What Change Classical Music Needs

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Classical music has long been a part of our society, but it has been in decline in recent years. Many people believe that classical music is outdated and no longer relevant. However, there are some who believe that classical music still has a place in our society. In this blog post, we will explore the idea of what change classical music needs in order to stay relevant.

The Problem

There are several problems that need to be addressed in order for classical music to survive and even thrive in the coming years. The first is that we need to get more young people interested in classical music.

The current state of classical music

Classical music, long adored by sophisticated listeners and aficionados, has seen a drastic decline in popularity in recent decades. In the United States, symphony orchestras are hemorrhaging money and scrambling to find innovative ways to survive, while opera companies have been shutting down left and right. Young people are not being exposed to classical music at a time when they are most open to new experiences, and as a result, the art form is slowly dying.

There are many factors that have contributed to the decline of classical music, but the two most significant ones are the high cost of attending live concerts and the elitist reputation that the genre has earned. Classical music is often seen as stuffy and pretentious, something that only wealthy people can enjoy. This perception needs to change if classical music is going to survive.

Lowering ticket prices for live concerts would be a good first step in making classical music more accessible to everyone. But even more importantly, major changes need to be made in how classical music is taught in schools. Music education has been on the decline in recent years, and when it is offered, it is often Western classical music that is emphasized. This needs to change if we want young people to develop an appreciation for all types of music, including classical.

Only by making these kinds of changes will classical music be able to survive and thrive in the 21st century.

The issues that need to be addressed

It is no secret that classical music has been in decline for many years. In recent decades, symphony orchestras have been struggling to fill seats and opera houses have been reporting dwindling attendance. Even world-renowned institutions like the Vienna Philharmonic and the New York Metropolitan Opera have not been immune to these trends.

So what is the problem? And more importantly, what can be done to fix it?

There are a number of issues that need to be addressed if classical music is to recapture its former glory. First and foremost, the industry needs to do a better job of marketing itself to young people. Classical music has long been seen as stuffy and elitist, and this perception needs to change if the industry is going to survive.

In addition, ticket prices need to be more affordable. For many people, the cost of a seat at the opera or a symphony performance is simply too high. This is particularly true in larger cities where ticket prices can reach hundreds of dollars. Discounts or special offers for students and seniors would go a long way towards making classical music more accessible.

Finally, the industry needs to embrace new technology. In an age where people are used to streaming music on their phones or laptops, it is important for classical music to keep up with the times. This means making recordings and performances more readily available online, as well as using social media platforms to reach new audiences.

The Solution

The answer is simple. We need to get rid of the pretentiousness surrounding it and make it more accessible to the general public. That way, more people will be exposed to the beauty of classical music and hopefully appreciate it.

Making classical music more accessible

There is no one answer to the question of what classical music needs in order to become more popular. Some say that classical music needs to be made more accessible to the general public, while others believe that it needs to be better marketed to younger audiences. Many people feel that both of these things are necessary in order for classical music to thrive in the 21st century.

Making classical music more accessible to the general public is an important step in growing its popularity. One way to do this is by making sure that classical music is played on the radio more often. Additionally, concert venues should make an effort to offer tickets at a variety of price points so that everyone has the opportunity to experience live classical music.

It is also important to market classical music to younger audiences. This can be done by working with schools to offer programs that introduce children to classical music. Additionally, concert venues and orchestras can create special events and programming that are geared towards young people. By making a concerted effort to reach out to young people, classical music can ensure its place in the future.

Diversifying the repertoire

Repertoire is one of the most important aspects of classical music. It is the foundation upon which everything else is built. It determines what we play, how we play it, and how we relate to it. Repertoire is also the key to attracting new audiences and keeping existing ones engaged.

The problem is that the repertoire of classical music is staggeringly white and male. A 2017 study found that out of 1,742 composers programmed by 26 major orchestras in the 2016-17 season, just 82 were women and 663 were white men. This imbalance has been slowly but steadily getting worse over time. In 1975, women composed 6 percent of all works performed by orchestras; in 2015, they composed just 2 percent.

There are many reasons for this lack of diversity, but the biggest one is simply that the repertoire we play is overwhelmingly written by white men. This needs to change if classical music is going to remain relevant in the 21st century.

There are several ways to diversify the repertoire, but the most important one is simply to programming more works by women and composers of color. This will require making a concerted effort to seek out these composers and their music. It will also require taking risks on unknown or lesser-known works, something that orchestras are not always willing to do. But if we want classical music to survive and thrive in the 21st century, it is essential that we expand its repertoire to reflect the diversity of our world today.

Encouraging creativity and innovation

In the fast-paced, technologically-driven world we live in today, society has become used to quick results and constant innovation. We have become a generation of people who are impatient and demand constant change and development; a mindset which is spilling over into the way we consume our music. So, it is no surprise that the slow evolution of classical music is often seen as a problem. In order to stay relevant, classical music needs to break out of its comfort zone and start promoting creativity and innovation instead of shunning it.

There are numerous ways in which classical music could start to encourage creativity and innovation. One way would be for orchestras to programmed more contemporary works alongside the traditional repertoire. This would not only make concerts more interesting for audiences, but it would also give young composers much needed exposure. In addition, educational initiatives need to be put in place in order to ensure that children are exposed to classical music from a young age. Once children have been introduced to classical music, it is then essential that they are given the opportunity to engage with it on a regular basis. This could be in the form of school trips to see live performances or even simply having a classical music hour on the radio or TV once a week.

It is clear that if classical music is to survive in the long term, encourage creativity and innovation must become a priority. By making some small changes, classical music can once again become an exciting and vibrant art form that is enjoyed by people of all ages.

The Way Forward

Classical music, like all music, is changing. The ways we create and consume it are changing, as are the expectations we have of it. But the music itself has not kept pace with these changes and, as a result, is in danger of becoming irrelevant.

Implementing the changes

In order to bring about the changes that classical music needs, we must first denounce the false idea that elitism is an inherent part of our art form. From there, we need to work on becoming more inclusive in our practices, such as making sure that orchestras are more representative of the demographics of their communities, and programs like Music for All are given the resources they need to succeed. We also need to do a better job at marketing classical music to young people, and making sure that it is accessible to everyone regardless of economic status. Finally, we need to continue to support women and people of color who are already involved in classical music, and make sure that they have the opportunity to succeed.

If we can do all of these things, then classical music will be well on its way to regaining its rightful place as one of the most popular genres in the world.

Measuring the success of the changes

It is hard to measure the success of the changes that have been made in classical music. Some people might say that the fact that there are now more people attending classical music concerts is a success. Others might say that the fact that more young people are studying classical music is a success. And still others might say that the fact that classical music is now being performed in more places around the world is a success.

What is clear, however, is that the classical music world has not yet reached its full potential. There are still many people who are not aware of classical music, and there are still many people who do not have access to live classical music performances. There are also still many people who do not feel comfortable attending classical music concerts.

The good news is that there are many people working hard to make sure that classical music can reach its full potential. There are organizations working to promote awareness of classical music, and there are organizations working to provide access to live performances. There are also organizations working to make sure that more people feel comfortable attending classical music concerts.

It will take time for these efforts to bear fruit, but if they continue, it is possible that the classical music world will one day be as popular as it once was.

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