The last time you sat down and did nothing but listen to classical music?

[George]

How long ago was it and how often do you listen to music in this manner?

(As opposed to doing other things while listening, like going online, cleaning, etc.)

Just curious.

[orbital]

I do that for at least an hour a day(on my commute back and forth). There is the train noise of course, but at least I don't do anything else while listening.
And if walking does not constitute multi-tasking, my most cherished listening is done while walking. I do that a lot too. But at home, it is very rare that I don't have another thing going while listening to music.

[BachQ]

I'm always multitasking, including when listening to music.

[George]

Yeah I have noticed lately that my attention to music when it is playing has waned.

I love to walk and listen too, but even that takes a lot of my mind off the music.

I need to get back to some dedicated listening time. I used to love it.

[Great Gable]

That's how I mostly listen. I sit down, often turn the lights down low and just immerse myself. Notwithstanding the pertinent and unavoidable distractions, that's how I approach music in the car - just less so, mercifully.

I listen to music in much the same way as I read a book. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to compose it so, therefore, I should treat it with due respect and listen accordingly. I have never been one for "background" music - it being more important to me than that.

[bhodges]

Sometimes I'll do some computer work while listening, but most of the time, I try to devote at least two hours a day to listening while doing nothing else.  Often this is at a concert (which on Wednesday at the Met was more like three hours), but I do the same thing at home. 

Unlike some, I don't multitask very well.  If I read or write while listening to music, I end up not really paying attention to what I'm hearing.

--Bruce

[mahlertitan]

almost never, since time is very scarce for me.

[Brian]

I have to do it with opera. The other day my iPod was on shuffle as I read a book for class, but when Che gelida manina from Boheme came on, I had to put the book down.

Otherwise, only rarely thanks to the college lifestyle.    The other day I played Grieg's Lyric Pieces and Barber's Adagio while trying to fall asleep, but that hardly counts.

My favorite works for doing nothing but listening:
BRAHMS Symphony No 4
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No 6
GLIERE Ilya Muromets
VIEUXTEMPS Violin Concerto No 5 (an odd inclusion I know!)
CHOPIN as played by Ivan Moravec

[toledobass]

Just last week I sat down to review recordings from previous concerts I'd taken part in.  It'd been a while before that though.....

Allan

[johnQpublic]

During the work week, I listen to about a half hour first thing while sipping coffee and trying to wake-up. On the weekends, baring any possible family interuptions, at least an hour in the morning before breakfast (again sipping "cups o' Joe").

[karlhenning]

How long ago was it [. . . ?]

Tuesday night.

. . . and how often do you listen to music in this manner?

Ever so often as I can.

[not edward]

Last night, and whenever I get a chance and am in the mood to.

[Kullervo]

How long ago was it and how often do you listen to music in this manner?

(As opposed to doing other things while listening, like going online, cleaning, etc.)

Just curious.

It's the only way I listen to classical music.

[Don]

That's how I mostly listen. I sit down, often turn the lights down low and just immerse myself. Notwithstanding the pertinent and unavoidable distractions, that's how I approach music in the car - just less so, mercifully.

I listen to music in much the same way as I read a book. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to compose it so, therefore, I should treat it with due respect and listen accordingly. I have never been one for "background" music - it being more important to me than that.

Same here.  Doing other things while listening to music might be okay with the music of a Vivaldi or Dittersdorf, but great composers rate total concentration.

[karlhenning]

Tuesday night.

Well, with the understanding that I was standing for half the time, last night, actually.  Sibelius had my undivided attention.

[Mark]

It rarely happens. But when time, family commitments and work obligations allow, it's on with the AKG K501 cans, into the corner of our sofa, and on with whatever CD I'm in the mood for. Occasionally, a book or magazine (always classically oriented ) makes it into the picture. But never, ever do I shut my eyes for any length of time - sleep will inevitably follow.

[karlhenning]

It rarely happens.

A new arrival will do that, Papa 

[Mark]

A new arrival will do that, Papa 

Too true.

[Kullervo]

Well, with the understanding that I was standing for half the time, last night, actually.  Sibelius had my undivided attention.

Sibelius always gets my undivided attention. I am in an almost religious trance when I listen to him.

[karlhenning]

Well, for myself, I think they are two somewhat different listening states, The Trance, and, You've Got My Full Attention.  Probably, they overlap to some degree.

I find that they are both different, though, to the What Pictures Does This Make Me See? state.