Q. During the Sefira weeks for one who is very careful with listening to music, can he sit and learn in a Bet Midrash where there is a fellow who sings nice tunes when he learns?

A. On question 1390 regarding if one can listen to tapes of chazanos of tefilos, during the three weeks, when interested in knowing the nusach and the nigunim, as when one davens for the amud on Shabbos or Yomim Noraim, we wrote:

“Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that in principle if they are not melodies of simcha and joy, rather the normal nigunim that a chazan or a baal tefila sing by the amud, that express more sentiment, fervor and emotion than happiness and delight, they are permitted to listen to or sing even during the tefilos of the nine days, especially if one’s intention is only for learning them.

The fact is that even on Tisha Beav we do sing Keli-Tzion. See question 104, 1305 and 281 in regards to classical music during Sefira and Bein Hametzorim, where we mentioned the Rov’s opinion that; it is likely that while listening to a symphony, the motif may change and parts of it may meet the criteria of the mood markings of allegro, animato, or giocoso.

It is therefore advisable to refrain from listening to all music, unless needed for therapeutic purposes. Similarly, (and lehavdil too) when listening to chazonus, the nigunim may change suddenly to happy and joyful to be avoided songs.”

Therefore, in our case since the singing is done as part of the learning of Torah, it is permitted.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.