Learning to Listen

Learning to Listen will concentrate on listening to the human voice in song. The class will listen to and compare performances of folk music, chorals, oratorios, concert pieces, and operatic selections. The participants will discuss what they listened to. Insights by participants will be shared. These might include, but are not limited to, kinds of voices, tempo, rhythm, interpretation, tonality, and clarity of expression. As listening skills develop, the material listened to will grow in sophistication.

This will not be a music appreciation course, per se. The listening skills learned will be the result of a progressive and cumulative effort of the individual and the group. There are no authorities to tell the class what to discern. Discussion will focus on what we have discovered for ourselves and not what some authority has professed. The listening itself will be a pleasure. Skilled listening will result in greater and even more satisfying rewards.

No previous vocal music experience is required. A knowledge of music theory will not be needed. Please bring a three or five course divided spiral notebook in which to record certain notes. There is no course or registration fee. A desire to learn is what is needed.

The series will be led by Allan Hoffman, local resident and Trustee, Board of Visitors and Governers, St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland.