Often perceived as a dying art form only listened to by old people, classical music is one of the oldest sources of entertainment to exist. It is often believed to be losing popularity amongst younger generations, and while this genre of music definitely isn’t as popular as it once was. Its benefits towards improving mental health combined with its growingly accessible nature prove to be attracting younger audiences.
Stats
Research conducted by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the streaming service Deezer in late 2020 shows that people under the age of 35 streamed classical music 17% more in 2020 than in 2019. This research also shows that 34% of classical music listeners were between the ages of 17 and 35. This is further highlighted by data that BPI published around a decade ago which showed that only 10% of classical listeners were under the age of thirty and most of them (70%) were over the age of 50. Furthermore, this rise in the interest in classical music has prompted an increase in concerts catered towards younger audiences with orchestras, such as the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, establishing concerts for children from the ages of 3 to attend.
Benefits
There are many benefits of listening to classical music, not only does it allow you to experience many new pieces and styles of music, but it is also known to help improve your overall wellbeing and aid in brain development. A study conducted by the University of Maryland showed that radiologists reported having a sharper memory when baroque music (classical western music composed between 1600-1750) was played and another study conducted by the University of Kansas showed that kids who had musical training did better overall academically. Additionally, listening to just 25 minutes of classical music daily can help reduce stress and increase concentration when attempting to do work.
How to get into Classical Music?
Even though you might not be an avid listener of classical music yet, it’s important that you give it a shot before you make up your mind on it. Classical music itself is a broad term that encompasses many different types of music styles ranging from calm and peaceful to strong and exciting. In order to figure out precisely what you like to listen to, you should try many different pieces. Alternatively, you could search for a playlist on a music streaming app, such as ‘calm piano’ or even simply ‘classical music’ to find a collection of songs already in one place. If you aren’t interested in listening to classical music at all, you could try listening to film music instead. Although this isn’t pure ‘classical music’, it is heavily influenced and often uses features found in classical music itself.
Sources
written by : Anvita Verma
Edited by : Kayla Adara Lee
Graphics by : Ariel Suen
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