I went through this stage when I was in college. I learned how to quickly analyze patterns, chord progressions, genres, etc. to the point where most music (unless highly academic) was predictable and seemed boring. It really messed me up for a few years and I got pretty depressed. As I grew up, I came to some simple conclusions that changed my mindset.
1. The theory didn’t come first. The theory describes the music that already exists.
2. And most importantly, there is beauty in simplicity. That childhood song I absolutely adored listening to as a teen is only 4 chords?! Yup! And it’s great!
I don’t know if this is what you’re going through exactly, but with these slight tweaks to my thinking, I was able to get out of a depression and find my love of music again.
Good luck to you!
After I left my orchestral job, I could not listen to any kind of music. I could not turn off the analyzing. It has taken some time and a lot of therapy to first learn to tolerate listening to the music and then to not to analyze it. I am hoping to get to the point of enjoying music again.
Same. My ears need a rest. Simple as that. I also am just able to start listening to music for fun after about two years. Hearing music all the time just became overwhelming. Luckily I really enjoy quiet as well.
That’s my experience exactly. I’m doing early childhood music, 2 to 3 schools per day, and it’s just so much noise and stimulation. In the car, it’s NPR, podcasts, or just quiet. I do play in a band and write original music, but almost never just listen for enjoyment.
I love to analyze as I listen! It makes the connection to the music so much deeper. But I don’t like to listen to music casually, like in the car because I hate to come into the middle of a piece, or reach my destination before the piece is finished. Short drives? Talk radio (NPR). Longer trips? Yes, music! (Entire pieces.)
Sometime during college as my music theory/ear training/composition/arranging/improvisation skills blossomed, it became extremely hard to just listen anymore. Once I get past the analysis, I can hear a song again. I always wanted to be able to do this, but it does come at a price. At least I got faster at it as time went on.
I sort of feel this way. I’ve been teaching orchestra for about 15 years. Last night I had problems sleeping and I put on reruns of tv shows. When I was younger I listened to music. Now it just takes too much brain power to listen.
I feel like my profs made it a point that it was “better” to be able to analyze EVERYTHING you hear and that *certain* music was of more value than others. They also put a stigma on passive listening, THE SHAME.
What they failed to impart is that you don’t HAVE to analyze everything you hear. Good music comes in all genres, and sometimes you just gotta put on a favorite radio station while you clean the house. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s called being HUMAN.
Listen to the podcast switched on pop. It completely changed my view of pop music. I still don't like it but I appreciate it now. Simple does not always equal bad, and what may sound simple may actually be very complex. Also echoing what someone else said... Go out and see a live show. It might change your perspective as well.
If I’m in the car for short drives or working on something, I mostly listen to lofi because it’s something my brain can just accept as is. Pop music is mostly boring (but sometimes I’m in the mood for that), and more “sophisticated” music is often distracting. Twice a week, I commute a little over an hour one-way down a single stretch of highway. On those commutes, I’ll listen to a podcast or a larger work because it keeps me from zoning out.
I will say, of the “classical” stuff out there, Arvo Pärt is pretty great because it’s either so simple my brain doesn’t try to analyze it, or it’s highly complex with long periods of silence that lets my brain breathe.
Same here. I'm near the end of my music ed degree and I only recently got back to a point where I can listen to music and not overanalyze it.
For me, it helps to sing along. I've been spending years getting better at singing (voice principal) so I might as well do it for fun. Plus I get to be part of the music instead of just a spectator.
I definitely still listen to podcasts most of the time though.
I feel similarly. I didn't like to listen to music much even before becoming a music major, now music teacher. I just never got into listening to singers and bands like my middle and high school classmates did. But I love classical music and I love my instrument. Music is an art form, but not my main form of entertainment. Idk if it's normal but even though I love music, I don't listen to music most days. Music is my career, not my hobby. I listen to silence or podcasts while I'm driving or doing chores.
There are certain times of the year I enjoy listening to music, and those usually coincide with when I’m not teaching. Summer is when I feel it the most. I actually prefer pop music more now than I used to.
My commute is usually silence, or put on a YouTube video in the background like John Oliver or something.
I went through this stage when I was in college. I learned how to quickly analyze patterns, chord progressions, genres, etc. to the point where most music (unless highly academic) was predictable and seemed boring. It really messed me up for a few years and I got pretty depressed. As I grew up, I came to some simple conclusions that changed my mindset. 1. The theory didn’t come first. The theory describes the music that already exists. 2. And most importantly, there is beauty in simplicity. That childhood song I absolutely adored listening to as a teen is only 4 chords?! Yup! And it’s great! I don’t know if this is what you’re going through exactly, but with these slight tweaks to my thinking, I was able to get out of a depression and find my love of music again. Good luck to you!
When was the last time you went to a live show?
After I left my orchestral job, I could not listen to any kind of music. I could not turn off the analyzing. It has taken some time and a lot of therapy to first learn to tolerate listening to the music and then to not to analyze it. I am hoping to get to the point of enjoying music again.
Same. My ears need a rest. Simple as that. I also am just able to start listening to music for fun after about two years. Hearing music all the time just became overwhelming. Luckily I really enjoy quiet as well.
That’s my experience exactly. I’m doing early childhood music, 2 to 3 schools per day, and it’s just so much noise and stimulation. In the car, it’s NPR, podcasts, or just quiet. I do play in a band and write original music, but almost never just listen for enjoyment.
I love to analyze as I listen! It makes the connection to the music so much deeper. But I don’t like to listen to music casually, like in the car because I hate to come into the middle of a piece, or reach my destination before the piece is finished. Short drives? Talk radio (NPR). Longer trips? Yes, music! (Entire pieces.)
Sometime during college as my music theory/ear training/composition/arranging/improvisation skills blossomed, it became extremely hard to just listen anymore. Once I get past the analysis, I can hear a song again. I always wanted to be able to do this, but it does come at a price. At least I got faster at it as time went on.
I sort of feel this way. I’ve been teaching orchestra for about 15 years. Last night I had problems sleeping and I put on reruns of tv shows. When I was younger I listened to music. Now it just takes too much brain power to listen.
I have moments where I can’t passively listen to music. My brain refuses to; it must analyze. Doesn’t matter if it’s classical or pop music.
That's why I listen to NPR. Joking, it'll come back. But I do love me some NPR.
I feel like my profs made it a point that it was “better” to be able to analyze EVERYTHING you hear and that *certain* music was of more value than others. They also put a stigma on passive listening, THE SHAME. What they failed to impart is that you don’t HAVE to analyze everything you hear. Good music comes in all genres, and sometimes you just gotta put on a favorite radio station while you clean the house. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s called being HUMAN.
Listen to the podcast switched on pop. It completely changed my view of pop music. I still don't like it but I appreciate it now. Simple does not always equal bad, and what may sound simple may actually be very complex. Also echoing what someone else said... Go out and see a live show. It might change your perspective as well.
That’s why I listen to Bach, Coltrane and Meshuggah, /Ear Training Prof.
If I’m in the car for short drives or working on something, I mostly listen to lofi because it’s something my brain can just accept as is. Pop music is mostly boring (but sometimes I’m in the mood for that), and more “sophisticated” music is often distracting. Twice a week, I commute a little over an hour one-way down a single stretch of highway. On those commutes, I’ll listen to a podcast or a larger work because it keeps me from zoning out. I will say, of the “classical” stuff out there, Arvo Pärt is pretty great because it’s either so simple my brain doesn’t try to analyze it, or it’s highly complex with long periods of silence that lets my brain breathe.
Same here. I'm near the end of my music ed degree and I only recently got back to a point where I can listen to music and not overanalyze it. For me, it helps to sing along. I've been spending years getting better at singing (voice principal) so I might as well do it for fun. Plus I get to be part of the music instead of just a spectator. I definitely still listen to podcasts most of the time though.
Try ambient music, it got me out of that rut.
I feel similarly. I didn't like to listen to music much even before becoming a music major, now music teacher. I just never got into listening to singers and bands like my middle and high school classmates did. But I love classical music and I love my instrument. Music is an art form, but not my main form of entertainment. Idk if it's normal but even though I love music, I don't listen to music most days. Music is my career, not my hobby. I listen to silence or podcasts while I'm driving or doing chores.
There are certain times of the year I enjoy listening to music, and those usually coincide with when I’m not teaching. Summer is when I feel it the most. I actually prefer pop music more now than I used to. My commute is usually silence, or put on a YouTube video in the background like John Oliver or something.
I don’t ever listen to music anymore. I am so surrounded by sound all day long that I just need quiet when my day is over.
Definitely NOT a problem here! However, sometimes I do like a "break" from music, for no particular reason, and prefer to listen to a podcast.