How do you... find other people listening to classical?

[Sean]

Ain't as easy as finding other technoheads or metalheads is it? Sure, I can go to a concert but right now there are not many where I live as it is the "summer break" and besides I guess I won't come up to random people afterwards to find new acquaintances - some of them may be there while having only very little interest in classical music let alone making new musical friends

So, I am looking for ways to save time and effort and still find people I like. I tried social networking but it is not easy to find profiles of real classical enthusiasts, at least where I live ;-) So, how do you go around this issue? Are there any social networks specifically for classical fans?

Hi. Your question is a serious one and I'm not sure what the answer is in present Western societies, despite my old acquaintance Owlice's glibly optimistic suggestions. I met a friend at school with a similar enthusiasm as me 24 years back but very little since, despite contact with numerous music academics and students. Something I remember was my friend saying when we were 17 'One thing I've always wondered is whether you'll ever meet anyone like yourself'.

[Ciel_Rouge]

Hi Sean,

I guess a lot of answers will come when I finally go to a concert or live opera in January I will be able to see who attends them in my city. I used to think that I was completely isolated with many of my interests but then I eventually found other people who shared the same interest. I hope I shall meet non-virtual musical friends soon

[karlhenning]

Hi. Your question is a serious one and I'm not sure what the answer is in present Western societies

Any other societes in which you're sure of the answer?

[Sean]

Any other societes in which you're sure of the answer?

Hiya Karl, well I have faith in black Africa and south-southeast Asia. Cultures that produce the most art are the most lost.

[owlice]

Sean, I've met a fair number of musicians and music lovers in my life, and it's because I've volunteered to help music organizations, participated in ensembles, gone to concerts, joined a book club (I'd bet in any book club of 15-20 people, there will be at least two classical music fans), met people IRL from forums such as this, and taken music courses in college. The reason I made my suggestions is because I know they work.

When I was in high school -- a large suburban public high school -- one favorite after-school activity was going to someone's house to try to sightsing madrigals and perform music for each other. We also went to local concerts together. When I was in college, I got involved with a local piano competition, sang with various campus choruses, took music courses, and hung out in the music building a fair bit. I've already mentioned meeting my best friend in a chorus we both sang in after college. I'm still friends with some of my high school/college music buddies.

My focus has been more on the music than on recordings (not that there's anything wrong with a focus on recordings), so the activities in which I engage which put me in touch with other music lovers reflect that.

A lot of people will sit around and wonder why they don't know anyone who likes x.... but never put themselves in a position to meet people who like x! If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten, so if you don't like what you're getting, do something different!

If I want to meet Finns, I go to the local Finnish festival; if I want to meet Hungarians, I go to the local Hungarian festival. And if I want great homemade Greek food, I go to any number of the local Greek festivals! (And eat lots, and then explode. )

My suggestions were not glibly made, and I'm optimistic about them because I know they work. If you want to meet people interested in x, be where people like that are, join the organizations they join, volunteer to help out the organizations which promote x, and if there isn't an organization already, start one.

I agree that Ciel_Rouge's question is a serious one; my answers were serious, too.

[Sean]

Sean, I've met a fair number of musicians and music lovers in my life, and it's because I've volunteered to help music organizations, participated in ensembles, gone to concerts, joined a book club (I'd bet in any book club of 15-20 people, there will be at least two classical music fans), met people IRL from forums such as this, and taken music courses in college. The reason I made my suggestions is because I know they work.

When I was in high school -- a large suburban public high school -- one favorite after-school activity was going to someone's house to try to sightsing madrigals and perform music for each other. We also went to local concerts together. When I was in college, I got involved with a local piano competition, sang with various campus choruses, took music courses, and hung out in the music building a fair bit. I've already mentioned meeting my best friend in a chorus we both sang in after college. I'm still friends with some of my high school/college music buddies.

My focus has been more on the music than on recordings (not that there's anything wrong with a focus on recordings), so the activities in which I engage which put me in touch with other music lovers reflect that.

A lot of people will sit around and wonder why they don't know anyone who likes x.... but never put themselves in a position to meet people who like x! If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten, so if you don't like what you're getting, do something different!

If I want to meet Finns, I go to the local Finnish festival; if I want to meet Hungarians, I go to the local Hungarian festival. And if I want great homemade Greek food, I go to any number of the local Greek festivals! (And eat lots, and then explode. )

My suggestions were not glibly made, and I'm optimistic about them because I know they work. If you want to meet people interested in x, be where people like that are, join the organizations they join, volunteer to help out the organizations which promote x, and if there isn't an organization already, start one.

I agree that Ciel_Rouge's question is a serious one; my answers were serious, too.

Okay Owlice, I take your points and I'm sure they're more important in more socially vibrant settings, and you're right that nothing ventured nothing gained. I don't share any optimism you may have about meeting people interested in music as listening experience in music academic environments, but we can let that rest. Actually there are Recorded music societies in England where people meet to listen but they're kind-of dull I thought, even though that was one place I did indeed meet genuine listeners. Best, S

[drogulus]

     When I go to a concert there are usually other people there. If I wanted to talk to them it's certainly within the realm of possibilty that they wouldn't run away screaming.

     Of course I'd have to be careful. Once I attended a concert with my sister who shares with me a love for Mel Brooks films. It so happens that one of the male singers sported a neat little mustache and during his solo I leaned over to my sister and whisper-shouted "That's our Hitler!". By some standards it was the wrong thing to say.

[Ciel_Rouge]

Let's just say that on some local classical music forums in my country people post things like "seems we have attended the same concert again" but never speak to each other IRL. I even tried the really silly and crappy chatrooms (which are very popular in Poland) and dropped a line "I'll have a chat with someone who listens to the classical". One of the users replied "I listen to classical a little but do not want to chat about it". Another time I found a clarinetist on a local chat and chatted a bit but when I invited her to come over and see my classical collection she suddenly claimed that she is from another city I wonder if it is a common phenomenon where you live, but in my country women below 25 are paranoid about speaking to men because they are "too young" and if they are over 25 they are paranoid about "being married". It is easier to find dates than to find classical fans IRL. People just do not speak to each other unless they are family or dates. I find it a bit weird.

[owlice]

Ciel_Rouge, if people on those forums chat regularly on the forums, have you tried to arrange meeting them before a concert? I've attended numerous concerts with people from forums such as this one. Sometimes, what's needed is someone to organize the get-together; perhaps if you were that someone, you'd get to meet these other people.

As mentioned previously, a book club can also be a good way to find people interested in classical music. I used to participate in a book forum, and there were a number of classical music listeners in that group. (Just ask Karl! He participated there, too.)

[Ciel_Rouge]

owlice, the forums I mentioned are not very active and people usually post there once in a while AFTER attending a concert One of the problems with organizing it beforehand is this: once I started sharing musical inspirations with someone via email. She enjoyed it but after some time she created a separate email account for this - she said she has to be careful because she doesn't know what her husband would say...  Get it?

Where I live, the people who would listen to classical are usually about the age of 30. Those below this age listen to pop and find anything that goes beyond that to be "scary" and "weird". Those above the age of 40 and even 60, usually have a religious attitude towards old rock like Pink Floyd and consider it the only true form of art that exists. Therefore, I am left with the 25-35 crowd who are very open musically or even already listen to some kind of classical and would theoretically go into it further. However, they are usually married and paranoid about it This prevents them not only from becoming active classical fans and exchanging ideas with others but also from doing anything going beyond daily chores. This is very weird. Of course there are exceptions but I have yet to find those exceptions ;-)

As for the book clubs, I am really not sure if something like this exists in Poland. Maybe some fellow Poles on the forum could correct me on this. There are public libraries in most cities and towns and they are mostly visited by teenagers looking for books for their school assignments and by the elderly who borrow books to read at home. There is also book croossing where people leave books in public places to have them picked up and read by someone else but I guess it reached its peak popularity in late 1990s.

By the way, thanks owlice and everyone for your support I also listen to folk/ethno/world music and have been successful with finding other fans but with the classical it seems more tricky. All GMG members are therefore strongly encouraged to immigrate to Poland and join me in Szczecin at the coast of the Baltic Sea

[Szykneij]

All GMG members are therefore strongly encouraged to immigrate to Poland and join me in Szczecin at the coast of the Baltic Sea

I wish I could take you up on your offer. My ancestors are from Poland, but I've never had the opportunity to visit your country, although I would very much like to.

Meeting other classical music enthusiasts has never been a problem for me. Because I went to school for music and am now a music teacher, the people I've attended classes with and currently work with all have knowledge and interest in classical music. The workshops and seminars I attend for professional development allow me to meet many new people with classical interests.

Have you considered taking lessons on a classical instrument? Being able to play an instrument would open many doors to you in terms of meeting individuals who share your musical tastes. Your teacher would probably be able to put you in touch with other like-minded people, and if you take lessons at a music school, there are always ensembles and recitals for students of all levels.

[Ciel_Rouge]

Private lessons are available but I think I am not up to the task yet. I am considering messing around with a very simple instrument as you can see in another thread. So I guess for now I will go to see a live opera next year and try to run some kind of my own music appreciation class in cooperation with school teachers (as an extracuricular activity).

And by the way, my city is easily accessible from Germany, in fact it is only 2 hours away from Berlin (by train).