Sensazione and Sound

In keeping with Da Vinci's invitation to really listen Michael Gelb suggests exploring the following questions:

• Friends describe me as a good listener.
  I am sensitive to noise.
  I can tell when someone is singing off-key.
  I can sing on key.
  I listen to jazz or classical music regularly.
  I can distinguish the melody from the bass line in a piece of music.
  I know what all the controls on my stereo system are for and can hear the
  difference when I adjust them.
  I enjoy silence.
  I am attuned to subtle changes in a speaker’s voice tone, volume, and
  inflection.

I read a book on listening that resounded with my own longing for quiet called simply The Listening Book, by W.A. Mathieu. (http://www.amazon.com/The-Listening-Book-Discovering-Music/dp/0877736103)  I recommend it.

Also, if you wonder how adept you might be picking out changes in tone, volume, inflection, etc. as Gelb suggests, then consider spending some time at Phillips Golden Ears site (https://www.goldenears.philips.com/en/introduction.html)

This is what it looks like, and its a lot of fun... until it isn't.  I suggest using the best equipment you have for this.  Headphones are better than speakers.  I confess to having spent more time than I budgeted on some of the challenges.  But its all part of the pursuit of a buono sensazione, right?