[bluedog103]

I've worn hearing aids for over 30 years and have seen huge changes in hearing aid technology over the years. The first bit of advice I offer those getting hearing aids for the first time is to be sure the person you're seeing for hearing aids is an Audiologist. An Audiologist is a doctor, Au.D. and has undergone extensive training. Florida has a lot of Hearing Aid Dispensers. A Hearing Aid Dispenser must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent and undergo 6 months training. I've known too many people who have gone to Hearing Aid Dispensers and end up with hearing aids which are unusable. They end up in a dresser drawer, never to see the light of day. It's an expensive lesson and the patient often gives up and endures poor hearing which could be improved with the correct hearing instruments.
Next, be prepared to return repeatedly for adjustments to get your hearing aids the way you want them. The Audiologist expects that and isn't insulted to see you over and over, if fact, good ones encourage you to return as often as necessary.
Regarding listening to music, depending on your particular hearing loss, it will probably never sound fantastic but with proper programming the Audiologist can probably help you considerably. I'm a guitar player and I recall a number of years ago getting new, digital hearing aids the day before a gig. At the gig I knew I had a problem as soon as I started tuning up. The filtering on my hearing aids recognized the guitar as noise and filtered it out. It was a comical gig trying to play what I couldn't hear but no biggie. I returned to the Audiologist and he adjusted my hearing aids, which had multiple programs, so that one program was for music, which reduces the filtering, among other things. Since then they know about it so when I get new hearing aids they just have them programmed for music from the factory.
I like Starkey hearing aids and usually get some variation of their instruments. That's just personal preference. My Audiologist, who is hearing impaired, preferred Phonaks. Different strokes for different folks
Good luck! Just pick a good Au.D. and don't give up. There are some great hearing aids out there.