There are as many ways to enjoy music as there are ears to hear it. Many
people like to have music on in the background while doing other things
like cooking, cleaning, or working out. While there is absolutely nothing
wrong with using music to provide atmosphere, or as an accompaniment
to life's daily chores, most classical music was designed for active,
participatory listening.

Some people fear that they don't have sufficient knowledge to
"understand" classical music. The truth is that to enjoy classical music the
most important thing is to listen actively, rather than passively. Open ears
and aural curiosity is much more valuable than knowing historical facts.

This area should provide you with simple tools for active listening by
separating music into six fundamental parts -- melody, harmony, rhythm,
texture, sound and color, and form. This separation into fundamental parts
makes it easier to focus on the details of the music, providing
a deeper listening experience.

Admittedly, it is not always easy to separate one aspect of music from
another. Melody, for example, is made up of tones that are played in a
particular rhythm, so it can sometimes be confusing to differentiate
between these two fundamentals. But, active listening is not about finding
the "right answers," for there are none. The goal of active listening is
simply to achieve a closer connection to the music.

melody

harmony

rhythm

texture

sound and color

form