So I went to a string quartet concert tonight and noticed that there were still many empty seats. I thought, "Why is it that so few people today go to concerts of classical music when popular rock concerts always seem to sell out and be jam packed? Why does it seem like older people are the only ones that enjoy listening to classical music?" Much of this has to do with each person's experience with music growing up. For example, maybe you hear a song on the radio that your mom used to sing to you, or that your dad played on the piano, or you just listened to in your home growing up. You like this song because it is familiar and you have a personal experience with it. This is how it was with me. My love for music came because I was immersed in it all growing up.
Many people say classical music is boring. That is usually because the person does not have enough background knowledge to know how to listen to classical music. For some students, the only musical experiences they will have will be in the classroom. Music can have a profound impact on a person's life. As in any subject area, the things they learn will influence the person they will become and what will be important to them in their future. If we want to get more people to attend concerts of classical music then music teachers have the responsibility to teach them what to listen for so they can understand, appreciate, and enjoy it.
