The Benefits of Deep Listening // VLOG  

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These videos are so cool, no other jazz player is doing vlogs like these at the professional editing level like you.

It kind of boggles my mind that assigning listening is a thing. Growing up, I couldn't get enough of repetitive listens to certain albums or even individual tracks. I must have listened to Steely Dan's "Royal Scam" hundreds of times, and often found myself going back to specific tracks over and over again in the early days of the iPod. When I have the time now, I still find myself doing this often. When the music really moves me, it's so joyous and wonderful to listen again and again in anticipation for each moment in the music I find absorbing.

every now and then i come back to this video

So happy that you uploaded a new vlog!! Thanks Bob, you're an inspiration!

Another fantastic vlog, Bob! Always enjoy them!!!

Thanks so much for the vlogs Bob, as a musician they're honestly so insightful and your subjects and your approach towards them are perfect

Im so hyped for the Ben Wendel vlog man! Keep up the great vlogs, always learning alot.

Great vlog once again, Bob! Listening is such an important topic and I am always glad to hear you talk about it. I had a listening project that I did last year where I listened to a new album every week for the whole year, and I would only listen to that one album for the week. I would listen during the times when I would typically listen to music (while working out, on the bus, etc) and I would also engage in more active listening, taking notes on the stuff I was hearing. This was a really powerful learning experience for me and propelled my musical growth even more than I could have imagined. A week was just enough time for me to sink into each album to a point where each one really stuck with me, but I also had a great deal of variety and was exposed to a lot of music that was totally new to me. I'm still listening to a lot of those records this year and am glad for the experience.

Awesome Bob.You inspire me to keep a balance going,and take the practical approach to music....

This is great! I have been subconsciously doing this more so since I started playing again last year. I just realized I've been doing this with vocalists I enjoy, just hearing the evolution and approaches used and also thinking in terms of my playing style. I plan on now being more intentional in how I listen to sax players and other instrumentalists.

Greetings from the other side of the pond (:-)) and a BIG THANK YOU for finding the time to share your wisdom. This problem has been bugging me for some time and i have been trying to deny that i do it !! Now i shall change my approach ! Hope you are coming to UK sometime,,,,Peace to you & family.

Always enjoy your vlogs! Looking forward to your show at Rudys!!

Thank you so much for all Bob, your videos are awesome ! I wish all the best for you man, hi from brazil, and i hope someday play with you, in somewhere of the word, Peace !

love these vlogs & hearing your insights!

I've been in music school this past year, for a while I did the one album a day thing, sitting in my comfy chair with headphones on (usually after lunch) and it was great. Not only to discover new music but to get a break between practice sessions

That's why I still love CDs. That's the best for deep listening, to me.

I'm fairly new to your blogs man but I have to say I get something very valuable every time I watch one of your videos! Thank you for everything!

Things to come is one of my favourites!

Hey also a great thing about developing deep listening is to have a lot of different songs in your playlist and then to play it randomly but without knowing the song and the artist. So I got 300GB of music on my phone and obviously have no idea what most of those songs are about and push a play-button, so it’s not you who choses the song but your phone is. And when I hear the song in my headphones (because of goddamn 300GB) the song I’m listening to is probably new for me, so I have to really listen what’s going on around, how many musicians in the band, how many instruments and maybe even guess who is playing. And one really interesting thing about doing this randomly is that the next song always gonna be so different from previous one that you get new information all the time and you never get bored of it. Peace.

Ben Wendell is so killer... I just discovered him a few months ago. What a great musician all three of you guys are!

Great vlog!

Will be seeing you at Nashville!

loved this!!

thanks for the recommendation. I'm definitely going to listen to the Joe's album.

The chat that Bob describes as stupid fast is Things to Come, a totally unreal and killin chart!

Great upload! thank you

I love your videos. Really helpful advice and tips. Big fan

Pure Gold!

Maybe the "width" curve should not fall to zero, but be an s curve that allows for a vastly diverse set of influences on a simple level---To allow for discoveries to be made in music we typically wouldn't listen to.

Could you maybe do a video talking about what you look for in other musicians? I'm a guitar player and I'm always curious as to how I could be a more effective band member. I'm wondering if you maybe have specific things you listen for in any musicians you play with?

Gotta love the Articulated G# Mechanism. Not only jazz but classical licks become monumentally easier with that keywork!

I always enjoy these vlogs! I learn so much from them. My teacher Kenyon Carter attends your retreat! I hope to one day attend. Best wishes! Thank you again for these videos.

...man - you are one beautiful cat; 'inspiring stuff - beautiful lil fam too. Peace!

Of course I miss him playing in Nashville, hopefully you'll come back soon

Watched this episode on RU-vids double speed setting to find the Lovano album. Watching it double speed is hilarious! Especially the jazz greats playing ... hahaha :D I'm looking forward to the GeekIsode!

I'm so sad I can't make it to the sax retreat 😭 Any chance you're coming to Brisbane, Australia anytime soon? Absolutely love your sound and teachings Bob !! THank you so much :))

Hey Bob - guitarist here! Loving your videos - incredibly motivating, especially when it comes to listening, transcription and effective practice! I'm not sure if you've discussed it before, but to what extent do you consider your general health and wellbeing as being beneficial to your overall musicianship and willingness to keep learning/practicing? You obviously have a hectic schedule and so I was just curious as to how you keep on top of it all and stay motivated! Cheers! Oli

Dude, Ben Wendel is awesome.

Maybe 2018 will be the year I make it to that sax retreat. It's right in my backyard just 50 miles south. Although I notice on the website one of the Bobs has broken one of my unwritten photoshoot rules by removing the neckstrap for a pose. Oh! I went to that show at Rudy's it was great.

Bob, you've always been such an inspiration to me and your opinions and ideas have been a great guide for me as I develop my career as a musician. I wanted to ask your opinion on something I'm sure you've talked about before. I am at the point in my life where music alone does not pay the bills and my day job is very demanding. I'm married and recently purchased my first home. I find it hard to motivate myself to play or practice, especially because there is becoming a shortage of venues and groups in my area. I feel I've become burned out and find it hard to find the motivation and passion that I once had for music and saxophone. Don't get me wrong, I love playing and love music but lately it's become such a chore as I'm not playing out as often as I'd like to be. What are some things you do to help motivate and inspire yourself to get back in the groove?

He said “stupid fast” and I already knew he was talking about “Things to Come”. Lol what a beast of a tune

Bob, Rashaan's birthday is the day you are play in Nashville. Have some "Bright moments." Enjoying your stuff.

I recently found that I can easily do focused listening without skipping when I play vinyl.

Good video!, Could you talk about breathing exercises for saxophone?

Great advice Bob many thanks, This might be a silly question coming from a guitarist, but the more i get into jazz, and changes playing, the more i find myself moving away from listening to jazz or fusion guitarists, and more to horn players, I think as it's more uncharted territory for me i cant hear position shifts, and guitar stylistic phrasing its helping me to listen deeper, i'm not thinking what fret on the guitar the lines are starting from etc. This seems to be helping my ear and puts me back as more of a listener, and not a musician, I was wondering as a horn player do you ever have the opposite happen? And do you ever have any issues in separating the musically analytical mind and just enjoying music as the man on the street would :) This might not be an issue but id love to hear your thoughts, Cheers :)

Another great and informative video! Btw, just wanna know the song you were humming to in @12:28. Thanks!

Tenor Legacy is awesome. Also sounds great (as in really well recorded). One of my favorite Lovano's.

Damn that was really interesting, i'll try it now ! I've listened to all your albums and i really love your sound and the special atmosphere you create and that ive never found before. I hope you will continue it a very long time ! And i also have a question because i'm about to buy a tenor sax, and ive seen a mark vi that i really appreciated, and i wanted to know how much did your mark cost to you, in order to have an idea about the price just to be sure about this one. Thanks again for the video

Hi Bob, I am a young sax musician and right now i am looking for some more albums, is it possible that you could do a video where you go through some of your albums for us?

Great video, Bob! I'm wondering what it was you were writing down while listening. Were you just making a sketch of the track? Thanks!

Hi Bob, I think I'm sort of torn between listening to albums over and over again and the skimming generation with being 34 and catching both phenomena.Growing up listening to the likes of Pink Floyd and Rush being my favourite artists, with these being concept albums you need to listen to albums from start to finish other wise you miss out on a lot of what is being said within the sub context. On another note I subscribe to the "high Fidelity" concept of creating a mix tape and believe that bands should create their albums that way. Although I have noticed that recently within the age of instant gratification this concept is a lot less subscribed too. Albums used to be an art, unfortunately these days, it's more a compilation of singles.

Can you do a video on basic music theory? Just a good foundation of music theory fundamentals.

OH MY GOD FINALLY

Unbearably geeky question, but what's on the whiteboard at the very end of the vlog? What I love about these videos is there's always some great advice that's 1) realistic 2) relevant to (almost) all musicians and 3) accessible enough to be put into practice immediately.

Anyone know what tune's playing at the very end?

What was the tune that McPherson was soloing over? Wow, he's still absolutely burning at 77...

Hi Bob. Do you ever wear earplugs when practicing? Never practiced with them myself but occasionally been getting some harsh vibrations in the ears when practicing.. particularly in the altissimo. Any recommendations?

What trane tune is that at the end?

Great advice towards the end of this video about the listening and how much. What was the song at the end? Sounded like Trane but from what recording? Anyone know?

What's the song you're listening to in the outro ?

Bob...I stumbled upon your channel and have been absolutely addicted...and then somewhere you mentioned you went to DA in Jacksonville! I grew up in Orange Park, FL and went to OPHS graduated '94...so wild...I think I've also seen Juan playing around Jacksonville with a buddy of mine David Champagne (also a DA grad but after you)...I play trumpet and currently live in Nashville, TN...I was worried you gave up the vlogging so I am glad this vid popped up!

Hi Bob, what are you writing at 9.10?

And another summer gone by to that list.

What was that Trane tune at the end?

I'm seriously waiting for the sax geakage. I was hoping there was some with Chris Potter as well.

cool subject, moar ! I also change many times songs on spotify, :/ , need to stop

Hey Bob, I was wondering what you thought about Jody jazz mouthpieces? I've been playing on a Jody Jazz Hr* mouthpiece for about 2-3 and I haven't quite liked the sound that it gives me. I've wanted to try other mouthpieces but where I live, the store's policy on mouthpieces is that I have to buy a mouthpiece for them to order and then try it out rather than try out different mouthpieces that I like in store. Mouthpieces already can be really pricey. I was wondering what you looked for when you were trying out mouthpieces and do you prefer hard rubber or metal? I'm definitely looking for another hard rubber replacement for this Jody Jazz mouthpiece. Any suggestions? Thanks! -Daniel

Hey bob is that Danny janklow on 2nd alto???

What albums should I start off to immerse myself in the music of Stan Getz?

really trying to hone in on chris potter lately, it’s like he always plays drums on the saxophone

is that Victor Wooten at 1:25

Fun

things to come isn't stupid fast

even Victor Wooten sweet

Hey, Bob! How much time did you have to prepare for the Dizzy tribute gig? Was it a mountain of work? James Moody used to be in that band. I really miss him. Your solo was amazing!!! I feel blessed to be a member of your online music studio / community bobreynoldsmusic.com Peace!

When music lost monetary value, music education took a hit.

Nice hair. 😏

If you have trouble listening through an entire album you need to find better music to listen to.

"Force" myself to listen to a full album.. yikes

john fat ass? hmm thats srange.... 3:15