That’s a very good question, and it’s generated a lot of good, thoughtful answers.

Here’s an idea that no one may have mentioned yet: there is a philosophical tendency these days to be suspicious of anything that looks too beautiful, too sincere, too good, too perfect, etc. Ugliness is in fashion, and nowhere is this more apparent than in popular music.

Ever notice how many people come here to ask for recommendations of works that are “dark, evil, satanic, hard, scary, grim”…. etc., etc.? Please don’t think I’m making fun of those seekers–I’m glad they’re here, glad they’re willing to explore a different genre. But doesn’t it tell you something, that so many people find their way here because they’re looking for loud, evil-sounding music?

We all know that there’s a lot of classical music like that. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Berlioz–we love you.

But a great deal of classical music (even the interior movements of those angst-ridden masterpieces) is shockingly, subversively, gloriously BEAUTIFUL. And Mozart and his classical-era cohorts hardly knew the meaning of the word “irony.”

I don’t think it’s elitist to say this: classical music is what it is. No, we don’t have to be snobbish about it, but neither do we have to apologize for it and try to fit it into modern-looking garb. Yes, you can find irony and ugliness in classical music, but there’s even more that’s neither ironic nor ugly. And unless one can learn to appreciate sheer, unadulterated beauty, one may find it hard to wholly embrace classical music… especially the perfectly crafted works of composers like Mozart.

1. It’s supposed to be nerdy to like classical music and “cool” to dislike it. They don’t want to lose face.

2. People fear and hate what they don’t understand. No one ever sat down with this girl and showed her how lovely and powerful Classical Music is. It confuses her, so she shuts it out.

If you get the opportunity, ease her into classical by demonstrating the power of music in film.

Let me start by saying that I am a professional classical musician I am a performer and a teacher of classical music. That said let me say some things that will likely be unpopular here, but are true.

Experiments have proven that plants grow better and more rapidly when ANY music is played for them, heavy metal or classical. The style made no difference.

Experiments on humans have not produced in strong scientific results. The results of the “Mozart Effect” tests have never been duplicated. In order for something to be proven scientifically the results must be able to be duplicated.

In my experience teaching people classical music, most dislike or hate comes from lack of knowledge about and exposure to classical music. If approached with the correct attitude and with the correct music, most students will develop some appreciation (if not like) of it.

There is also something off-puting about classical music to “outsiders” to the genre. Classical musicians and consumers of classical music have created a great deal of elitism around it. This can drive people to not bother to try to listen to or like the music. Classical music was not originally written for only an elite few, it was created for the masses, especially the music of the late Classical and Romantic Periods. This was music composed to appeal to wide audiences and composers went to great lengths to make it understandable for many people by doing things like including programs to explain the story of a piece of strictly instrumental music.

Classical music is not all lofty, highly thought, intelligent stuff. It does have layers of complexity that popular music has not yet made wide use of (tempo changes, dynamics, etc.) but it has also had a lot longer to develop.

As classical musicians we need to get away from the idea that only people intelligent people educated in classical music can listen to it. All this does is drives potential new listeners away and further harms our art form. If we become so elite that no one listens to it any more, that will be it.

Any one who denies that popular music is a legitimate art form (especially with how widely it is accepted not just in our country, but around the world) needs to seriously re-examine how they define the world art. Remember that music is anything that a society defines as music, or anything that intentionally breaks from that definition.

Well I think it’s pretty obvious that girl is an ignorant bigot, who needs some sense knocked into her. I’d be more than happy to do the job.

Well anyway, I think classical music is the best music of all. In fact, it’s the only music I like. I hate all that pop crap out there. And I do admit, I used to like that “pop crap”, but ever since I saw the Movie Amadeus, I fell in love with classical music, and realized the stuff I was listening to was complete….eh, you get my point. [=
I mean come on, I don’t really get why people want to listen to singers, rappers, etc, repeating the same words over again, for 3 minutes. Teenagers (and I am a teenager myself), just don’t understand the beauty and mystery of classical music. My hope is for it to one day become mainstream again, but it’ll take forever to get all these ignorant people who hate it, to like it. So many people now a days just want to listen to something catchy, that they can sing along with. Who cares if they lose a couple of brain cells in the process? Ugh. I mean, I respect people who like pop, rock, etc. But if those people tell me that the only reason they don’t like classical music is because it’s boring and stupid, then it pisses me off. And then i’ll lose my respect for them.
I am so glad I discovered classical music. It changed my perspective of the world. That’s how powerful it is to me.

*sigh* well, that’s enough ranting for today, haha. (:

Some people are just so common darling.

It’s probably because they haven’t heard the kind of classical music they can enjoy up til now. In my case I used to hate reading fiction books b/c 99% of what I was forced fed in school was drivel (can we please stop reading Lord of the Flies?). Getting a reading list from school is like taking fashion tips from your grandmother. Being told you are wrong for not enjoying something that someone supposedly “higher up” than you will make you all the more resentful of that which they are trying to push.
Unlike pop/rock/rap, classical music isn’t exactly all around us and for most people it would take effort to find the variety they like, something most people are not willing to do if they are satisfied with popular music.
I used to not much care for (but didn’t hate) classical music b/c to me much of it seemed long and pointless, like elevator music. I tend to enjoy more melodic pieces like Pachebel’s Canon, Saint Saens’ Dance of the Dead, Peter and the Wolf, Bach, George Gershwin, and Khachaturian.

People who hate Classical music also hate pretty much anything that requires thought and patience. We now live in a world where people are into ‘instant gratification’. If something isn’t constantly stimulating them, you get the old “I’m bored!” response. This is not uncommon in younger folks, so I am not surprised or upset by this response. But, when you find adults who act this way, I suspect there are some issues. Arrested development, ADD, substance abuse or just downright ignorance are the usual suspects.

Some people do not take classical music into account these people are usually the ignorant ones who prefer to listen to R & B, I listen 2 all viretys of music apart from R & B and re_run Techno crap, I like rock but love classical, this is why when listening to classical to wind down i listen to “vanessa mae” because theres a mixture of both rock and classical mixed together. but i think classical is good becasue the difference and complexity of each note like “beetoven’s 9th symphony”

Classical requires actual thought some people don’t like being made to think is one way to see it …. another way is that what you are playing is just not exciting to her …. now the rant portion Mozart is boring to many people (I LOVE MOZART) because it is and can be soothing and it is very structured .. his music is more intellectual than emotional try something like Rite of Spring or some Prokofiev … something emotional, wild and a bit savage … something more rhythmic

Mozart isn’t right for everyone. Damn the studies I didn’t really care for Mozart until I grew up.

Perhaps the postive effect on plants is because they are trying to grow legs so they can run away ?

CM is sort of ok in small doses. Personally, i’m always waiting for the guitar solo that never comes.