Listen: We Need a Direction

Through my previous post I have put an emphasis on those music instructors that how important their teachings affect to people’s interests to the classical music study, I just have a new realization that not only music instructors should take the responsibility of drawing people’s attention to the classical music, but also all of our classical musicians actually should seriously think that in what way we can effectively introduce our classical music to more and more audiences, which include some who have not experienced classical music yet. A reason, which triggers off the new realization to my mind, is that that many audiences are not clear enough what the music actually is about when they listen to. Obviously, this is not audiences fault, but our musicians should take the responsibility for. I believe when a composer write a music piece is always for something or dedicate to a particular person, such as Antonio Vivaldi’s “four seasons”(see the left), or Beethoven’s piano sonata entitled “moon light”. So the job for our musicians is that we should clearly introduce our music in various ways. For example, to give a short lecture about the music which we will play in a concert is necessary. This week I have found two very interesting blogs, one of them was entitled “Everybody Loves Classical Music: They Just Haven’t Found out about It” was posted by Alex Rosu, a Political Science major student, the other one was entitled “Classical Music Education” was posted by Jamie. The reason to choose first one is that Alex Rosu is not in music major study, I think that it is important to know how those people like Alex Rosu thought about our classical music, because our music should face to various audiences. The second post which I decide to choose is that through the whole blog actually is about how what benefit children may receive from classical music education. My responses to both of these items can be found below and at the respective sites.

“Everybody Loves Classical Music: They Just Haven’t Found out about It”
Comment

To me it is always interesting to see other people’s posts about their view to the classical music. Especially they are not major in music studying or professional musicians. I have a feeling that those unprofessional actually hold a key of helping our classical musicians to make a good improvement, because their preferences, complaints, or suggestions to classical music actually are the result of reactions to our classical musicians’ achievements. A reason which leads me to think in this way is based on my music study experiences. I remembered that before I started my instrumental studying, I felt that I was so musical, so gift to the music. However, when I began my music studying, I felt that I was not talented at all in music studying. Because of this weird feeling, I was confused for many years. But now I have figured out the problem that when I listen some recordings (because the quality of those recording are so good), I was so moved so that I was dreaming to make a same wonderful moment by playing an actual instrument. However, when I started my instrumental study, because of those technique problems which I have to spend time to fix always disturb my original interest to the classical music, so that my goal of playing music often become technique practice. At this point, I have to say a way of leading from a music teacher is very important, because we need those professionals give us a good leading when we are new in a field of study. For example, if a teacher always tells us that fixing technique problems is to help us to support our musical goals, our practice would enhance our original interests to the music; if a classical musician did not give a successful concert or did not make a good recording, I think I would not be interested in classical music.

Through reading your post, I can feel that how your passion is growing to the classical music although your first impression to classical music concert was not so good. In fact, this is a point which I am very curious that what motive encourage you to try second time to be in a classical music concert? I especially like the feeling which you shared on post that “There are something magical seeing humans actually working to make music, observing the childish joy of some, or the detached, cerebral expressions of other,” because this one of good reasons to encourage myself to treat music study as my major study. Lastly, I also like the video which is about Benjamin Zander (see the right). From this video I have learned many things. One of them which I really want to mention is about how we should lead more and more audiences to know what we as classical musicians are presenting. Thank you for your post.

“Classical Music Education”
Comment

After reading this post, I feel that we need more and more posts like this to support our classical music, because we as music instructors or musicians should use our intelligence to lead people in our music world, to allow them to recognize that what classical music actually benefit and gift to them. At this point, I want to say that classical music education is not only for children, but also for their parents too. In my opinion, I do not believe that every parent have experienced in a classical music concert, particularly a good one, but I do believe that once the those parents realize if classical music is really good to them, even they will push their children to have a classical music education, because parents always hope that their children to have a chance to taste something valuable. Therefore, the job for our musicians or music instructors should use an effective way to introduce our classical music more and more people. Recently, I have watched a video (perhaps many people have watched it) which basically shows Benjamin Zander, a conductor of Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, that how he lead his audiences to appreciate a classical music piece. I think that this is a good beginning to make more and more people know about our classical music and it is a good example for classical music education.

Additionally, I really like the three true examples which you have listed out on your post. It is very convinced to me. Thank you for your post.