performer, educator, citizen of the world? For a college student that of course means finishing all your practicing and studying before time with friends, family, and significant others--and certainly before video games and pop-music. But there’s more to it that just practicing your art. There’s more art music (otherwise known as “classical music,” the wonderous stuff you’re at college to immerse yourself in because you feel “passionate” about it) to learn and listen to than you could EVER experience in your entire lifetime, so are you embracing new sounds or repeatedly listening to the few works you know or have known for years?
If we just stick to the historic “greats”---how much Bach, Beethoven and Mozart do you know? If you search a list of the 100 “greatest” pieces (I use the “greatest” designation veeeeery loosely), how many sound familiar?? How many could you identify? How many do you know well enough to hum significant parts of? How many pieces do you know for your own instrument? How many can you play? Perform? Hum from memory? If you’re really passionate about this music life, dig in and dig the music. Life is short; there’s lots of music. Go get it!
If we just stick to the historic “greats”---how much Bach, Beethoven and Mozart do you know? If you search a list of the 100 “greatest” pieces (I use the “greatest” designation veeeeery loosely), how many sound familiar?? How many could you identify? How many do you know well enough to hum significant parts of? How many pieces do you know for your own instrument? How many can you play? Perform? Hum from memory? If you’re really passionate about this music life, dig in and dig the music. Life is short; there’s lots of music. Go get it!
Some Top 100 lists/links are below to give you a start. I can't say I agree with all of the choices, but familiarize yourself with these pieces and let's discuss! :) :)
200 Pieces listed here:
100 Great pieces from the 20th Century:
Here's a link to the most "famous" 100, not necessarily the "best"
Have you checked out Spotify? Wow! What a grrreat and FREE way to listen to a WORLD of music!!
Oboe and out,
-CG
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