“The ear too needs a certain time to pass from casual listening to accurate appreciation of sound”.
Dr Alfred Tomatis in The Conscious ear p 77.
Take the time to consciously listen to music. That is the first step. The simple act of listening with the intention to hear changes everything… Yep! Everything.
“Le bonheur est contagieux et pour cette raison sa pratique est presque un devoir” (Happiness is contagious and for this reason its practice is almost a duty.)
Rene Dubos in choisir d’etre humain
Practice listening to music that brings you joy. Choose the music that brings you happiness. Make it a habit, that is something that you do regularly, if only for a few minutes per day.
“Musical harmony is just the audible form of the greater harmony of the creation”
Glen Kurtz in practicing, a musician’s return to music p 89
Listening regularly for a while creates a path, a sense of direction, and a connection that propels you forward. You are unique and so is your way forward.
“La danse et sa pratique consciente ouvre une porte a l’amour de son corps, de sa terre et de son cosmos. Un vrai bonheur”. (“Dance and its conscious practice opens a door to one/s body, land and cosmos. A real joy”
Paul Valery in degas danse dessin
Dancing allows connection to the love of one’s own body but also to one’s roots, ancestry, traditions, origins if the intention is loving and joyful.
“Working memory is indeed a form of attention focused on an executive cognitive network for the processing of prospective action”
Joaquin Fuster in The prefrontal cortex p 349
Your brain is wired for this! Even if you only imagine that you are dancing, you are getting a prefrontal brain work out. Exercise is neuro protective that is it helps preserve function as you age. Your imagination is powerful and has benefits independently of your ability to physically follow the music. Be intentional as you listen to music, pay attention and relax.