Look for musical analogies:
“Ah, Bach uses this chord progression that’s similar to “Autumn Leaves.”
“The Bruno Mars song “Count on Me” uses a 2-beat rhythm, just like traditional country music.”
“Charlie Parker sounds a little like his idol, Lester Young, speeded up and an octave higher.”
When you’re playing and listening to music, look for these kinds of analogies. Musical connections lead to and reflect musical understanding.
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