Classical music is a genre of music that is very underappreciated, especially by the young people. A lot of people think it’s old-fashioned; it’s old yes, but that’s why it’s ‘classic’. Some people think it’s for posh people, who just sit on golden furniture reading Shakespeare and drinking champagne. That is not true. You don’t have to be wealthy or refined or elderly to enjoy listening to classical music, that’s just a ridiculous stereotype. Others feel it’s too calm and gentle for their taste, but they should listen to pieces like Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, as it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
Pop music is one reason why the younger generation listens to less classical music. Our generation is being continuously bombarded with modern pop music through the technology around us and the media. You hear it on TV, on the radio, on your phone, on the internet, even in the shops. Let’s face it, a lot of music nowadays is just terrible. There are a few gems here and there, but most of the songs are popular for a few weeks and then most people stop liking them and these songs then fade into obscurity.
Classical music comes in lots of different styles, and there are differences between music of different periods. There is Romantic music like that of Tchaikovsky which really tugs at the heartstrings. There’s also Baroque music, which is well known for its use of a continuous bass line sometimes provided by the harpsichord which is a keyboard type instrument. There’s music to suit lots of different tastes, from fast and lively to calm and slow. Classical music is timeless, it has survived centuries and is still loved by many.
Enjoyable and also good for you, classical music can have a very positive impact on your health and well-being. A study in the General Hospital of Salzburg in Austria proved that listening to Classical music for 25 minutes every day can help prevent back pain. At least 10 minutes can help you sleep better too. (Source: Music and back pain by Joanna Derwent)
It also makes you smarter as scientists discovered. The famous “Mozart Effect,” as it is known as, has shown that people (especially babies and children) can get more intelligent by listening to music composed by Mozart. It has also been known to help people mentally and emotionally through music therapy. Classical music increases creativity and reduces memory loss, meaning many students find it beneficial to listen to classical music while studying for exams.
Now I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t like other music besides classical music. By all means, do so. I myself like some rock music and some pop and even a few songs in Japanese as well as classical music. It’s good to like more than just one music genre.
Classical music is a fantastic resource, a beautiful expression of creativity. One of the best properties it has is that generally, it doesn’t need words to express emotions and themes. This music connects with your soul and you feel the emotion and passion in the music, you feel the sadness or the joy, the change of the seasons, the flowing of water, the movement of the leaves in a gentle breeze. The music creates pictures in your head. Classical music can inspire you to do wonderful things. Throughout the ages, classical music has inspired wonderful works of literature, such as “An Equal Music” by Vikram Seth, buildings, such as the hundreds of concert halls throughout the world and the goodness of spirit in people of all ages, nationalities, and races.
I personally think Classical music is amazing, I enjoy the music of composers such as Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky among others whom I listen to regularly. It’s very interesting listening to the different types of instruments and the different musical structures such as Sonata Form where you have a definite beginning middle and end in three (usually 3 but sometimes 4) movements.
Overall, people should listen to classical music because it’s amazing music, it’s good for your health and general well-being and it’s a timeless treasure. I hope that at least I have made you more open to the idea of listening to some classical music once in awhile.
