by Stacy Chambers

Created on: June 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 10, 2011

As an instructor of music with a degree in music composition, I meet many people who have an interest in music but are afraid to pursue it because they don't want to spend hours and hours at the piano or another instrument. It has become almost a myth that you must be a classical musician in order to enjoy and understand classical music. This isn't true. After all, it was classical music that paved the way for jazz, rock, and pop. You hear the same notes that you would in classical music, just in a different style.

An understanding of the basics can lead to more enjoyment in listening to classical music. Many classical pieces have simple melodies that can be played on the piano (or another instrument) with little movement around the keyboard. Even Twinkle Twinkle Little Star has its roots in classical music, as the melody was originally written by Mozart. When you progress on an instrument, you are bound to find classical pieces you love to play over and over.

Listening to music is another way to foster understanding and enjoyment of music. If you have any interest at all in classical music, see live performances. Local newspapers and magazines often have listings of classical music performances, many of which are free. Much classical music was written before recording was possible, and therefore was meant to be heard live.

(Actually, it could be argued that all classical musiceven that written after the invention of recordingis really meant to be heard live. You may be surprised to know that classical music is still being written to this day!) Recordings are great, but live performance is even better because of the energy and excitement that exudes from the players. Think about the last time you attended a concert of your favorite rock band and the memories this fostered. The same thing can happen with classical music performances. And there's nothing better than attending a live performance and recognizing a piece you have heard or a melody you have played yourself.

Seeing a live performance is especially important in opera. Opera was once the 'movies' of our forefathers, the chosen form of entertainment that everyone, from servants to royalty, got to enjoy. The drama and music in an opera are written to be seamless from each other. I think this is why so many people claim to hate opera. Recordings just don't carry the same energy as the live performance. If you can't afford opera tickets, which unfortunately in large cities are expensive, try seeing an opera put on by a local university.

If you are learning an instrument, many cities and towns also have amateur orchestras people can join, and there's no limit to the combinations of instruments you can enjoy playing along with if you find like-minded people who want to listen and to play music. Just listening to music can help you understand it more, and therefore, help you enjoy it.

Learn more about this author, Stacy Chambers.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.