<p>One of the things we loved about living in Germany is that folks like and respect classical music. Even the smaller towns have their own orchestras. They also love pop, folks, etc. They understand that there is room for all, and all have value.</p>
<p>I believe part of the problem in the US is that we’ve “dumbed down” music in general. It used to be that everyone took piano lessons, everyone had some idea of how to read music. Churches used hymn books and sang four-part harmony. Music was understood as expression, and valued for the complexity.</p>
<p>Now, folks who were not exposed to music growing up only understand strong rhythms and volume. We care about “music you can dance to”. Parents are gushing about their kids who can pick out a melody on an electronic keyboard and use synthesized accompaniment. (Seriously, we had kids auditioning for talent shows a few years back doing this, while the parents stood by gushing about their kid’s amazing talent.) Church music is “7-11” music - seven words, repeated 11 times. It’s considered complex if it has more than 2 chords. My church is all about the show - strobe lights, smoke machine, and inane lyrics. We can’t hear the music through the noise.</p>
<p>And as music is made marginal in the schools, there are fewer folks who see value in it. As budgets get cut, music is seen as a luxury.</p>
<p>The last time I attended a symphony, my husband and I commented on the fact that most of the orchestra was middle aged or elderly. It takes a long time for our music students to reach the level of proficiency necessary for a top orchestra. And once there, they tend to stay put. And our young folks sure don’t like to go watch old people. (Something tells me that if snowboarding was a skill acquired as one ages, and Shaun White was 50+, we’d be less enthralled with him?) Youth is valued in our culture. And younger audiences, raised on Sesame Street, want something different to look at every 3.5 seconds or so. I’d like to see orchestras branch out in that respect. The all-black attire was meant to cut back on distractions from the music, but if I just want music, I can buy a CD. It’s not a bad trend to give us something to look at.</p>
<p>However, I don’t believe that we need to sound the death toll for classical music yet. Youth orchestras around the country are filled with fine young musicians who will be filling orchestras - and audiences. Music directors are examining the problems of audience attraction, and experimenting with new ideas. </p>
<p>When I talk to parents of prospective piano students, I explain that my goal will not necessarily be to get them to a performance stage, but rather to instill a love and understanding of music that will put them in the concert hall audience. One student who has so far insisted that she only likes jazz (and fast, rhythmic stuff) has fallen in love with Vivaldi’s “Spring” and declares it the best thing she has EVER played.</p>
<p>With younger students, sometimes we’ll examine music from soundtracks. (Classical music is alive and well in Hollywood.) The kids will have to tell me what they think might be happening in the movie, based upon the music. Are they fighting? Is the prince about to kiss the princess? As they learn to interpret music without words, they learn a whole new language.</p>