I did not love classical music as a teenager, but a teacher made me give it a listen and talk about it. I truly believe that the power of a hip and influential teacher can go very far. Most teenagers don’t understand what they are listening to or the connection it has to the past. Without Mozart there is no Lady Gaga. I believe that it is the job of parents, educators, and other mentors to introduce teens & tweens to classical music. They may not love it immediately, but later in life they are more likely to come back to it and have a better understanding.

I started listening to classical music when I was about 13, and only then did my instrumental skills develop (I am a pianist and a non-violist). You’re right when you say that listening and performing have become seperated – performing has become an agressive, competitive art, whereas listening is somewhat obsolete. Unfortunately, my love for classical music – an all-consuming passion – led to scorn and rejection, and it was not until I befriended a “respected” member of our school with similar tastes as me that I became grudgingly accepted. Still, I am considered a nerd of sorts and, sadly, have been labelled a snob by many who have never even met me. If I mention Beethoven, for example, even just in passing, I am suddenly “posh,” “upper class,” and “too refined.” This is completely contrary to my lifestyle, background and upbringing (upon trying to discuss Ravel, Debussy or Bruch with my family members, I am met with blank stares or rolling eyes) – still, it is an insisted stereotype constantly shoved down my throat. I don’t care too much – I thrive on being different, like a quiet rebellion – but it’s easy to see why most teenagers tend to avoid classical music like the plague.

It’s actually quite sad

Anyway, I found some Paganini and found that it could easily compete with metal (and exceed it in many areas, though it still lacks drums (I like drums, being a drummmer)).

From Paganini I was able to get further into classical and now list my favorite bands/composers are a mixture of death metal and classical.

But yeah, breaking the sterotype and exposing things in it that can compare to what kids like is the way to go. I wish I’d been exposed to Paganini earlier on in life, rather than the stereotypical stuff.

I’d say you’ll probobly find the biggest new audiences in Jazz, (underground) Metal and prog rock. But then the problem is many people there already like classical, and there is a much larger gap in complexity between classical and most genres other than those. And it’s pretty big between those 3 and classical anyway.

There are many negative stereotypes that are spread about classical music, composers and listeners, and the music industry and media in general help to perpetuate such stereotypes: Classical music is very uncool, for snobs, for nerds. With such stereotypes being thrown around, what kid, amid heavy peer pressure, would dare even consider taking an interest in such music?

My first exposure to classical music was via john Williams’ Star Wars soundtrack (I was seven when it first came out in 1977) and then through the Fantasia soundtrack (which was re-released in theaters in the early 80s) and also the “Hooked on Classics” album that came out during that time. From there I started actually exploring actual classical music, beginning with Bach (my first, and still most intense love). I later branched out to modern classical and in my teen years I loved Stravinsky, Copland and others. I simply found most of the music in my teen years to be boring (however I did listen and still do, to a lesser extent, some rock music from the 60s and 70s, early 80s, and then just a smattering of other rock music, usually not of the popular variety, as well as avant-garde, ambient electronica and traditional jazz).

How does classical music fare in other countries besides the US I wonder? Someone mentioned about that sales in France are three times higher. When I lived in Christchurch, New Zealand a few years back I noticed MANY classical concerts of a wide variety were available there (oh, I missed some good concerts there!). I notice that Amazon’s UK site has a different category for “classical music” whereas the US site does not– that must be because in the UK there are more sales in classical there? For those countries where classical music seems to do better, what is it that is being done differently there? There must be other cultural factors at play.

~josh

I’d just like to add that, it’s difficult to listen to a symphony by Mahler and not get excited. The man was a Genius, and in my opinion, the greatest composer of symphonies (after Beethoven, of course). There are so many frenetic moments and morbid subjects in Mahler’s music, any open-minded listener of Metal could easily get into Classical music by checking out his symphonies. I suggest getting started with the 2nd and 9th. But my personal favorites are the 1st and especially the 3rd.

One thing that’s for certain: the length of most Classical pieces does tend to exasperate young people. That’s a shame because, even though Rock is my favorite genre, there’s a reason why Classical music has survived for hundreds of years… and you might discover why, if you give it a try.

I think the main problem is that it’s not ‘cool’ teenagers are sheep!