I listen to... erm... yes

[tompilk]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone else has or had this problem... I'm 15 and when at school, people say "which is your favourite band?" or "what do you listen to?". The thing is I only listen to piano music... i know it sounds narrow... but it's true... my iPod also puts me in tricky situations... 15gigs of "Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Liszt" under composers, and "Argerich, Horowitz, Cziffra, Volodos" under artist... lol. What do you say when asked questions like this? Because ill have the mik taken out of me for teh rest of my school days if I say the truth... what i normally say is "i listen to teh radio", and i have told two of my friends, who are musical anyway.. but still... lol...
What should i be saying? Also, people misinterpret what i listen to as "classical" being all Mozart and Beethoven.. I bet some people don't even here some of the exciting piano music (such as scriabin sonatas, concertos (other than boring "snore" mozart ones etc  because they instantly think "yuk - mozart".
I bet a few million youngsters in the UK alone would start instruments and love piano music if tehy didnt have the stereotyped view on the music i love...
It makes me sad...
Oh, and please answer my question at teh beginning of this post... thanks,
Tom

[thalbergmad]

I had the same problem Tom, until the day i invited all the people that were giving me grief to the music room for a mini recital.

Many people criticise what they have never heard, especially if they think it is un-trendy.

Sit them round the piano and show your stuff.

If that fails, then resort to violence.

[Bob]

I would tell them what pop music I do like.  I mean there must be something pop out there that you like.

Then I would say that I don't restrict myself to whatever's on the radio and I like a lot of different kinds of music.  Name something slightly off the beaten path.  Then get to the piano music.

That way you connect with them, show that you have tastes, and get the piano in there.  They're not just asking directly what music you like -- They are asking if you have things in common and if you like their company.  What will they say if you tell them you don't limit yourself to only the stuff on the radio?

[stevie]

piano music isnt exactly narrow, the stylistic diversity inherent in the more complex musical styles in the piano literature is much more wide than pop music on the radio.

answer the questions honestly, dont be afraid of who you are, and always wear a condom.

[tompilk]

I had the same problem Tom, until the day i invited all the people that were giving me grief to the music room for a mini recital.

Many people criticise what they have never heard, especially if they think it is un-trendy.

Sit them round the piano and show your stuff.

If that fails, then resort to violence.

the thing is, people at my school wouldn't even sit around a piano unless they were paid... and even then it would be hard...

I would tell them what pop music I do like.  I mean there must be something pop out there that you like.

Then I would say that I don't restrict myself to whatever's on the radio and I like a lot of different kinds of music.  Name something slightly off the beaten path.  Then get to the piano music.

That way you connect with them, show that you have tastes, and get the piano in there.  They're not just asking directly what music you like -- They are asking if you have things in common and if you like their company.  What will they say if you tell them you don't limit yourself to only the stuff on the radio?

I named something off teh beaten track usually.. normally i say "Dream Theatre" and other metal groups.. thats what i would listen to if there was no piano.. but i really haven't listened to anything otehr than piano for about 2 years... lol... my last cd i bought was NOW 49...lol
Tom

[Tash]

i'm impressed that at 15 you've got an ipod full of classical music!! good work there should be more kids out there like you:)

meanwhile yeah i tend to have the same problem, except my general group of friends expect it from me, but then i tell randoms- yes i am proud of it and couldn't care less if they think i'm a freak, actually most of the time it just baffles them- and they're like 'REALLY'

anyway, just tell them you listen to classical music because you think pop music is boring or whatever- you can justify this by using random musical terms like it consists on chords I, IV and V and there's so much more to music than this, then make a rant on how pop music rips off classical music anyway. then tell them that there's more to classical music than mozart and 'furry lease' and the only reason why they don't listen to it is because they're ignorant.

or better yet, be well-rounded and say that you listen to everything, say you like a bit of pop, bit of jazz, love some classical and even some world music- maybe it's different for girls, but as soon as my non-music friends realised that i am quite serious about my musical studies they respected my choice in what i listen to. hmmm technical musical words are good...just act intelligently about it and if they pay you out then just be like 'so? big deal' - you don't need to care what they think!


random other story, when i was in NZ my ipod randomly died, and in dunedin i amazingly spotted an Apple store, so took my ipod in to go what, the dude just restarted it for me and then played a track to see if it was working fine- liszt hungarian rhapsodies came on, the guy's like wow classical i can't say there are many ipods with that in them, ususally i have to listen to some awful music. and i was like yeah classical is the coolest!!

[Kassaa]

I just tell everyone I listen Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Liszt, Brahms, Alkan etc. Couldn't care less about what other people think about the music I listen. (And no, I don't get bullied with it)

[chopinfan_22]

Everyone knows that I listen to piano music, and they don't really have a problem with it. They see it as individuality, and they value that. I guess it sort of helps when people think you're good at playing.

[g_s_223]

Annoying questions: https://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=6533

[I Love Xenakis]

I always tell them I listen to classical, but force in remarks about Xenakis to sound very smart.  Then I make them listen to the first movement of the Bartok Sonata Sz. 80 or the first movement of the Corigliano Piano Concerto.

[alejo_90]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone else has or had this problem... I'm 15 and when at school, people say "which is your favourite band?" or "what do you listen to?". The thing is I only listen to piano music... i know it sounds narrow... but it's true... my iPod also puts me in tricky situations... 15gigs of "Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Liszt" under composers, and "Argerich, Horowitz, Cziffra, Volodos" under artist... lol. What do you say when asked questions like this? Because ill have the mik taken out of me for teh rest of my school days if I say the truth... what i normally say is "i listen to teh radio", and i have told two of my friends, who are musical anyway.. but still... lol...
What should i be saying? Also, people misinterpret what i listen to as "classical" being all Mozart and Beethoven.. I bet some people don't even here some of the exciting piano music (such as scriabin sonatas, concertos (other than boring "snore" mozart ones etc  because they instantly think "yuk - mozart".
I bet a few million youngsters in the UK alone would start instruments and love piano music if tehy didnt have the stereotyped view on the music i love...
It makes me sad...
Oh, and please answer my question at teh beginning of this post... thanks,
Tom

We have a lot in common Tom, and yes I had the same problem some time ago.

My Music Library has 950+ tracks of only Classical Music. I can't afford an iPod so I burn Cd's for my Sony Walkman. My whole library fits in 12 discs in ATRAC3 format (almost the same as MP3 format). I only listen to classical, and specially Piano music.

In my school they think you are a freak if you dislike Reggaeton, but when I'm asked, I just tell the truth: " I like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff" and my friends put their "Whaaattt ?" face. To be honest I don't care if they think I'm a wierdo because I like Beethoven, and I think you should do the same

i'm impressed that at 15 you've got an ipod full of classical music!! good work there should be more kids out there like you:)

There's one right here he's and calling for attention !! 

[tompilk]

We have a lot in common Tom, and yes I had the same problem some time ago.

My Music Library has 950+ tracks of only Classical Music. I can't afford an iPod so I burn Cd's for my Sony Walkman. My whole library fits in 12 discs in ATRAC3 format (almost the same as MP3 format). I only listen to classical, and specially Piano music.

In my school they think you are a freak if you dislike Reggaeton, but when I'm asked, I just tell the truth: " I like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff" and my friends put their "Whaaattt ?" face. To be honest I don't care if they think I'm a wierdo because I like Beethoven, and I think you should do the same

There's one right here he's and calling for attention !! 

yeah... i filled it complettely 2 days ago... 2840 tracks... 9.8 days of music!!!
Thanks for your replies...
Tom

[jas]

Sit them round the piano and show your stuff.

If that fails, then resort to violence.

answer the questions honestly, dont be afraid of who you are, and always wear a condom.

Aw, this is what I like about this site: you can ask any question and, day or night, you'll get sound, reliable advice.

To that I'll add, just tell them what you listen to and if they have a problem then it's their problem, not yours. Although, at 15, sensible thinking like that rarely has the desired effect...

Jas

[Mozartian]

Hah. I just make 'em listen to the 3rd movement of Alkan's concerto for solo piano if they annoy me too much. That shuts them up.

But yes, I feel your pain; really annoying to get the 'omg HOW do you get INTO that kind of music? *shudder*" reaction. 

[contrapunctus]

I am very free with the fact that I listen to classical music, I like the attention it gets. 

I am also free with the fact that I do not like pop music, etc. 
One of my favorite things to say about pop music and rap is, "How did they manage to push crap through speakers?"
I find that hilarious.

[alejo_90]

I am very free with the fact that I listen to classical music, I like the attention it gets. 

I am also free with the fact that I do not like pop music, etc. 
One of my favorite things to say about pop music and rap is, "How did they manage to push crap through speakers?"
I find that hilarious.

Me too...lol

[donjuan]

Typically, if you want friends (normal friends, not musician-friends), play down your involvement with classical music.  I can certainly relate to you when others ask "what's your favorite band" or 'What snowboarding company is the coolest" or "who's your favorite 'Friend's' character"..

To the pop culture stuff, I dont have an answer because I have been living under a rock all these years.
To the music one, I say "I like all good music."  I learned this indirectly through my music teacher, when I asked him who his favorite composer was.  Just say "I like all good music" and no one hates you.  Say you like classical, and yes, their ignorance will make them hate and shun you.  If they ask you specifically "Oh yeah? Do you like ______?" say YES, no matter what. Obviously they like whatever it is they bring into the conversation.  Hopefully, you will know something about ______ and can talk about it with them for a while - long enough to change the subject, that is.

This is what you do if you want lots of friends, and if you want to get laid.  If you only want good friends that relate to you, never lie.  But you might have to wait a while, and during this time, you might forget how to talk to people.  and then you dont meet anyone.

whatever you do, do NOT try to change people, or push your own interests on them, even if they do it to you.  (thinking about techniques in "talking to my grandmother when she starts preaching")

however,
if they are immigrants from Asia or Europe, you can be frank with these people because unlike your peers, they have seen the world.  They typically know the term "Classical music" extends beyond Fur Elise, and will be pleasantly surprised to meet a local with differing tastes from what they have come across.  I love talking to lonely, fresh immigrants because like me, they dont know a *** thing about the people around them.

Just my experience, anyway.  And I have had to talk to a lot of stupid people in my short life.

[alejo_90]

Typically, if you want friends (normal friends, not musician-friends), play down your involvement with classical music.  I can certainly relate to you when others ask "what's your favorite band" or 'What snowboarding company is the coolest" or "who's your favorite 'Friend's' character"..

To the pop culture stuff, I dont have an answer because I have been living under a rock all these years.
To the music one, I say "I like all good music."  I learned this indirectly through my music teacher, when I asked him who his favorite composer was.  Just say "I like all good music" and no one hates you.  Say you like classical, and yes, their ignorance will make them hate and shun you.  If they ask you specifically "Oh yeah? Do you like ______?" say YES, no matter what. Obviously they like whatever it is they bring into the conversation.  Hopefully, you will know something about ______ and can talk about it with them for a while - long enough to change the subject, that is.

This is what you do if you want lots of friends, and if you want to get laid.  If you only want good friends that relate to you, never lie.  But you might have to wait a while, and during this time, you might forget how to talk to people.  and then you dont meet anyone.

whatever you do, do NOT try to change people, or push your own interests on them, even if they do it to you.  (thinking about techniques in "talking to my grandmother when she starts preaching")

however,
if they are immigrants from Asia or Europe, you can be frank with these people because unlike your peers, they have seen the world.  They typically know the term "Classical music" extends beyond Fur Elise, and will be pleasantly surprised to meet a local with differing tastes from what they have come across.  I love talking to lonely, fresh immigrants because like me, they dont know a *** thing about the people around them.

Just my experience, anyway.  And I have had to talk to a lot of stupid people in my short life.

Now I can say I have a lot in common with all the members of this forum. You're the best. Don't change !