I was playing in an orchestra and ensembles when I lost hearing in my right ear over 30 years ago. I had to stop participating, both because I couldn't hear what others were playing and because recruitment made some sounds physically painful. I stopped going to concerts or listening to music at home. After about 30 years, I started listening to music again and learned that I'm only comfortable hearing music I know relatively well: I am able to imagine the sounds I can't hear to fill the spaces. It's still uncomfortable to listen to music I don't know, as lots of instruments are simply missing, and I'm unable to imagine what I should be hearing. Now, I can go to a concert of "old" music and enjoy it, thinking I'm hearing what's missing. I still don't listen to music nearly as much as I used to at home; recordings are more difficult to hear than live concerts. It's that loss that happens with electronic sound: radio, TV, phone, etc. where some tone ranges just are lost--which is why it's harder to understand the same person via phone than it is in the same room, albeit being in the same room means that you have all those wonderful visual clues. I am pleased that I can enjoy some music now.

You have a CI and also use a hearing aid, right? If so, you are bimodal just as I am. I enjoy listening to music especially when driving alone so I can manage the volume and the sound. A little more bass works well for me. The music I enjoy most is the music I've known for a long time; that which is familiar to me. (Also that which has words that make sense.) At home if I want to listen to music I plug a neckloop into the portable device it's playing on and use the telecoils in my HA and in my CI processor. It works great.

I will say that when music is playing in the background, anywhere, it makes it difficult to carry on a conversation. Yes, I can enjoy the music that way as long as there is no conversation. My hearing loss has been a part of my life and spousal relationship for so long that we've adjusted to NOT having music on at home very often. The TV is another thing. 🙂 As long as I can reach and capture the remote control, I can turn it to mute when conversation starts. I have granddaughters who are vocalists. No matter what they sing I enjoy it!

@barbb If you have a smart cell phone there are so many all music sources and apps you can subscribe to or many good ones are free.. of course you will want WI-FI access too... I listen to mostly classical music on Pandora, Minnesota Public Radio and such .. free.. The frequency limits of your hearing devices and your cell phone ... my remote mic (Bluetooth) has a Music option... It was provided by my Starkey Hearing Aids I received through the VA hospital..