We all have a musical ear. It’s responsible for recognizing, perceiving, and perceiving music. We all go through these three stages as we mature, both aesthetically and simply.
Our receptors learn to identify the source of sound already at a young age. At first, we hear noise and have difficulty distinguishing individual sounds. Then the sounds become clearer and more distinct, but we can only guess where they’re coming from. Only after a long period of time do we begin to identify the direction and source of sounds. This happens when, upon hearing a tune, we can repeat it accurately “in our heads,” but out loud we still have difficulty.
But this is not enough for truly absorbing and understanding music. Therefore, nature has designed it so that after our first encounter with sound, we learn to recognize and distinguish noise from musical sounds. Here I would like to stop and explain in more detail the stages human hearing goes through as it develops an awareness of music.
The first stage (up to 3 months of age)
Let’s call it sensorimotor. This is fundamental for every person. It is present in all people. This stage shapes and adapts us to the sounds around us in general. Imagine that we are tuning into life in this world like a musical instrument using a tuning fork.
This stage is characterized by the following traits:
indifference, positive, or negative attitude toward sounds.
freezing when an unfamiliar sound appears.
danger, as an unfamiliar sound sometimes frightens, warns, or alarms.
The second stage is perceptual (up to 6 months of life).
At this stage of hearing development, we use motor activity (both visual and general physiological) and can already trace and locate the source of a sound. At this stage, a person’s first predisposition to certain genres of music emerges, and this depends on the adults who nurture their children’s musical ear. This stage is also inherent to all people.
Its characteristics:
The quality of perception of not only sounds but also the simplest musical elements and forms (such as a lullaby) improves.
The ability to distinguish timbres, rhythmic differences, volume, and even, in some cases, modal characteristics.
The separation of the background from the melody (for example, the playing of a musical instrument and a human voice simultaneously).
Emotions appear (if a child likes music, they smile and laugh; if not, they cry).
When listening, the child develops emotional images and associations with objects in life with musical motifs.
The third stage is the stage of aesthetic models.
Most people stop at this stage. It’s very important here to gain experience and increase the complexity of the music in general.
Its characteristics:
Memorization of short songs and melodies occurs, and the connection with the musical genre strengthens.
Gradually, a musical base is accumulated and the child can identify melodies they like or dislike.
The ability to compare what they have heard previously with what they have heard recently, to analyze and compare.
The fourth stage. Heuristic, creative.
This is a mature stage of not only music perception but also its creation, understanding the principles of composition, serious and sometimes difficult to master music. At this stage, the ear is trained by continuing unknown melodies or completing their endings by ear. This is the kind of ear that is present in children studying in music schools or who express an interest in music through self-study or copying others.
At this stage, a division occurs into three phases: musical giftedness – education – musical experience.
Its characteristics:
a person participates in listening to music and creating it
predicting with striking similarities in melodies.
previously acquired ideas about music now take on a more conscious form
appreciation and interpretation of music increases
a deeper understanding of music, a vision of images, meanings, and content.
Thus, these stages can be summarized and defined as awareness of present, past, and future musical experience. So, if you want you or your child to develop a more mature musical appreciation, start with short pieces. Short pieces are short passages of music that are easy to remember, hear, and reproduce immediately. Longer musical pieces (pop songs) are easier to grasp when you already have a basic understanding of “small music.” Finally, the future is characterized by an ability to anticipate complex music.
The transition from pop music to classical, symphonic, or chamber music requires serious preparation with simple pieces.
By utilizing the full range of musical experience, a person will feel like a fully-fledged citizen, capable of analyzing, interpreting, following movements, and critiquing. Do not accept raw music, so as not to pollute your hearing, and praise real music.
By listening only to pop music, we can become lost when listening to classical or jazz. One-sided listening hinders a person’s development and leaves them within the confines of primitivism.
Train your ear. Listen only to the best music.
