Listening Tests: when music becomes self-expression

Music is a universal and timeless language, capable of transcending boundaries and differences. It is a valuable tool, capable of creating bonds not only with others, but also with ourselves. Sounds and vibrations can give rise to a moment of inner dialogue, a way to reconnect with our emotional sphere and recognize what we are feeling.

Taking part in the live interpretation of musical pieces is an even more powerful experience: every note can bring out feelings, memories, and thoughts. It is a moment in which listening is not limited to the perception of sounds, but also involves a more personal and profound dimension—an exercise in awareness, reflection, and introspection.

This vision gave rise to "Prove d'Ascolto" (Listening Tests), a project promoted by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in collaboration with Angelini Industries, as a founding member. A series of meetings designed to introduce young people to listening to orchestral performances and their ability to arouse emotions and welcome new perspectives on themselves.

November 13, 2025, January 22, February 19, and April 30, 2026: these are the dates of the events dedicated to young people aged 11 to 18, during which participants will have the opportunity to attend the general rehearsals of the Academy Orchestra, preceded by an introduction to listening curated by experts in music and neuroscience.

Through the musical works of composers such as Verdi, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Beethoven, young people learn how to listen to music, gaining a close-up view of the work that goes into preparing a concert and the “building” of a musical performance. By coming into direct contact with the musicians, they can perceive the care, concentration, and energy that permeates before and during the concert.

The initiative allows the younger generation to approach music not only as spectators, but as protagonists in a learning process, in which each rehearsal becomes a moment of training, requiring attention and active participation. Understanding the language of sound also means learning to observe and respect timing and silences, recognizing the value of collaboration and harmony necessary during a musical performance.

In keeping with the reciprocal relationship between music and emotions that inspires the entire initiative, Angelini Industries has chosen to accompany this experience with the concept "How are you?", developed to promote reflection on mental well-being as a balance between the individual, emotional, and social dimensions.

The project has been reinterpreted and adapted to integrate harmoniously with the proposed program, transforming the theme of listening, already central to its origin, into an opportunity for awareness and connection with oneself and others. This gave rise to the subtitle "Listen to your emotions": an invitation to young people to recognize, understand, and give voice to their feelings through direct contact with the orchestra.

Through creative activities and educational games, young people are guided on a journey of exploration of their inner world, learning to accept and give shape to what they feel. Among the proposed activities is a posterzine featuring crossword puzzles, rebuses, colouring mandalas, and a special “emotional score”, designed to transform emotions into notes and colours. The program concludes with the wall of feelings: a large collective space where each participant can share what they felt before, during, and after listening, choosing a sticker that represents their mood at that moment.

The aim is to stimulate emotional curiosity and encourage freedom of expression, showing how music can help us understand and give voice to even the most complex or difficult-to-describe feelings. It is a way of reminding us that well-being also comes from knowing how we feel and being able to translate that into gestures, signs, colors, and sounds.

"Prove d'Ascolto" is a journey that combines art and introspection to help young people build an authentic dialogue with themselves and the world around them.
It is through projects like this that Angelini Industries renews its commitment to promoting people’s well-being in all its forms, physical, mental, and emotional, recognising culture and education as essential tools for growth and awareness, particularly for younger generations, who are the main beneficiaries of this and many other Group initiatives aimed at building a better future.