Intelligent Listening Checklist

Basic Checklist Questions as of February 23, 2005

[Revised and new questions are highlighted in yellow with new ones also in bold]

  1. What is the name of the song
  2. Who is/are the performer(s)?
  3. What style is the music and what sounds do I hear that make me choose this style?
    (Expanded version of "What style is the music?")
  4. What is the Form of the record? (e.g. IAABABInsABBB)
  5. What is the tempo of the music? Is it consistent? If it changes, where and how?
    (Expanded version of "Is the music fast or slow?")
  6. What are the dynamics of the music? Are they consistent? If they change, where and how?
    (Expanded version of "Is the music loud or soft?")
  7. What instruments am I hearing?
  8. What kind of singer(s) do I hear? Male/Female? Solo/Group?
  9. What is/are the outstanding characteristic(s) of the music?
  10. What is the mood of the music?
  11. Do I like the music? Why?

Even though we try to remain objective with most of these questions, some ask for observations that can be subjective and vary from person to person. For example, what is fast or loud to you may not be fast or loud to someone else.

The Practice Checklist (try it for extra credit)

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Instructor: John Meschi
Office: Room 204, Fine Arts Center
(516) 299-2105 (Office)
(516) 299-2474 Department
E-mail: jmeschi@liu.edu
Office hours by appointment