FOR STUDENTS AND GUITAR ENTHUSIASTS

Explorations in Listening

Andy LeGrand is a multifaceted guitarist who performs on nylon and steel-string guitars, composes and hosts two podcasts in addition to founding and managing his own music school in Knoxville, Tennessee. If that wasn’t enough, he is also Executive Director at Knoxville Classical Guitar which hosts a concert series featuring incredible guitar artists.

Using the embedded player below, you can listen to the "Crossroads" episode of Andy's show, Acoustic Walk, a podcast that “combines the journey of music with the journey of life.” (Andy LeGrand). It is the third episode on the list.

Questions to Consider:

• Andy presents his composition twice. The first time, spoken word is presented simultaneously with the music. He then offers a second opportunity to hear the music without commentary. How does this format affect you as a listener? Do you experience the music differently the second time? Are there other times when you listen to a single piece of music more than once at one sitting?

• How do you hear Andy’s philosophical ideas in the music? What elements of the music create these references or experiences for you?

• If you had not heard Andy’s commentary and did not know the title of the composition, would you sense similar ideas from the music?

• Is this a piece you would like to play?