you know when you're a musical snob when...

[Tash]

i am a musical snob!

1) you start threads that pay out the non-musicals

2) you get exceptionally narky about people calling 'pieces' 'songs'

3) you refuse to listen to anything except classical music and look down on those who do

4) you stick your nose up at requests to play fur elise or the moonlight sonata 1st mvt

add more! this is a total joke so if you take it seriously i will have to smack you across the face exaggerate everything, pay yourself out and have a laugh!

[Siberian Husky]

hey i like to play moonlight 1st..AND fur elise..AND rach 3..

[jhon]

I have been a classical snob before for a very long time.  But now, I already understand non-classical people getting aloof or alienated with my (classical) music.  (For instance, it's just as the same as me feeling alienated in the fields of sports where I'm lousy at.)  So it's just normal for some people to dislike our classical craft.  I would still be good to them in real person; I'll just burst my fury when I'm in the piano - at least, I have transfromed my anger in a performing art!       

[wintervind]

I am a music snob to those who are music snobs

[Daevren]

Anyone that enjoys art has to be a snob.

[Waldszenen]

When

1. You hear Pachelbel's Canon on a TV ad and never buy the product that ad is promoting

2.


aaaah sh*t that's all I can think of

[pianonut]

you walk right by the pianist at the mall who is singing pop songs while playing.

only the left front balcony is your ticketed seat.

if a pianist has a bad performance, you don't tell them they played wonderfully and give them a standing ovation just because everyone else does.

when people ask your opinion of a performance - you give too much detail which causes others to think that you should be a music critique.

you make enemies when you speak about the quality of certain pianos.

you look at your nails a lot.

ok.  i'm not a snob.  just a copycat.  i watch my teacher and if he likes something, i like it.  if he doesn't...it must be wrong or lame.  say, for instance, if he stood up for a performance, i'd stand up.  i've never heard him make any mistakes, either, when he plays.  that gives you snob rights ? or, something like that. 

what if a person was such a snob that they didn't even recognize their own name on a program and forgot to come out.  hence, the 'no show' snob.  making people pay for a performance they never hear and have to come back again another time.

[Derek]

I think it is one thing to prefer certain kinds of music and quite another to judge music as though certain genres OUGHT to appeal to everyone. The latter is what I would call being a snob.

I prefer classical, death metal, and boogie woogie.  However there are many pop songs, even modern pop songs ,that I can enjoy...I just wouldn't listen to them every day, simply because of the vast amount of other music I'd rather listen to.  So in my OPINION, certain genres are better, and I enjoy them more, but it is very easy for me to see why less hardcore music lovers are into the music they like. Therefore I conclude I am not a snob.

[Siberian Husky]

TRUE FACT: Musical Snobs dont take showers

TRUE FACT: Nils Johan is a mammal

[jhon]

I think it is one thing to prefer certain kinds of music and quite another to judge music as though certain genres OUGHT to appeal to everyone. The latter is what I would call being a snob.

I prefer classical, death metal, and boogie woogie.  However there are many pop songs, even modern pop songs ,that I can enjoy...I just wouldn't listen to them every day, simply because of the vast amount of other music I'd rather listen to.  So in my OPINION, certain genres are better, and I enjoy them more, but it is very easy for me to see why less hardcore music lovers are into the music they like. Therefore I conclude I am not a snob.

I agree and concur.  Few, including me, like classical, and most others like pop.  There is no wrong or right, no good or bad.  You don't need to dislike somebody who's likes are your dislikes and vice versa.  In reality, we all have differences.  And the bottomline is, it's all just a matter of CHOICE.     

As I mentioned, I was classical snob before but I'm just feeling that as I grow older, I'm learning to SEPARATE my "pianist" and my "person" aspects.  All must understand that piano playing is just like any form of performing arts and arts in general is just an aesthetic REPRESENTATION of reality and you don't need to literally apply in real life those "realities" involved in your classical piano playing - especially if the "realities" depicted in your repertoire are anger, sadness, agitation, pessimism, nerdness, etc.   

So, what I mean is that it's fine to ACT a classical snob when you're in the piano playing as such is just a part of your (aesthetic) performance (or interpretation of a, let's say, demonic piece).  But definitely, when you're away from the piano in the real world, you can be as nice and normal as others are.  Of course, I'm not saying you push yourself too much that you would explore all these "non-classical stuffs" - vices, parties, etc.  It's up to you to know and establish your activities preferred and your limits.  Anwyay, such has far something to do with the real issue with classical snobs which is attitude.

[Jacey1973]

I agree and concur.  Few, including me, like classical, and most others like pop.  There is no wrong or right, no good or bad.  You don't need to dislike somebody who's likes are your dislikes and vice versa.  In reality, we all have differences.  And the bottomline is, it's all just a matter of CHOICE.     

As I mentioned, I was classical snob before but I'm just feeling that as I grow older, I'm learning to SEPARATE my "pianist" and my "person" aspects.  All must understand that piano playing is just like any form of performing arts and arts in general is just an aesthetic REPRESENTATION of reality and you don't need to literally apply in real life those "realities" involved in your classical piano playing - especially if the "realities" depicted in your repertoire are anger, sadness, agitation, pessimism, nerdness, etc.   

So, what I mean is that it's fine to ACT a classical snob when you're in the piano playing as such is just a part of your (aesthetic) performance (or interpretation of a, let's say, demonic piece).  But definitely, when you're away from the piano in the real world, you can be as nice and normal as others are.  Of course, I'm not saying you push yourself too much that you would explore all these "non-classical stuffs" - vices, parties, etc.  It's up to you to know and establish your activities preferred and your limits.  Anwyay, such has far something to do with the real issue with classical snobs which is attitude.

Yeah i agree. I find as i'm getting older you just learn to tolerate what other people like/do, and my classical/piano music interests are more personal/private until i meet other like-minded people (or pianists).

I can't stand attitude. I recently graduated and knew a few people like that on my course (i tended to avoid them. There was one pianist who drove me mad he was so far up his own arse. I used to book his favourite practise room - which was also my favourite, at times when i knew he would want to use it just to piss him off in the end....guess that was just a little bit petty but made me smile.  He used to only turn up to other pianists' recitals/concerts to compare his playing to ours which we didn't think much of...)

[jhon]

Yeah i agree. I find as i'm getting older you just learn to tolerate what other people like/do, and my classical/piano music interests are more personal/private until i meet other like-minded people (or pianists).

I can't stand attitude. I recently graduated and knew a few people like that on my course (i tended to avoid them. There was one pianist who drove me mad he was so far up his own arse. I used to book his favourite practise room - which was also my favourite, at times when i knew he would want to use it just to piss him off in the end....guess that was just a little bit petty but made me smile.  He used to only turn up to other pianists' recitals/concerts to compare his playing to ours which we didn't think much of...)

Thanks for agreeing.  I'm only 21 and honestly, it's only now I'm feeling the fruits of all the self-isolation I did to myself when I was still a classical snob - since I began at the piano!  As we grow older, we littel by little realize the value of things we have long ignored since childhood.  As they say, "You don't know what you get 'til it's gone..." 

And BTW, your story just PROVES that it does NOT necessarily follow that TWO classical  enthusiasts will always make good friends of each other 'cause more often than not, a "professional jealousy" may exist.  For instance, pianist Cecile Licad was married to cellist Antonio Meneses and had one child; but they divorced after 12 years.  Of course, this is not to conclude.  I also know also some couples who are both musicians whoose relationship lasts.   

Like what the law of science teaches us, "same repel, opposites attract."

[pianonut]

i don't know why, but repetition gets to me.  if a song is more pop oriented, i get tired of the repeats.  but, liking jazz more, i get into songs that move around and you don't know what to expect next.  (or lyrics that move around) 

perhaps it is snobbish, but it is simply a preference.  i wouldn't sit at the feet of the pianist in the mall, hotel, or restaurant unless they were able to maintain an audience of three or more people for five minutes.  is this snobbish?

here's another thing...if there are cigarette burns on a piano - i consider it wasted.  it bothers me when pianos are not adquately covered and get all marked up and scratched.  intitialized.  vandalized.  pedalized. 

[Jacey1973]

Thanks for agreeing.  I'm only 21 and honestly, it's only now I'm feeling the fruits of all the self-isolation I did to myself when I was still a classical snob - since I began at the piano!  As we grow older, we littel by little realize the value of things we have long ignored since childhood.  As they say, "You don't know what you get 'til it's gone..." 

And BTW, your story just PROVES that it does NOT necessarily follow that TWO classical  enthusiasts will always make good friends of each other 'cause more often than not, a "professional jealousy" may exist.  For instance, pianist Cecile Licad was married to cellist Antonio Meneses and had one child; but they divorced after 12 years.  Of course, this is not to conclude.  I also know also some couples who are both musicians whoose relationship lasts.   

Like what the law of science teaches us, "same repel, opposites attract."

Aha, i'm 21 too and feeling a little bit more grown up now a days..(if that is possible). I think you're prob right about same repel too...

[rob47]

Re: you know when you're a musical snob when...

in a drunken argument with non-musicain friends listing particular pop songs they enjoy you blurt out, "I'n on a higher musical level than you guys and always wil be!"

true story. I'm a jerk.

[Derek]

So, what I mean is that it's fine to ACT a classical snob when you're in the piano playing as such is just a part of your (aesthetic) performance (or interpretation of a, let's say, demonic piece). 

Do you really think its neccessary to ACT as a snob when playing certain piano pieces? How can that have any effect on how the piece sounds when you perform it? I don't understand.

Perhaps you meant its fine to bring to bear all of your finest musical judgements when performing... is that what you meant? If so, I really don't think that can be called "being a snob." Being a snob is something where other people find you unpleasant or opinionated or "too good for them."

[Mozartian]

i am a musical snob!

1) you start threads that pay out the non-musicals

2) you get exceptionally narky about people calling 'pieces' 'songs'

3) you refuse to listen to anything except classical music and look down on those who do

4) you stick your nose up at requests to play fur elise or the moonlight sonata 1st mvt

add more! this is a total joke so if you take it seriously i will have to smack you across the face exaggerate everything, pay yourself out and have a laugh!

lolol
I accidentally called a piece a song the other day and was ready to smack myself for it, the dude I was talking to was like.. what's your problem...
hahaha.

5) When you almost faint of horror when you hear a kid playing a JAZZ arrangement of Fur Elise (you think it sounds bad the way Beethoven wrote it... )

6) When someone mentions a song called raindrop and you say, "oh you mean that prelude Chopin wrote?"

7) when, after hearing you go on and on and on and on and on and on about your favorite pianist/piece of music/whatever, someone asks you, don't you like anything NORMAL?!

All of this has happened to me. <_< My friends totally think I'm insane now, heh.

[c18cont]

Who was it that said roughly,

When asked "what he thought of "such and such'es" (A FAMOUS composer)..music" replied..

"I'll wait untill he writes some to answer..."....?

John

[c18cont]

"Friends"?,

You HAVE non-classical "friends"?

John

[pianonut]

they're classified

a) at least recognize composer's names
b) won't keep changing the radio station
c) know a lot about something else (be it weather forcasting or bird watching)
d) never beat you at those 'what piece is this?' game
annoying fact:  my husband knows more pieces than i do, and i have to ask him sometimes 'who do you think wrote this piece?'  he's always right.

[Tash]

interesting reactions to the thread. i hope nobody's getting too narky over snobishness, or i may have to accuse you of being snobbish over the snobs!! haha it gets complicated
cheers everyone! i'm going to start the classical-snob society, where everyone will probably revolt against each other because they'll be like i'm a bigger snob than you. oh the horror can you imagine...

[pianonut]

some snobs don't even know they are being snobbish (or don't try to be snobbish).  they just instinctively know what sounds good, how to do something, or whatever.  then the peons bash them for knowing things, and are jealous and think 'why are they so good at playing, and good looking too.'  they must be a snob.  little do they realize the enduring pain and sufferring of living alone, practicing day and night, and having no social life (except for the occasional neighbor upstairs coming down to complain about the noise).

i think true snobs are not really snobs at all.  in fact, they could actually be nice if you didn't ask questions so freqently like 'how long did it take you to learn that piece?'  'how many hours do you practice per day?' 'what's your phone number'   just imagining the problems (not that i know this).  in fact, i asked a fellow pianist who was being juried right before me and who played fantastically how long he practiced every day.  he said two hours.  which made me feel inadequate right there.  never ask stupid questions to 'snobs.'

[jhon]

Do you really think its neccessary to ACT as a snob when playing certain piano pieces? How can that have any effect on how the piece sounds when you perform it? I don't understand.

Perhaps you meant its fine to bring to bear all of your finest musical judgements when performing... is that what you meant? If so, I really don't think that can be called "being a snob." Being a snob is something where other people find you unpleasant or opinionated or "too good for them."

Yeah that is what I meant.  And yes...it's not actually being a snob because in the first place, you act such within the bounderies of your performance.  Putting it in reality - the real you as a person - is a different matter.

[c18cont]

Only the Young can Say....

John

[c18cont]

Does insisting on playing only a Tier I piano,

Mean a person is a snob, or just very accomplished...?

John

[Torp]

in a drunken argument with non-musicain friends listing particular pop songs they enjoy you blurt out, "I'n on a higher musical level than you guys and always wil be!"

Well, the fact that your friends were not capable of recognizing this fact in the first place is no reason for you to feel any remorse.  Yes, we are surrounded by musical neanderthals and it is perhaps our karmic duty to suffer them, but what else are we to do?  They seem so appalled when we're offended by their choice of radio station but really we're just trying to educate their pathetically weak musical palettes.  Afterall, it is probably not their fault they are tone deaf or that they've been lulled into a mindless stupor by the elevator prosac of pop music.  It is but our place to show compassion...


(hopefully everone's sarcasm meter was blowing a fuse, but Tash did say to go over the top with it) 

[thalberg]

I think I'm a musical snob because.....(and this is a joke so don't be mean to me!)

When I hear so-called "popular" music, my stomach turns.  Sometimes I burst out laughing if the "song" is bad enough.

I threw out all my albums with popular music on them because I was embarrassed someone might see them.

When people ask if I play anything besides "classical," I say "yes, I also play Baroque, Romantic, Impressionistic music, and so on..."  (by classical, I'm fully aware most people mean art music in general, but I answer them according to the real definition of the term just to be a snot)

I get REALLY angry when people say I'm narrow minded for not playing Rock.

I go to a concert and sit entirely alone rather than enduring the uninformed comments of a non-musician friend. (that's REALLY snobby and not very nice, but it's true--sorry!)

When people say, "so how come there's no Mozarts and Beethovens around today?"  (a common question I seem to get)  I say, "there are....you're just out of touch."

[musik_man]

Thalberg, you're narrow-minded for not listening to Rock!

 

Seriously though, there are some great rock bands who play very complex music.  I'll list some bands you should try out.

Gentle Giant-They play some complex rock with alot of medievil influences.  Each member of the band plays 3 or 4 different instruments and all contribute to the vocals.  It's also the only rock band I know of who wrote a 4-voiced fugue. (On Reflection)  Try In a Glass House or Free Hand.

Yes-Probably the biggest of any prog bands.  Anything from The Yes Album through Going for the One is great.  Their best two works are Close to the Edge(one 18 minute song and two 10 minute ones) and Tales from Topographic Oceans(four 20 minute songs).

Genesis-More pastoral than the other two.(note I only recommend the '70's stuff for Genesis, all the pop stuff from the 80's is terrible)  Nursery Cryme through Wind and Wuthering are great albums.

You can download a few tracks from these bands at Progarchives.com  and that should show you that not all rock music sucks.

[Rach3]

When people say, "so how come there's no Mozarts and Beethovens around today?"  (a common question I seem to get)  I say, "there are....you're just out of touch."

There are? Who are they? I've heard lots of the 'better known' contemporaries (Corigliano, Rorem, Riech, Cage...) and even if they can occasionaly write passable symphonies (Corigliano), I'm fairly sure none of what I've heard will be remembered 150+ years from now. Are there really great composers alive now that I haven't heard of?

[Siberian Husky]

you know your a musical snob when you have all this time left over to spend on measuring the depth of your musical superiority..because your ugly and no one will give you the time of day....*zing*

come on guys lets not get testy!...i call em like i see em

rob47 made me do it

[happyface94]

I think I am one. But I don't see myself as a snob but more like an excentric outsider...

I mean to me classical music is just totally superior than popular music and everytime I hear someone say that "omg this song is so great" I just nod along thinking that any piece composed by x composer took thousands times more genius than that.

[thalberg]

Well, Rach3, I really think that what people mean when they ask me that is, "why is it that no one writes art music anymore?"  Or at least that's what I *think* they mean.  (I never get that question from serious musicians.)  So my answer just means that people do still write art music.   And I really do think there are some composers alive today who will be remembered in 150 years, though I don't want to call down the thunder by making specific guesses.

[thalberg]

And I'll keep your suggestions in mind, musikman, when I have some spare time.  Sounds interesting.