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How has classical music changed or influenced your character?

Well in some ways good and in some ways bad.

1. It's given me to something to look forward to.

I always can't wait to get home every day and do some composing.

2. Like you, it has improved my knowledge of history.

I love looking up things about the greats. I am also fascinated by what was happening in the world when the great composers were at their peak of fame.

Here's something negative:

3: It's made me very embarrassed.

I hardly perform to a young audience. They hate classical music. They laugh at me because of my taste in music. I hate it.

But who cares! I like classical music and my musical tastes are not about to change.

You know how we go all gooey over something like the 2nd Movement from Dvorak's 9th symphony? Well, the young generation goes all gooey over something like "Smack my b itch up". It's sad.

By the way, I have sent you can E-mail.

ADDED (15 August, 12:04 pm)

Sorry I have not recieved an E-mail yet. Perhaps you could try again? :-)

I see nothing in your question that suggests you think music composed for acoustic instruments should be played by electronic instruments. I don't where people are getting this from. Synthesizers are not so novel that people will be impressed by Switched On Bach type records anymore. I agree that contemporary composers shouldn't shy away from using electronic instruments, with or without traditional instruments. Messiaen did it with the Ondes Martenot in the Turangalila Symphony, and Varese did it in Deserts (tape interpolations). I suspect that any synthesizer these days can produce so many different sounds, that composers can't figure out how to specify a specific one that will sound the same from performance to performance. It may also be that popular music has co-opted synthesized sound so much, that classical composers feel their work won't be taken seriously if they use it. I don't know what the problem is, but I wish I could go to the symphony to hear some new music with some new orchestration that includes electronic sounds, too.

I like the way you think. To actively go out and research the composers, the pieces and the history surrounding the works is great.

That understanding leads to the desire to master your instrument.

And you've gotten past the peer pressure that says "you're a square"

As for me, the classics have influenced my composition. I strive to avoid the pitfalls of the shell game: "Three Chord Monte". I listen carefully orchestrations, and hope to emulate the interactions of instrument families that are the hallmarks of many classical works.

I've always had a heart for history, music and art. The three intertwine often and inspire each other.

Classical music has definately changed and influenced my character. It's a huge part of who I am. At first I was a little self conscious because I was young and everyone else my age disregarded classical music. But now at 16 I don't care at all what they think. I feel that it's their loss, not giving the greatest music in the world a chance. But at least I can get some of my friends to appreciate it, if not like it.

Also, without its influence on me, I probably wouldn't be my school's only oboe player and would be content being one of many saxophones. I love the excitement of playing the oboe, and it makes me feel accomplished knowing that I'm playing one of the hardest instruments to master. And when other students ask me about it, I'm happy to tell them about...why I have to stick my reed in a little cup of water, and so on. I just love to talk with people about music, especially when they care what I have to say.

Finally, it has made me a more curious person. I love to learn about composers and their lives and works and I'm constantly checking out books on them from the library.

So I guess classical music has made me a more knowledge-seeking, confident, knowledgeable, and oboe playing person.

It has probably saved my life. I grew up in a rather dysfunctional, to say the least, family.

Had I not had it most importantly as a "refuge" - I learned to play the piano at age six - and "rejuvenator", the most likely outcome would have been, that I would not be here, alive and/or relatively sane, now.

Sometimes, the burden of terrible sufferings, simply become too much to bear: if you get my meaning.

Alberich

I have been listening voluntarily and involuntarily to baroque, classical and romantic music since in the womb (so now around 32 years) I also love it, but especially music from the romantic period. Life in Europe was so full of turmoil - war, change and so much death and destruction around and yet, composers wrote the most amazing music. It makes me look at my life and feel grateful to live in a time of peace.

I have learned about historic past.

The Napolean war due to Tchaikovsky.

Certain facts about past life due to Mozart.

And knowledge and love from Beethoven.

It's also changed my life, I am going to an orchestral school where as I wanted to be an engineer instead of a bassist. So it's for the better.

1) It helped me with my appreciation of history and other arts.

>As a child, I took an interest in art already but was exposed to it 'head on' a bit later in my life. The music and arts of a period reflects the events that occurred, etc. It showed an outlook in human life.

2) It's not easy to fit in when all the people around you is interested in other stuff. Most of my classmates are into hip hop and celebrities; I into arts, music and history. But this unique interests of mine helped me stand out. I am also beginning to learn how to share history music and arts to one who is uninterested. It's challenging, but once you get them to understand why we love these things and starts liking it too, I feel really good. Not only did I add a bit more variety in his interests, I added some different 'food' for his/her soul.

3) It conveys emotions to me. Listening to music is like conversing with somebody. It transmits emotions. This feeling of exhilaration and contentment after listening to a piece is indescribable. It's like a just had a very meaningful conversation with a friend. It calms me. It makes me happy and calm.

Think of it this way, my way, Mozart lived in a world where almost every sound he heard was pure from nature. No cars. No machinery. His music is amazing, imagine his point of view on the world according to those compostions. Classical music sheds light on a different era of the world, a world full of purity and a world with absence of meaningless noises. Amazing.

Wow. I've never thought of it. But after starting to take the violin and french horn (Yes, I play both. A very strange combo) seriously, I just keep wanting to get better and better. It's a strange addiction.

It also gives me a better insight on history and what they enjoyed back in those times.

Thanks for the question.

Keep practicing the piano and you'll be amazing!