The value of listening

To listen. It seems simple enough, yet we all know it’s far more challenging than the instruction implies. Any parent can testify to the difficulty of getting a child to listen. At the same time, many of us recognize how hard it can be to listen wholeheartedly to our own children amid the constant demands of daily life—not to mention our own very real needs and responsibilities.

There is great value in learning the art of listening. A compassionate listener is treasured by friends, loved ones, and colleagues. An engaged listener is open to a genuine exchange with the world around them. When people truly listen to one another, a kind of joyful interplay emerges—one that, in the right circumstances, can lead to creativity, connection, and even inspiration.

One of music’s gifts is the way it teaches us how to listen. Music awakens something in all of us. It can spark a physical or emotional response, and when we find music that speaks to us, we listen with our whole body, mind, and heart. We allow ourselves to be moved, inspired, even transported.

The students who come to Lesson with Luke share in this experience, even if they’re too young to put it into words. They feel the joy of music and naturally develop the desire to create it themselves.

As a teacher, I’m always looking for ways to reconnect students—and myself—to that original spark. It’s easy to get lost in the details: practicing a few measures, learning rhythmic notation, understanding how the right hand interacts with the left. But all of these skills exist in service of something bigger—making music we enjoy and connect with.

After learning a new melody, I often ask students: What do you think of this piece? What does it remind you of? Does it sound happy or sad? What do you hear?

These questions invite students to listen actively—to notice their own reactions and engage with the music in a personal way.

Many of our teachers come from backgrounds as actor-musicians, and in both fields, listening is essential. A powerful scene in a play or film happens when actors give their full attention to one another and allow the moment to unfold. It requires trust, awareness, and the willingness to focus beyond yourself.

The same is true in music. A great ensemble works because each musician listens closely to the others, constantly adjusting to support the shared sound.

It’s never too early or late to cultivate the habit of listening—with openness, curiosity, and presence. In fact, younger students often have something to teach us. Children are naturally present. They express what they feel without hesitation. One moment they’re overflowing with joy; the next, deeply frustrated—and then just as quickly, ready to move forward again.

Wherever a student is emotionally, I listen. I take it in. I then try to channel their energy and feelings into the work of the lesson. Listening to our students is how we earn their trust. And when students feel heard, they become far more willing—and able—to listen in return.

That’s one of the lasting benefits of private music lessons. Beyond learning notes and technique, students develop focus, patience, and the ability to listen with intention. These skills become more critical as worldly distractions seem to multiply by the day. 

At Lesson with Luke, we are not only nurturing the budding musician. We are nurturing the attentive, focused, curious listener.

Looking for private music lessons for kids in New York City? Contact Lesson with Luke to schedule a trial lesson today.