How come thick people do not appreciate the beauty of classical music?

Question

Is there a link to how they perceive things with their brains and how they listen to things.
Seriously, everyone that I have ever met, and who has said that the classical composers weren't worth listening to-are brain dead in everything else they do in life!!

Answer 1

Most popular music is repetitive, simply constructed and easy to listen to. A lot of classical music is complex and needs repeated listening to fully appreciate. Many people don't have the intellect and patience to understand such things and stick to easy music, easy books, easy television, easy food etc.

Answer 2

I hear your pain. I'm a classical guitarist, am early 30s and have been playing for 30 years. I've also been teaching for 10 years. I teach a Music Appreciation Class at a community college and I try to make the class as fun as possible. I usually play the greatest hits and will say 'You know, this piece should sound familiar, did you see this movie?' and their faces light up w/recognition. I get a lot of 'I didn't know that was classical music!' I feel so happy when an entire class of students leave the semester more enchanted w/classical music (even modern 20th C music). They have to attend a concert & of course I get so many groans. But, in the end they ALL end up pleasantly surprised and disappointed that the concert ended. Honestly, I get so frustrated about how much I get paid for concerts. All that work, even $1000 for a concerto is nothing compared to the millions rappers/rock artists/pop singers make. And the work put into learning a concerto or 1 hour's worth of classical music is huge!! I rant to my husband and he always says 'the mass is not really educated.' The music industry gives what the masses want: crappy, half naked, loud, 'music.' I think if the mass were introduced to music from early on in their childhood, there would be more of an appreciation for classical music. Unfortunately, classical music education is not part of the schooling system. Until that changes, you will get people responding to classical music w/negativity. Oh, a personal side note: the best is when I tell people I play classical guitar and they respond 'Like Esteban?' sigh. So, you're not alone in your frustration. Just be patient and do your best at educating other young adults. Bring them to concerts w/you or play a classical cd in the background while hanging out. Anything subtle you can do to bring people to your side is good. But, never throw it in their faces or belittle them if they listen to pop or rap. Better to gently introduce people to classical music than to force them.

Answer 3

Why do you say thick people? Surely some intelligent people dont like or can't appreciate classical music.It's all a matter of personal taste. I'd look sideways at someone who made a sweeping statement that they weren't worth listening to.I'm sure I know some fairly stupid people that do like a bit of classical music....I'm a pro musician,but after every gig the electric guitar goes back in its case untill the next gig.At home I'll play ragtime guitar on the acoustic morning noon and night.Not everyones taste,but I wouldn't call them stupid for not liking it.Music's about what your ear and brain tunes into.

Answer 4

I wouldn't say it is a case of people being thick - You may have had that from your personal experiences, but I would say it was more a case of people not willing to give something else a try. Lacking a little culture perhaps. Classical music carries an image of a uppercrust elderly gent, though I am not and I listen to certain composers (Barber is my fave), but I will also listen to punk, pop, metal, indie, goth, dance....etc.etc. I appreciate music in whatever form, if the music is good, I enjoy it.
Everyone however should have their personal preference respected - some such as my wife, do not enjoy classical music - but she is by no means thick, it's not to her taste.

Answer 5

So because someone doesn't agree with you, they are thick?

I believe most people will like some classical music, if it is presented to them in a suitable way.

Telling people they are 'thick', and 'brain dead' is not a very ingenious way to present it to them.
Some people who appreciate classical music, are not worth knowing. This doesn't imply classical music is at fault.

Answer 6

i don't listen to it an awful lot (film soundtracks is all really) but i don't consider myself brain dead

every self-proclaimed 'classical music fan' (note: not everyone i've met who likes classical music) i've met has been an insipid ****, free of any sort of pizzazz or panache or whatever you want to call it. i don't assume all are. telling people they're not 'appreciating the beauty' is futile and only serves to make you sound pretentious. i find beauty in other forms of music, i find classical a bit dull; get over it

Answer 7

I totally concur, you seem to have it the nail on the head. However a strange thing occurred last year at a friends bonfire party their eldest Son who is a drummer in a band aged 13 asked me if i knew a certain tune by name. I said the one you may mean could be Carmina Burana, and he immediately said yes that's the one; he then down-loaded same and played it to start the event off. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Answer 8

Well, more common genres of music (pop, rock, rap ect.) have taken over the music industry. You don't expect to see Beethoven being played on MTV, now do you? It's an older genre that many teenagers, who are the ones who buy most into the music industry just don't like.
It gives a sense of... proper-ness. Going to operas, sitting quietly in your seat, ect. Most kids would rather go crowd surfing.
It's just the way our world is now.

Answer 9

well i use to think it was crap, then i watched this anime called fullmetal alchemist, it was long but had alot of classical music in the background. after watching it i did actually start to like classical because of what i watched. Michiru Oshima is a japanese classical artist, she was the person who made the music for full metal. LISTEN TO THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Tz51-Dd8Q
i made it using 2 of her tunes and mixing them.
if you want her music you can get it free from LIMEWIRE

Answer 10

People already look at fans of classical music as elitist, stuck-up snobs. Can we get over ourselves a little bit? It's not for everyone, so what?