"I found a time and place that worked for me to fit it in my life."
How I did it: I started looking at lists online of what I should be listening to, but now I've moved to just getting different CDs based on random thoughts that pop into my head. "Brahms...I should listen to Brahms" or "Hmm...do I know anything about the Romantic period?"
I put some on my ipod at first...then I tried listening to the classical station in the morning, but I missed my news and weather. Finally, I settled into using CDs at my desk and just putting different ones in all day for background music. I thought I wasn't picking up anything, but I do absorb it and get parts of pieces stuck in my head.
Lessons & tips: Find the best time and place for you. It might not work in the mornings or during your work out, but maybe it's the right kind of music while you're gardening or washing dishes or cleaning. If you know nothing, start with a couple period compilations, like "Baroque Favorites" so you can find out if there's a particular composer or period you like (I'm partial to Baroque) Broadly, period music will sound similar to those within the period (the way 80s music sounds similar to other 80s music but not similar to current pop music). If you like a particular instrument, you can find plenty of compilations that highlight piano, violin, etc.
Baroque - Bach, Handel
Classical - Mozart, Haydn
(Beethoven transitioned between classical and romantic)
Romantic - Schubert, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin
Modern - Strauss, Profokiev
Resources: The cheap CD rack. There is NO SHAME in buying classical CDs off those cheap racks for $5. None. It's a great way to have some basics in your collection. My favorite classical piece ever (Variations on a Theme by Corelli by Rachmaninoff) came from a $7 "piano favorites" CD from some mall store.
THE LIBRARY. Libraries have tons of CDs you can borrow, and the classical ones are not nearly in as high demand as pop artists. This means you can renew the CDs and keep them for quite a while, getting familiar with pieces as well as switching them out. I just search by author (currently, I'm doing Brahms and Handel) and reserve 5 to 7 CDs of each. I renew them as long as I can, then return them and get a new set. I always have 10 to 12 CDs at my work desk for free. If I really like one, I either find a used copy or order or make a note to reserve it at the library again.
The internet. Obviously, you can find lots of information out there as to what you might like or where to start.
1 person found this helpful
Apr 11, 09:40AM PDT
| 0 comments
| 2 cheers
