Why dont teenagers and youngsters listen to classical music? And why do they have to ridicule the ones who do?

Beware of gross generalisations. You already have answers from several teenagers who are 'into' classical music. Believe me, there are MANY more out there. Some of them even post questions in this section asking "Am I weird for liking classical music?".

You could have asked this question 10, 20, 50, 100 years ago and the reasons would always be more or less the same. Classical music has ALWAYS been a minority interest (don't make the mistake of thinking - as some do - that it was ever the 'popular' music of any time). That means that the MAJORITY or people don't listen to it. The majority of these THINK they don't like it, even though many of them wouldn't know a Beethoven sonata if it bit them on the leg. It's not 'cool' (whatever THAT is) to like classical music. You will find that outside the anglophone world (and, therefore, slightly away from the influence of the superficial values of modern-day America), more teenagers attend concerts (which are often a family outing) and 'admit' to liking classical music than countries such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

Why do youngsters mock? Kids always mock things they don't understand or don't fit into the 'gang'. It's the way kids are. Always have been. Always will be. They find your violin lessons 'lame' because they think it's 'uncool' (again, ask them what 'cool' is and they won't be able to tell you). It is also 'uncool' to be seen to achieve or work hard. What a terrible inditement of 21st-century society!

Ignore the sheep - let them all do the same thing in automaton fashion. You are being your own person and doing your own things. That sets you apart. They might not like that, but THEY will be the under-achievers of the future, so pity them :-)

■ Classical music doesn't give you a scene change once every 30 seconds, pop music does.

There is nothing wrong with the classical music style, and Hollywood producers realize that. That's why they give the public the 1812 Overture and the Taco Bell Canon in bite-size doses, but don't make the public sit and watch an orchestra for two hours.

Or, on rare occasions, they give us entire compositions, but with frequent scene changes. Nobody ever said Walt Disney's Fantasia was boring. The Italian movie Allegro non troppo is another good one.

It's probably not popular music that the public prefers, but rather the dancing girls, the blinking lights, and the fireworks.

■ Classical music isn't in English, pop music is.

Yes, I know, there have been operas composed in English at least as far back as Henry Purcell. But operas written in English have been overshadowed by French, Italian, and German opera. And that is what most people think of when the word "opera" is mentioned.

■ Classical music prefers knowledge of music theory, pop music doesn't.

Why does the Peer Gynt Suite get selected for music appreciation classes? Because anyone can imagine the mountain gnomes taunting Peer Gynt.

Why does the Persian Market get selected? Because everyone knows what a beautiful princess looks like.

Say what you want to about the greatness of Mozart's Symphony no. 40, but most people don't know when the music is changing from g minor to Bb major.

Which is easier for most people to understand, the exposition of a sonata movement, or rock musicians smashing guitars on the stage?

■ Classical music is instrumental, pop music isn't.

Since the average Joe Blow doesn't know g minor from Bb major, song lyrics help sustain the listener's attention. I remember in the Sixties, there was a pop music hit in which the sound of pop corn popping was simulated. But other than that, I don't remember any instrumental pop hits. On the whole, it is only after a pop song becomes familiar to the general public that an instrumental setting could become popular.

Which is easier for most people to understand, g minor and Bb major, or "Baby, one more time"?

It's pretty much the same with all age groups. Classical music is considered "elite" and anything that is elite is unpopular right now. People who ridicule others for liking something different are ignorant and lack self-confidence. Don't let it get you down; you're better than they are.

You're not alone. I've "met" a number of teenagers who like classical music on various classical music message boards.

Edited to add: Most people don't know that classical music is not just "dead man's music". There are many living composers (not movie composers) and their music is very different from the music of past centuries but it is still considered "classical" or, as it is sometimes called, "art music."

I am a teenager & I listen to classical music as well as other types of music.

Though most teenagers/young people want to listen to what is new and current, the don't want to listen to music that was composed 100-200 years ago because it's just not considered 'cool'. Could you imagine teenagers going to a party and dancing to Tchaikovsky?

Though you will find that teenagers who play an instrument like myself will more likely have an interest in classical music.

Because they are shallow, finding music in rhythm -- and only rhythm -- and have an attention span lower than that of a squirrel.

Facts that are not mentioned may be these:

1. Young people must be able to discern an upbeat rhythm to it. Like even if the song is melodramatic, it eventually becomes too edited and, may be appropriately edited, sounds better. If it isn't upbeat, like Mozart (if you can name upbeat compositions of his, I stand corrected using his name), then they will never listen to it, unless it was composed by someone they like.

2. Lang Lang wrote in his autobiography that young people see classical music as "Dead Man's Music" which is actually true (you wouldn't be considered classical if you're not dead. XD). The only thing they do not know though is that the composers wanted to be immortal because of music. Did you ever wonder why there are more great composers than performers (acknowledged until the 19th century)? Composers were the performers of their own piece. Now, composers -- if you can call them that -- compose for other people, no acknowledgement, no nothing.

3. Because perhaps classical music is too professional and they want to maintain their mediocrity.

Will answer more . . .

I'm 14 and I play flute, and ive been playing for 8 years. I love classical music. It is the best music to play because it is challenging and there are so many different styles and it always sounds different, whereas modern music is just electronic beats and singers. Classical music is losing it's importance in our world and it's up to us to stick to our beliefs about classical music to keep it going (:

My friends think classical music is boring and lame because everyone else thinks so. It's just the way they've grown up and the people they've been around. Modern music is fed to us from a young age, through the radio, cds, tv and in magazines. Classical music is something you have to know more about to be into ... those who like it are the cool ones because we dont follow the crowd ;))

Well, this is my first answer in six or seven months... but I'd assume that this is still the case - that, on this website, there are a number of young people who love classical music, and some are also skilled musicians as well. I myself am sixteen years old, and I am both a lover of classical music, and a classical musician. My main interest is in baroque music (and renaissance music!), and in opera.

While it is true that most young people do not "like" classical music, I think youll find that they will bear to listen to it, and it is not the for fact that they like or dislike the music itself that they call it 'lame,' rather that there is other more recent music that they like more. Fans of classical music are also like this, albeit, with other genres. For example, many people who like classical music do not hate other genres of music, they just prefer classical music.

Also, some people just do not like things that are unfamiliar to them - if they have never really heard classical music, they are hardly going to say "I love this" on hearing it.

Just look around, and youll find plenty of teenagers, and younger people who like the same sort of music as you. Maybe join an orchestra or some other ensemble that is full of people who are AT LEAST familiar with the music, and show an appreciation for it.

It is awesome that you are learning classical music, on a real instrument...a violin has no frets, let's see a guitarist try to play violin ha!

Many young people are brainwashed, following the herd, consuming the same brands, including the crap passed off by record labels as music. People talking into auto-tune harmonizer circuit is singing? ha!

good luck!

Most of them don't listen to it, and thing you're old fassioned or weird because they listen to modern music, which is less and less instrumental as the time goes on.

I'd just like to reply on suhwahaksaeng's comment on smashing guitar in rock music- most of those rock music smashers own music academy (or least they have before), and I play rock and I were able to play it quoality just after 13 years of classical education which is how much I have (so far). So I'd like you not to put the rock music and pop in the same basket. At least not all of rock.

Also knowing when and where is the composition going from g minor to Bb is not related to taste and opinion but to education. I know lots of pople that are going to the music academy with me that are well educated and still listen to pop for exaple, and wouldn't listen to classics for the life of them.

Pity I agree, but that's just how young people are today, or most of them at least.

this is happening to me too.. Im 16 Y-old and my friends thought that im weird. Even my parent too... My father ask me to play jazz music. But since i got distinction mark in my abrsm exam, they change their mind about me playing classical music.

In my opinion, those teenagers just only assume that something modern is the 'best'. That isn't false but seems they underestimate something old.. And i think the basic form of pop music is classical music...