Listening As Action: An Artistic Philosophy

Listening as Action: An Artistic Philosophy

By Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells

What does it mean to listen actively, not simply to sound, but to the possibilities that sound creates?

In this concise essay, bassist, composer and improviser Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells explores listening as the foundation of musical creativity, improvisation and artistic responsibility.

Drawing on decades of experience in experimental music and performance, Wells considers the relationship between listening, silence, time, perception and the shared experience of performer and audience.

The publication also includes four practical listening exercises designed for musicians, improvisers and anyone interested in developing a deeper awareness of sound.

Topics include:

• Listening as an active creative process
• The relationship between sound and silence
• Improvisation, attention and artistic decision-making
• The ethics of listening
• Four exercises for developing listening awareness

An independent digital publication from GlaThoCom — Music, Magic and More.

Format: PDF | 8 pages | A5

© 2026 Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells. All rights reserved.