Thanks for your comments, sorry it’s taken so long to respond. I agree with you to a point. I think that there is a bit of an elitist attitude toward classical music as it does take deeper involvement and a greater understanding of music in general in order. Classical music people like their music and they like being a small group of people who enjoy it.

However, the accessibility thing is another issue. It’s certainly not nearly as accessible as simpler music such as pop or anything on the radio. It does require an understanding of music in order to get enjoyment of out it further than just “that sounds nice”. Some people just don’t understand classical music and don’t care that they don’t understand it.

I agree with the outreach programs. I have another entry on this blog talking about a concert I went to at an area church that the LA Phil put on for free. It was fantastic. Events like this need to be more common.

So where are you studying? What specifically are you studying?

You apparently got the formal music education, which I am currently working on (I’m in the middle of my junior year working towards my BA). So you must have gotten that elitist vibe from at least some of your professors and classmates, right?

What I’m saying is, the problem isn’t simply that people aren’t willing to take the time to learn about and pay attention to art music, but that the people who really know and love art music are less and less inclined to take the time and explain it, to promote it and advocate for it. I’m betting some people deeply involved in art music barely even bother to associate with people who don’t understand it.

There need to be more aggressive – or just more – outreach programs, art music concerts need to be more accessible, there needs to be more accessible commentary. Bring the music to the people, don’t make them go to it.

- ptola.wordpress.com