[ben7799]

Start playing an instrument and get some lessons.

IME there is nothing that makes you appreciate music more than learning how it works at a really intimate & deep level. You have a super deep connection with the music when you're playing it instead of just being a listener.

I know for me there are whole genre's of music I couldn't appreciate till I started learning to play pieces in those genres. You start to see the interesting and innovative stuff in the music and you appreciate it.

If you're just going to listen.. do not listen while multi-tasking. Sit down and dedicate time to appreciating the music.. put on a nice set of headphones or get a nice stereo system and sit down and listen to a piece all the way through and pay attention to it.

When you are learning to play a piece you will tend to listen to it very carefully to pick out the parts.. if you try to listen at that level it will really pay off even if you're not learning to play the piece.

[sailfast]

I agree 100% with this. While you can appreciate music it's hard to be a "buff" unless you can try to understand the effort or absolute virtuosity that goes into playing a really complex piece. Knowing that you like the way music sounds is great, but understanding _why_ a particular harmonic shift / change is unexpected, novel, or unique is even better. That said, understanding that sort of theory takes a lot of work and investment.

If you can't make that investment, I'd say watching some videos about theory, or reading up on production, or technique on any instrument will help gain a deeper understanding. Bernstein did the Norton Lectures in the 70s around a language of music (https://youtu.be/8fHi36dvTdE) but even watching somebody like Cory Wong or Jacob Collier go through their composition, playing and process (there are many other artists that do this stuff to) is great for appreciation / buffery.

[arrakeen]

+1 to bernstein-- his young people's concerts are a very approachable introduction to classical music

[lloeki]

Another similar angle: music theory. And with music theory, music history often comes as a side effect.

Those are a good start:

https://tobyrush.com/theorypages/index.html