Music appreciation is an essential part of life. Everyone can appreciate good music, whether you’re a skilled virtuoso or someone who can hardly carry a tune. It can be as simple as turning on the radio and tuning into a station that plays music you love. It can also mean dedicating your life to the performance arts as a student, participant, or patron. Brook B. Taube is a successful entrepreneur and businessman who has founded and developed billion-dollar businesses in finance, healthcare, technology, and more. He is also a musician with over four decades of involvement with music. Let’s see what 45 years of music appreciation looks like.

Playing and Performing Music

Brook Taube has worn many hats over the years, including philanthropist, husband, and father. One hat he’s been wearing longer than others is that of a musician and music lover. Taube began playing violin at age 5 and added viola a few years later. Learning how to play an instrument is one of the best ways to learn music theory. Music theory involves the fundamentals of creating music, including reading notes, understanding rhythms, and the basics of chord formation.

While you don’t have to be a musician to appreciate music, knowing how to play does enhance your appreciation of the skill and experience needed to create and produce songs. Young violinists must learn how to hold their bows and to create various types of sounds, including those that are loud, soft, sustained, short, etc. When you understand what’s required, even at the most basic level, you cannot help but appreciate skillful playing even more.

Branching Out

Cultivating an intimate relationship with music almost always leads to a very personal adventure. Imagine hearing a new song that you instantly connect to. You love the piece so much that you’re inspired to dig deeper. You research an artist in order to learn more and hear more. You may go exploring other songs from that genre. You may learn about different musical works that inspired the song. This branching out is something that musicians like Taube are familiar with. In addition to the violin and the viola, Taube also plays the mandolin and the guitar. You could say he has a thing for stringed instruments.

Supporting the Arts

Another way that music lovers show appreciation is through support of the arts. For many, this could be something as simple as purchasing a new release or buying tickets to see a performer live. Brook Taube’s passion for music also includes philanthropy and volunteering. He has served on the boards of the New York Philharmonic and the New Amsterdam Symphony. Whether you’re a performer or a patron or both, the support of music creators is a great way to put appreciation into action.