Americans don't like classical music.

[SkyNigger]

Something to think about

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

[Michael]

I rock the Richard Wagner Pandora station all the time. Makes me feel like I'm on a Star Destroyer.

[anatine]

This story has been floating around for like a year+. Its interesting but somehow neglects to mention a stunningly obvious fact;

If youre in a fucking DC Metro station on a cold January morning, you dont have time to listen to classical music.

[Michael]

Video of Scooter's story.

myq8upzJDJc

[VaughnP]

It's not at all exaggerated. The first time I came across this story, it almost made me cry.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

Like all the passersby interviewed for this article, Picarello was stopped by a reporter after he left the building, and was asked for his phone number. Like everyone, he was told only that this was to be an article about commuting. When he was called later in the day, like everyone else, he was first asked if anything unusual had happened to him on his trip into work. Of the more than 40 people contacted, Picarello was the only one who immediately mentioned the violinist.

[Michael]

9O0EbsxAkuo&autoplay=

[VaughnP]

I could be a bit biased because I study and routinely play music, but this story won a Pulitzer prize because it is a testament of just how conditioned Americans are to everything. Literally slaves to debt without ever realizing it first and foremost, and because the average American has to have a nice car financed, nice house mortgaged, and a way to pay for it, they never even had a chance to notice such a thing. And even if they did, in 2013 there would be a high likelihood that the person would take a picture of him, if a girl, it would be beside him, and then post it on Facebook or Twitpic to brag about it, never really caring about the beauty.

Shit's sad, brah.

[nextlevelshit]

I've never got into it too much. Tunings are all cultural and I'm not in tune. Lots of things could be said about the story, one is it is cold . I don't really listen to classical music enough to even tell a world class violinist fmo a guy who took lessons and liked it.

Basically though classical music is one of those things you are taught to appreciate. It isn't like most art forms.

I should have taken band. SFtonedeaf.

[anatine]

I could be a bit biased because I study and routinely play music, but this story won a Pulitzer prize because it is a testament of just how conditioned Americans are to everything. Literally slaves to debt without ever realizing it first and foremost, and because the average American has to have a nice car financed, nice house mortgaged, and a way to pay for it, they never even had a chance to notice such a thing. And even if they did, in 2013 there would be a high likelihood that the person would take a picture of him, if a girl, it would be beside him, and then post it on Facebook or Twitpic to brag about it, never really caring about the beauty.

Shit's sad, brah.


Wow yeah, you seem really torn up about how grownups live their lives.

An op/ed post at http://jezebel.com/ should help put things right in the world.

[VaughnP]

I've never got into it too much. Tunings are all cultural and I'm not in tune. Lots of things could be said about the story, one is it is cold . I don't really listen to classical music enough to even tell a world class violinist fmo a guy who took lessons and liked it.

Basically though classical music is one of those things you are taught to appreciate. It isn't like most art forms.

I should have taken band. SFtonedeaf.


Anyone that has ever heard a great violinist play in person needs no frame of reference to appreciate the music. There is nothing quite like it as far as sound goes.

[anatine]

To be clear Im a tremendous fan of classical music, but showing up late for a job to listen to it is out of the fucking question, always, for approximately everyone who doesnt want to get fired.

[VaughnP]

Wow yeah, you seem really torn up about how grownups live their lives.

An op/ed post at http://jezebel.com/ should help put things right in the world.

No, I realized that there wasn't any hope in that department a long time ago, and then moved on. Moved onto the path of those who realize how the shit works and then exploit it.

[Archibald Peck]

egFm9sG46zQ&autoplay=

[anatine]

Great, another lawyer.

[nextlevelshit]

Anyone that has ever heard a great violinist play in person needs no frame of reference to appreciate the music. There is nothing quite like it as far as sound goes.

If I was told to listen to it and try, I'm sure I'd appreciate it on some level... but for it to reach out and grab me, I'd really have to be more of a fan. My brain just doesn't process music like a lot of other people. From my perspective it is no wonder people walk by didn't pay much attention him. + DC/subway/cold. Honestly I think it says more about classical music ... You almost have to decide to appreciate it. I bet other types of musicians would have had more luck. just need a better act imo. but again, his talent is basically for people who have already decided to be a fan of classical music. It is a distinct class basis to it, ridicule me if you want.

[VaughnP]

I disagree wholeheartedly, one doesn't need to first decide to appreciate classical music to experience it in full. 99% of the music I listen to is not classical, and I think you are really not understanding just how overwhelming an experience of hearing a proper violin being played by a world class violinist really is in person. It's like ear porn.

I guarantee if he had been playing renditions of hit pop songs, he would have gathered crowds of people, and it would not have been because the music is any more or less beautiful, it would be because of the conditioning they had all experienced by the songs popularity and the pressure to be associated with anything thought cool or successful on a subconscious level. It's the same reason you are thinking another type of musician would have gotten more success, and I know that you would, unfortunately, be right. Even a mediocre guitarist would have almost surely gotten more attention.

If this same thing happened two months ago, and the guy broke out some kinda rendition of Gangnam Style on a stradivari showcasing his abilities as much as he possible could, what do you think would have happened? How many videos of it would have been posted on Youtube?


A child doesn't have to learn what is beautiful:

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

[VaughnP]

Also, screw being a lawyer, we're heavily invested in vanity and the broken government on the direct profiting from it side.

[gay sex]

uh every white person in america considers the outkast double cd a musical

[gay sex]

THATS OUR GENERATIONS GREASE BROO

[VaughnP]

EPcRs5sIJtA

An example of exploiting the way things work. Would anyone have given a fuck about a few Chinese violinist otherwise?

[Archibald Peck]

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[nextlevelshit]

I disagree wholeheartedly, one doesn't need to first decide to appreciate classical music to experience it in full. 99% of the music I listen to is not classical, and I think you are really not understanding just how overwhelming an experience of hearing a proper violin being played by a world class violinist really is in person. It's like ear porn.

I guarantee if he had been playing renditions of hit pop songs, he would have gathered crowds of people, and it would not have been because the music is any more or less beautiful, it would be because of the conditioning they had all experienced by the songs popularity and the pressure to be associated with anything thought cool or successful on a subconscious level. It's the same reason you are thinking another type of musician would have gotten more success, and I know that you would, unfortunately, be right. Even a mediocre guitarist would have almost surely gotten more attention.


If this same thing happened two months ago, and the guy broke out some kinda rendition of Gangnam Style on a stradivari showcasing his abilities as much as he possible could, what do you think would have happened? How many videos of it would have been posted on Youtube?


A child doesn't have to learn what is beautiful:

I don't know. My understanding is tunings are all cultural. I never understood this when I was younger. People just accept it as a default. I think most people unless they have told themselves they are into classical music, will not spend the brain power to process it. (That, and the fact it was likely miserable at the time.)

I think the whole story is written by someone who values "classical music" and over plays the actual importance it has. You have to buy into that to read much into this cept kids are curious.

No doubt pop songs would have been more of an attention grabber due to familarity, not some feeling of coolness or what. I wasn't even talking about that, I was talking about the style of music. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with violin solos etc, but I think they're a bit forced.



edit - that being said, I like symphonies etc, but just a single ol violin... usually probably not.

[nextlevelshit]

EPcRs5sIJtA

An example of exploiting the way things work. Would anyone have given a fuck about a few Chinese violinist otherwise?

Yea well there have been pink floyd laser light shows going on forever I think. Sure they are exploting something but who cares? You give people what they are interested in. They are interested in gangnam style.

[Archibald Peck]

cTUL9_FUYtU&autoplay=1

[Bobby Wong]

orchestras are welfare for violinists who refuse to get a real job and contribute to society

[SkyNigger]

Wow yeah, you seem really torn up about how grownups live their lives.

An op/ed post at http://jezebel.com/ should help put things right in the world.

That website seems almost preoccupied with bowel movements; is that the joke or...?

I am torn up about how grown-ups live their lives. It's affected mine my entire life.

To be clear Im a tremendous fan of classical music, but showing up late for a job to listen to it is out of the fucking question, always, for approximately everyone who doesnt want to get fired.

Yeah it's really almost a sort of cowardly swipe at The Clock isn't it? Three times they mention someone being late for work. Cause like they have employers?

"Where the fuck have you been?"

"Oh boss you should have been there. There was this wonderfully talented young man playing beautiful music in the subway, on a violin! I took 15 min personal time to enjoy it."

"Why don't you take the rest of the day. You know what, take the rest of the year off. Enjoy your music. I have a business to run."

No, I realized that there wasn't any hope in that department a long time ago, and then moved on. Moved onto the path of those who realize how the shit works and then exploit it.

I went vice-versa but I have different priorities. I never wanted to exploit.

If I was told to listen to it and try, I'm sure I'd appreciate it on some level... but for it to reach out and grab me, I'd really have to be more of a fan. My brain just doesn't process music like a lot of other people. From my perspective it is no wonder people walk by didn't pay much attention him. + DC/subway/cold. Honestly I think it says more about classical music ... You almost have to decide to appreciate it. I bet other types of musicians would have had more luck. just need a better act imo. but again, his talent is basically for people who have already decided to be a fan of classical music. It is a distinct class basis to it, ridicule me if you want.

It's a bit more conditioning but I know what you mean. It's one of those things that you either connect with or you don't and I don't think it says anything more than a clue to your early childhood conditioning if you don't. Often, I don't. But this one time, in ADFA 3rd year, there was real quiet kid that everyone liked. He wasn't shy, or awkward; just quiet. Name was Wardy. I liked him but had very little to do with him; he was just a pleasant kid that I guess most people would forget after meeting him because he wasn't in your face or jazz-hands or hooks or anything socially - he'd be the kind of person who you could impose upon and he'd greet you warmly but if you didn't bother him in the hotel lobby or whatever, he'd never - in a million years - introduce himself under any pretext.

Anyway, there was this grand piano in the Cadets Mess that only ever got played when some drunk louts decided to do Chopsticks or w/e - but this was a very expensive, tuned piece of equipment that drunk cadets would climb up on and cross their knees over and basically treat it as disposable, when they're kinda basically more disposable humans than anything else. In almost three years, I'd never heard it played.

One day, at a formal dinner, I saw Wardy sitting at it. And my memory blurs but I might have called out "Play us something Wardy", and so he did.

There were a lot of people there - hundreds of officers and their escorts - and I'd really fucked up in an unexpected way because I was in the fucking military and in full dress uniform with most of the RAAF flag officers represented or in attendance and you don't wanna cry there. I was swearing myself off under my breath, "You don't wanna cry here. Do not fucking cry here." It was magical.

I needn't have worried as there was kind of pandemonium when he finished; a standing ovation across the entire mess hall and lots of sniffling noses and awe and wonderment and girls were reaching for hats to run to the dressing rooms whilst waving gloves in front of their faces; this was some real music. I've never once heard anything quite like it.

I asked Wardy where he learned to play like that, and he just looked up sadly with a kind of wry smile and said "oh obviously I've had some lessons". 2.5 years never saw him play, or even knew he was all but a (surely? I wouldn't really know but he'd have to be thereabouts) concert-level pianist. For the rest of the year I'd get tilted cause these fucking needy...of course it's acceptable to ask for repeat but once he declines once, you don't ask again. Poor kid couldn't walk past the thing for the rest of the year without someone trying to twist him arm to play. People are horrifying when they know better than you what you want to do and imagine they should literally rape your free will.

It was the only time I'd ever see anger flash in his eyes, as some fuckwit (usually drunk) deciding they simply had to hear him play try to physically drag him to the stool - literally - people are just...disposable. But although he was begged hundreds of times, we never saw him play again.

What a whore his mother would have been. This is my point of course. She'd be a filthy fucking whore, I'd bet you anything. Kid clearly didn't like to play. I can just imagine some tutor moaning over the "lost potential" and his mother deciding the talent was too great not to drag out of him. Executive decision for child to suffer pain; yeah I've seen that before and that's exclusively what sociopaths do. I imagined a lost childhood of endless drilling and lessons. Pain, coercion, torture.

Well we got a magical moment out of all those years of pain. I like to imagine his mother missing out. I know she wouldn't have, she'd have taken every chance to show off her little prize toy substitute for her own utter worthlessness every chance she'd get, no doubt. But still, I like to imagine he didn't play like that for her.

I disagree wholeheartedly, one doesn't need to first decide to appreciate classical music to experience it in full. 99% of the music I listen to is not classical, and I think you are really not understanding just how overwhelming an experience of hearing a proper violin being played by a world class violinist really is in person. It's like ear porn.

I guarantee if he had been playing renditions of hit pop songs, he would have gathered crowds of people, and it would not have been because the music is any more or less beautiful, it would be because of the conditioning they had all experienced by the songs popularity and the pressure to be associated with anything thought cool or successful on a subconscious level. It's the same reason you are thinking another type of musician would have gotten more success, and I know that you would, unfortunately, be right. Even a mediocre guitarist would have almost surely gotten more attention.

If this same thing happened two months ago, and the guy broke out some kinda rendition of Gangnam Style on a stradivari showcasing his abilities as much as he possible could, what do you think would have happened? How many videos of it would have been posted on Youtube?

A child doesn't have to learn what is beautiful:

Your best post on this forum.

It's all about conditioning. A child doesn't need to be taught a damn thing. Kids will learn beauty instinctively. But to dull the child's senses or to corrupt the child's mind in ways that prevent their interest in things of beauty, you have to blast them for years with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus and advertising jingles and it's just non-stop. People don't realise it. Images, tunes, billboards, flash flash flash - minds are being programmed right in front of your eyes and if you look at what they're being programmed with....

hmm. Well there's going to be a lot of sex.

Lots and lots of sex between the children of the children of humans. I don't think you can really call them "human" any more. You have to draw the line somewhere.

[Bobby Wong]

my old man couldn't stand classical music. he didn't talk about it much but when he'd had a snootful he would start ranting and raving about how society was going to hell in a handbasket because of all the sax and violins on tv

[SkyNigger]

Is sax classical? I don't much care for jazz. I find it invasive and irritable and its perkiness altogether unjustified; perhaps even intentionally abrasive. Jazz has a lot of gall I reckon.

I imagine I'm not alone in feeling encroached upon. It's not a decent music, that's for sure. It has no consideration.

[Militant Quacks]

I VOTE THIS THREAD FIVE STARS

[Militant Quacks]

*****

[Militant Quacks]

PREMIUM CONTENT

[VaughnP]

No, I realized that there wasn't any hope in that department a long time ago, and then moved on. Moved onto the path of those who realize how the shit works and then exploit it.

I went vice-versa but I have different priorities. I never wanted to exploit.

I was joking about exploiting, but sometimes, I am tempted to.

[nextlevelshit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtuIol9aYnw

How does this work, there is no imbed button. If this was a Jewdonk (tm) site this shit would have youtube buttons. The above clip is Jim from Taxi being asked to play the piano. I haven't seen this clip in 20 years but it holds up and thats rare.

[VaughnP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtuIol9aYnw

How does this work, there is no imbed button. If this was a Jewdonk (tm) site this shit would have youtube buttons. The above clip is Jim from Taxi being asked to play the piano. I haven't seen this clip in 20 years but it holds up and thats rare.

wtuIol9aYnw

I fixed it. The link for the button image broke.

[nextlevelshit]

wtuIol9aYnw

I fixed it. The link for the button image broke.

Ok.. A Jewdonk (tm) site would have it working but only if someone else set it up. He'd never have been able to fix it himself. Thatta boy Vaughn, buckle up.

[SkyNigger]

"Did I have a good time tonight?"

Until I was 29, I had to ask everyone a similar question if I was unsure. The only times I was ever sure were nights when I knew I had not.

Then I stopped asking liars to lie to me and, in doing so, I retook control of my own actions and the consequences of those actions. I took back control of my Self.

[SkyNigger]

But to dull the child's senses or to corrupt the child's mind in ways that prevent their interest in things of beauty, you have to blast them for years with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus and advertising jingles and it's just non-stop. People don't realise it. Images, tunes, billboards, flash flash flash - minds are being programmed right in front of your eyes and if you look at what they're being programmed with....

hmm. Well there's going to be a lot of sex.

Lots and lots of sex between the children of the children of humans. I don't think you can really call them "human" any more. You have to draw the line somewhere.

http://i.imgur.com/3zCeK16.jpg