About a month ago I was attending a cocktail hour with other arts professionals a gentleman expressed concern to an orchestra administrator over the fact that he didn’t get classical music. He figured that as he got older, one day classical music would click for him but it hasn’t and he didn’t know why.
The answer the administrator gave didn’t really impress me. It is a tricky question to be sure, but she didn’t seem to be trying to convince him to attend or even offer suggestions for how to prepare ones self to attend. But I think a lot of arts organizations, regardless of genre, fail in this regard. That wasn’t what I wanted to address today anyhow.
Even though his comment carries the implication that classical music is only for older people, it also suggests that he sees enjoying the music as a sign of maturity. He seems to feel it is part of his development as a person and is a little concerned it hasn’t clicked for him. That he wants to like classical music may be reason for optimism if it is an indication of a sentiment that permeates the culture.
If it does, then that means there is still something that classical musical organizations can appeal to if they can figure out how to address the unease of not liking something you figure you should. The guy I was talking with was only 40 something so addressing the concerns he and his cohort have can go a long way in skewing median audience age younger.
I really don’t know what the answer is. I am essentially in the same camp of wanting to like the music more but not really able to get invested in it yet. Not finding the answer will represent a missed opportunity. This assumption that one should become more involved with classical music as one gets older may only be generational and a result of values passed to us by our parents. There is no guarantee that this idea is sitting as a subtle compulsion in the subconscious of the next generation.
You should have pointed him toward the Take A Friend To Orchestra material. If you still have his contact info, point him toward: http://www.adaptistration.com/?page_id=1806
Drew-
TAFTO material is good at breaking down the barriers that keep people from attending, but does it really help people understand why when they are there it doesn’t appeal to them? I read every entry when it came out and I don’t remember any that addressed that in particular. Are you thinking of any specific persons’ contributions?
I do think it has that sort of value. First, if someone is at a a concert asking why it has value that’s a bit odd but encouraging to see that they are at least trying. Second, the TAFTO contributions or more inspiration and if they are like most people, interest is infectious. Finally, I think a number of listeners have a certain level of discomfort with their own opinions, especially newbies. I’ll have to go through some of the TAFTO entries but I know there are several which deal with this issue and they all come to the same basic point: you deserve to have your own opinion.
Maybe you should write a contribution for TAFTO 2009 on this topic! 🙂
Thanks for your response Drew. Just as clarification, this was purely a cocktail hour in a bar like setting away from a performance hall where different arts professionals were assembled.
Acknowledged, and that brings up an interesting point regarding what percentage of a local population can be expected to like any particular form of performing art? At the very least, if they give it some consideration and, if they have children, take at least one opportunity to explore it with them, then the TAFTO material will be more useful.
At the very least, learning about something from the perspective of hose who are enthusiastic stands a better chance at creating a new patron.