Classical Music Stereotypes

[ChamberNut]

There are many!

Like....

Classical Music is for old people.
Classical Music is for the wealthy.
Classical Music is for the snobbish rich.

Others?

[MN Dave]

It's boring.

[op.110]

for the pretentious
for the English and their tea times
for the nerds

[Kullervo]

All classical music listeners are smart. Thankfully some of the posters here have been brave enough to prove that awful stereotype false.

Also, that everyone who listens to classical music looks like this:

[greg]

It's boring.

I like to erase that conception- if only in a few people, by letting friends listen to Stravinsky and Xenakis. Now they problem just think it's all crazy. 

All classical music listeners are smart.

Ha, I can erase that conception just by existing! 

[hornteacher]

I hear this from my uneducated students all the time:

"Classical Music is meaningless because there aren't any lyrics."

[greg]

"Classical Music is meaningless because there aren't any lyrics."

hmmmm i've liked instrumental music ever since i started listening to music. I just don't get society.

[Don]

I find that the best thing to do with these stereotypes is to pay them no mind.

[Brian]

It all sounds like Mozart.

[Don]

There are many!

Like....

Classical Music is for the wealthy.

Now that one's true.  The year I got back into classical music, my income tripled.

[Brian]

Now that one's true.  The year I got back into classical music, my income tripled.

Share your secrets! 

[Bonehelm]

It has no melody, no feeling, and it's way too long for the sake of my ears.

[Monsieur Croche]

It's good for relaxing/sleeping.

I hear this from my uneducated students all the time:

"Classical Music is meaningless because there aren't any lyrics."

You mean Josh Groban is not classical?

Now that one's true.  The year I got back into classical music, my income tripled.

And your expenditure..........?

[marvinbrown]

There are many!

Like....

Classical Music is for the snobbish rich.

Others?

  Are we snobs?  Well I can only speak for myself.  Personally I believe that when compared to classical music,  pop and rock music are trash. If that makes me a snob, so be it!

marvin

[ChamberNut]

"You have to be a musician to appreciate classical music"

"Baroque music all sounds the same"

"Mozart's music is all light, sunny, and not serious"

[greg]

"You have to be a musician to appreciate classical music"

"Baroque music all sounds the same"

"Mozart's music is all light, sunny, and not serious"

I've never heard any of those. Hardly anyone is educated enough with classical to even make such claims. Maybe by those few with a limited exposure.......

[Brian]

"Baroque music all sounds the same"

There is an excellent PDQ Bach skit to this effect. 

[PerfectWagnerite]

"Baroque music all sounds the same"

Other than Bach and Handel, other Baroque music pretty much sound the same. Let's get real, the differences are second-order.

[Moldyoldie]

It all sounds like Mozart.

Perhaps a variation: Mozart sounds like generic classical music.

Others:
Pierre Boulez conducts coldly and analytically.

Otto Klemperer's performances are architecturally solid; i.e., "granitic".

Herbert von Karajan's performances are sleek and over-polished.

And one of my favorites:
The Emerson Quartet has technique to burn, but no soul.

I'm sure I can think of others given time.

[Don]

Share your secrets! 

I got a huge promotion and bonus.  Turns out that the "big boss" was also a classical music man.  Of course, my excellence in the work place didn't hurt any.