Great Art and Great Audiences

“To have great poets, there must be great audiences.” -Walt Whitman

As a professional pianist, I believe Whitman is correct: audiences play a vital role in the creation of not only good poetry but good art of all kinds. But what makes a great audience member, and how can you choose to be one?

What is the end goal of music?

To understand how to be a great audience member, we have to understand what the purpose or end goal of music is. As I've considered this, I've thought about a rather cliche line from the Speed Racer film: “It doesn’t matter if we change racing, what matters is if we let racing change us.” 

I’ve heard many musicians’ takes on what our role is as artists. Some say we’re simply entertainers. Some say we can inspire everyone who hears us, and some say our job is simply to curate the creative genius of past artists. Of course there’s truth in each of these interpretations. I feel that a question as big as "what is the role of an artist" deserves the deepest and most foundational answer I can find, and I don't feel that any of these answers alone captures it all.

What if we embraced the idea that our job as artists was to change people? It was one of my former professors who introduced me to the idea that it was my job to inspire everyone who heard me play. Later I shared that idea with another professor, who actually disagreed, citing that that put far too much pressure on me as a musician. I can appreciate that thought, but I think taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture can help us get closer to the right answer.

My job is to inspire everyone who hears me play, but their job is to listen. I cannot make them listen, but I should give them something meaningful to listen to. 

Going back to Speed Racer, maybe the goal of music is to change people–not just to provide something temporary and immediate, but also to provide something lasting and motivating. If that is the case, then it’s important to note that the musician is not the only agent who has any say over the effect of a concert or recital. The audience can be and should be just as engaged as the performer. 

Returning to Walt Whitman's idea, I would say, to make great art you need to have great audiences. Perhaps great audiences are those who are ready to be changed by active listening. 

Active listening

Active listening is both an accessible and life-changing skill, and I believe any audience member can learn principles to improve their listening. My four filters framework teaches a simple pattern for identifying how you listen and new ways to expand your skills. Explore the blog to learn more or check out our resources for musicians and music lovers alike.

As a musician, I am deeply grateful for those who listen, who show up in audiences in person and online to give their time and find something meaningful in return. I hope to provide guidance for anyone who wants to learn more about how to deepen their experiences with music through more intentional listening, so as always, if you have any questions or need help knowing where to start, reach out via our free community or directly. I can't wait to help you on your own listening journey.