The experience of listening to live music is different from listening to recorded music for many reasons. First music sounds much better live than it does recorded, second when at a concert you can interact with other people more than you would listening to recorded music, and finally you can see the artists expression while they are singing or playing their instrument.
Whether there is a large audience and a big name band, or a single person playing for the class, live music is a great thing. I went to my first concert last summer and it was an amazing experience. Being with other people that liked the same artist I liked was really cool. I was around people I did not know, so between artists I got to interact with new people. We moshed and jumped to our favorite songs. Besides the people factor of live music, the music sounds so clear compared to the dull sounding recorded music. I think to get the full effect of music you need to experience it live. I also was able to interact in the songs when the artist would point the microphone towards the audience so we could scream the lyrics. When I was at the concert I was able to see the artists sing, and I could see their passion for music on their face when they were singing. Even in class when I saw classical music live was a great experience. I felt like I listened more because it was live, but when the classical music is played on the radio I find it hard to listen to. Seeing live classical music in class made me want to go to a classical concert to get the full effect and be able to hear all the instruments together.
When I listen to recorded music I do not feel as though I am getting the full effect. I listen to recorded music often but I am typically not sitting and just listening to music, I am cooking, cleaning, driving, talking on the phone etc. At the concert I listened to the music, I did not do anything else, and nothing could distract me from just listening. Also with the in class music I just listened, I did not space off, or think about anything except what the music was “saying” to me. Another downfall of recorded music is lack of interaction for example; when I am listening to music with my friends we do not typically start a mosh pit in the house.
I think everyone should experience at least one live concert in their life, whether it is classical, rock, alternative, or rap everyone should experience it live.
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