Is classical music sports?

[cuberdrift]

It's so much about competitions and being perfect and better than the rest, not anymore about individual creativity and expression!

Why is it so sports-like? Are people and artists okay with this? Is this really how classical music is viewed by society, today?

Why is there so much focus on who is the better performer more so than inspiring new compositions?

Plus anyone who has seen the film "Whiplash" should relate. While not classical, it certainly has so much to say about the musical world we live in.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

It's so much about competitions and being perfect and better than the rest, not anymore about individual creativity and expression!

Why is it so sports-like? Are people and artists okay with this? Is this really how classical music is viewed by society, today?

Why is there so much focus on who is the better performer more so than inspiring new compositions?

Plus anyone who has seen the film "Whiplash" should relate. While not classical, it certainly has so much to say about the musical world we live in.

This is the why I think classical music has the most vile toxic culture and the worst people in it.

Your second question is false though there’s tons of new music coming out today but people don’t like it.

And whiplash has absolutely nothing to do with the music scene and what conservatory life is at all so I don’t think it’s fair to bring that movie up in any conversation about music.

[j_tour]

Yeah, sure.

It's sports for tiger-moms, dumbasses, and people who just plain are terrible people.

There is an athletic element, but that trend, it's been going on for hundreds of years.  Vide contemporary reviews of Bach's prowess as an organist.

It's like golf or bowling.  One of those "sports" where you can drink and smoke at the same time you get some for the Gipper.

Just human nature, I suppose.

ETA And, yeah, I think every person should try to rise above that basic standard.  But, it's still a fact of at least my life that you have to spend twenty seconds in front of new acquaintances or potential bandmates by doing some stupid little flourishes.  Then you can play the real stuff, as in what fits the tune. 

People are just like that:  once you establish that you can do some ocotonic scales or whatever, then you can start to play real music.

[georgey]

Just some personal thoughts in my unique current situation.  I ask myself: Which would I rather do:  Play chess or compose a new fugue on an original Russian folk theme in the style of Bach?

In the case of chess, there is a market for my ability level.  People go to chess tournaments to compete and are looking for club players in the 1700-1900 elo rating to compete against.  I also have the ability to practice to see if I can get to the next level of 2000 elo. 

As far as writing fugues in the style of Bach, there is no market.  I would enjoy writing such a fugue if there was an interest for some to hear my fugue.  The only scenario I could imagine that someone would be interested in listening to such a fugue is this hypothetical situation:  There is a "write a fugue in the style of Bach contest”. 20-30 amateur composers will be participating and I am permitted to enter.  I know that judges will be listening to my fugue and probably many of the competitors will also listen – like I would listen to their fugues.  But no such contest exists and I could write a fine fugue and no one would know or care.

So, I ask myself:  Should I work on chess or my fugue?  The answer is simple – work on chess – there is a market for my skills.  I’m not talking about making money – just talking about doing something where someone else would be interested in my work.  My chess opponent is interested in my work as it plays out in the chess match. Competition is needed for there to be this interest.

[ted]

Competition is very important to some musicians, as are money, fame and perpetuity. For some people, possibly most people, these things define success in any endeavour and sit at the core of the individual psyche. To a certain extent it appears to be inherent in human behaviour to impose linear comparison on music, even if the art itself defies linearity. Possibly classical music performance, owing to its strict boundaries of interpretation and tradition, is much more easily ascribed linear characteristics for comparison.

For myself, no, these external objectives have never driven me and I play and create solely to enjoy myself, but I admit I would probably be in a minority.

[dogperson]

Interesting question from someone whom I believe is just graduating with a degree

My perspective is that classical music, like many things in life, can be competitive or not... your choice.  You can choose to teach students how to play, not to compete, but for the joy of making music with your own two hands.  You can teach composition with the goal of new music that fills the composer’s soul.

With the OPs music degree, there is a choice about the perspective to choose. I would encourage  ‘because of the intrinsic beauty of the music’.  You can give your students a lifetime of joy.