Um, professor Jenkins. The listening journal you assigned us to keep for the Intro to World Music class, well, I am not sure I understand what to do. I listened to the pieces you assigned this week more than once, but when I tried to write about them, I didn’t know what to say. Professor Well, it’s not easy to write about music, even for people who are supposedly expert at it. Student That makes me feel a little better. But I am just not familiar with how you keep a listening journal. I’ve kept journals for other classes, summarizing and writing about how I felt about readings. Professor Well, a listening journal isn’t all that different, I want you to note your feelings about musical compositions too. Student OK. There were pieces I like more than others, but I think you want our comments to be a little more…I don’t know, analytical. Right? Professor Well, whether you like a piece or not is important, but you should be able to explain why you like a particular piece and be able to talk about its historical and musical context. Actually, the listening journal is a tool to help you listen to music actively, to think about what you are hearing. Student Maybe I am finding it difficult because I am not real familiar with most of the music you assigned. I mean, if it’s hip-hop or something I listen to with my friends… Professor Yes, because hip-hop is a form that’s familiar and meaningful to you. But you’ll see as the semester progresses and you start learning more about musical forms, you’ll become a more adept listener. And you’ll start noticing patterns. Student OK. So the songs we listened to this week, the …the Canto? Professor The Cante jondo[ Spanish hondo = "deep". The name is spelt with a j as a form of eye dialect because traditional Andalusian pronunciation has retained an aspirated h lost in other forms of Spanish.]. You remember we said it means “deep song” in Andalusian Spanish? Not only because it’s sung in a deep register, but also because it’s a song about deeper or serious matters, certainly not lighthearted. Student Really? Hmm…I guess I didn’t catch the double meaning. That’s kind of cool. But anyway, even with the translations you gave us for the lyrics and everything, I don’t know, I could tell it’s sad, but I wasn’t trying to analyze it, from a musical perspective that is. Professor OK. So this is what you should do. Go back and listen to the song selection and this time pay attention to the melody, to repetition, to the … Student There was plenty of that. Some parts sounded like the same note played over and over again. Professor That’s exactly the kind of observation you would record in a listening journal. So, melody repetition, rhythm, how the piece is structured, as well as your reasons for liking or disliking it. You know what? I thought everyone was clear about this, but you’ve just given me a great idea. I am going to draw up a list of questions everyone should keep in mind when they are writing their journals. Other students may be having the same problem you are having.