Did you know that simply being around music can help you learn it faster? Recent research from the nearby University of Oregon shows that passive exposure (in our case, hearing something repeatedly without actively working on it) can significantly speed up the learning process.
Note: big thanks to my student Ron and his wife Linda for sharing this article with me a few days ago.
So, passive exposure…the idea isn’t entirely new. Language learners have long used immersion techniques to grasp new vocabularies. Around the top of the year, I began integrating some passive exposure into my Italian language practice. I still keep my daily Duolingo streak going (active exposure learning) but have also started listening to articles on EasyItalianNews.com a few days a week (passive). It’s a great way to hear the language spoken more often while simultaneously getting tidbits of what’s happening in the world these days.
Do I understand 100% of it? Nope. But I also understand far less than 100% of what’s happening in the world these days anyway, so it all works out just fine.
The key is that I’m passively hearing vocabulary and important emphases, and the hope is that some elements of both are subconsciously seeping into my brain. Fingers crossed…
Many musicians already intuitively know that repeated exposure to material can help them internalize it. Have you ever been driving around town and decided to pop on a playlist of songs that you’ll be playing on your upcoming gig? That is a perfect example of passive exposure in action. You might not have your instrument in hand (better not, you’re behind the wheel), but you are still absorbing and improving the music in question.
It’s not that the passive exposure is just about convenience. It’s also about embedding music deeply into our brains.
And now, thanks to U of O (check out that article link above if you haven’t already), there’s scientific backing to show just how powerful this approach can be.
Why It Works
Auditory familiarity builds muscle memory faster.
Hearing a piece of music repeatedly primes your brain for better recall when you actively play it. Your fingers begin to follow what your ears have come to expect to hear.
It preps your brain for more complex material.
Struggling with a challenging passage or solo? Passive exposure helps your brain subconsciously analyze patterns and phrases, making future active practice feel smoother.
It helps you absorb styles and grooves.
Want to sound more authentic in a new genre? As with verbal languages, passive exposure immerses you in the feel, dynamics, and nuances of that style when you aren’t at your instrument.
Putting It To Use
It’s all about listening, listening, listening. Here are three ways that you can use passive exposure right now to improve your practicing and performing.
Create a playlist: Make a playlist of songs you’re working on for your next show. Or the cover tunes you’re expected to have nailed down at that next rehearsal. Have this playlist going during commutes, while cooking, or before bed.
Loop problem passages: If a specific section of a song is tripping you up, repeat just that passage ad nauseam in the background while you’re doing other tasks around the house.
Immerse yourself in genres you want to master: Exploring jazz? Put Miles Davis and John Coltrane on repeat. Learning Afro-Cuban rhythms? Listen to Chucho Valdés (playing right now as I write this) and Tito Puente.
W⚠️RNING!
Let me be clear: This isn’t about replacing your active practice. This is not an either/or scenario. Passive approaches to learning do not (and will never) replace active practice on your instrument. Putting the time in is always imperative.
These are supplementary to that vital primary work that must still be done. They further enhance and maximize the work that you are already doing elsewhere. Passive exposure is a tool for embedding music into your subconscious, making your active practice all the more productive and effective.
As musicians, we’re always looking for ways to improve faster and connect more deeply with our craft. Passive exposure is a simple, science-backed method that may very well help you unlock new levels of understanding and expression.
And I mean, if listening to your setlist while driving makes your next rehearsal tighter, why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?
What’s going to be on your new playlist this week? Share in a comment below!
Happy music making–
If you find this valuable and would like to support my work:
⚠️ Forward this to a friend (or six) and encourage them to subscribe to my newsletter.
⚠️ Virtual tip jar >> Fuel my writing with an espresso (or six).
Leave a Reply