Introducing classical music to young people

IMO, tell them as soon as possible. If you have recordings of the music to be played, then offer to let them listen to these first as the concerts will be far more enjoyed if some preparatory listening has come first.

ATB from George

I would certainly not take mine to the proms, or any classical performance, or any other performance, without first finding out if they have any interest at all.

Otherwise it might be too much of a surprise for everybody.

I went on a school trip to see Madam But at Covent Garden in the late 60's.

I still dont like it.

A few of us bunked off and went round Soho for a few hours.

Got back before we were missed and had a tour back stage.

That was the best part of the day.

A family member of mine used to build/design/ the back drops.

I just dont get Opera never have and never will.

Young kids might be the same with some classical.

Stu

Stu,

If you make it a surprise, then maybe you could also do something else before and/or after that you know for sure they will really enjoy (food, shopping, sport...).

Also you can introduce this as an attempt from you to give them an opportunity to make an "experience" where the goal is not necessarily for them to enjoy, but rather to see something different. Maybe they will enjoy, maybe not, but at least they will have had the opportunity to make a determination based on personal first-hand experience.

I think if you position it this way, they will enjoy the gesture as a mark of generosity,  and not see it as an attempt to "impose" on them your own tastes.

In any case, you are a courageous man. Good luck!

Ian,

Who knows, either way could turn out good or bad? I'm trying the third way - long term exposure. So, it's Saturday morning and making my kids listen to Bach's cello suites. I'm sure that by the time they're 18, any classical music credit they might otherwise have will have been long spent.

EJ

Oh well ask a forum and gets lots of conflicting advice.

I would say, just take them. As someone who grew up with rock and then started listening to and seeing classical/orchestral music I have often found the live experience more accessible than the recorded, particularly on first listen.

Unlike rock, live performance of orchestral works offers a more detailed sound, and seeing the performance gives focus to the individual players.

The Proms also has that lovely festival atmosphere, no dressing up, unless you want to, and such a relaxed feeling.

I would also suggest that if you play them the pieces before the concert it might feel like they are being tested like in an exam.

Perhaps book a meal nearby for afterwards, so the evening is more of a night out, rather just one thing which they may or may not enjoy.

My feelings, and different to others, but only you know your children, so you can read the replies and see which resonate with how they react to music, performance, and a nice night out.

I hope you all enjoy it.

Jamie

When I first started at secondary school we had music appreciation classes and were forced to listen to classical music - Bach was a favourite of the teacher and if you didn't seem to be enjoying it then you were hit across the knuckles with a violin bow - controversial as it may sound I do not believe this method works. 

My second music teacher liked the Beatles, Kinks and ELP and this worked far better for me. Indeed he pointed out that the Nice's County Pie/Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 contained some elements of Mr Bach and was not, as I had thought, an entirely original work by Sir Keith Emerson. He also felt Procal Harem and Rupert's People were influenced by the same, though I'm still not convinced 

OK, so here's how it went.

Mahler 9 with my son: On the way there I gave him a couple of shortish articles on Mahler and the 9th, and described it to him as "Emo" music from 100 years ago. He enjoyed the music, and the experience. Although I don't think he has become an overnight classical devotee I do think he will be more inclined to listen to more classical music as he and his tastes mature beyond teen choices.

Beethoven/Dalbavie/Carter with my daughter: No prep at all, just arrived at the Royal Albert Hall with her. The Beethoven 1st she found a bit dull. She rather enjoyed the Dalbavie, describing it as "dangerous". I'd never heard it before either, and I too enjoyed it enough to have listened again since. Neither of us enjoyed the Carter - just too "expiremental" if that's the corrrect description, for my tastes. Beethoven's 7th was rather better received by us both, and I think my daughter could see the musical development from the 1st, given the 25 years between the two compositions. Overall she said she enjoyed the evening, and particulary enjoyed watching a chap in red shirt right in the front row of the promenade area, who in his turn was fully carried away by the music! Interestingly, when I was watching a recording of one of the other Proms on TV the following weekend she remarked how it sounded different now that she has been to a live event.

Anyway, thanks for the comments previously, and if anyone is thinking of taking a young person to a classical concert my feeling would be to recommend just diving straight in with no listening "homework" beforehand. although some context may help especially for something like the Mahler.

Ian

Ian,

Thanks for the update.

Good to see it was worth it.

You might want to go to the BBC site and look out for their live radio/tv studio broadcasts /recording concerts.

You can put your name down for tickets.

They are free.

Stu.