Children and Music

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XavierAlex
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Children and Music

Post by XavierAlex »

Children respond to certain music. They may love certain songs, and adults find the taste of the song bad. Is there a bias as adults grow older and become persuaded against the music they loved as a child? For example, children may like some effeminate teenage singer, while adults find that unsophisticated and prefer classical music or jazz. How does this process work—going from effeminate teenage boy singer to Mozart?
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Misty
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Misty »

Maturity happens, unless you are a Jackie Evanko, 11 yr. old opera singer, the best I ever heard.
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Prismatic
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Prismatic »

XavierAlex wrote:Children respond to certain music. They may love certain songs, and adults find the taste of the song bad. Is there a bias as adults grow older and become persuaded against the music they loved as a child? For example, children may like some effeminate teenage singer, while adults find that unsophisticated and prefer classical music or jazz. How does this process work—going from effeminate teenage boy singer to Mozart?
You might extend this idea to the music of different cultures. the composer Bartok, who was interested in ethnic music, notes in one of his essays that the music of every culture has two basic elements—rhythm and melody. Those are the elements of the simplest music and sometimes there is nothing else. When that is true the rhythm and melody can become complex. Harmony and counterpoint are more complex forms of musical organization that develop later.

A lot of teenage songs are musically simple, but linked to a sociology separating listeners from others—their parents, adults in general, and those who aren't cool and "don't get it." A strong rhythm is a prominent feature. The disco craze was entirely based on a strong dance rhythm as was the Charleston craze of the twenties.

I don't see any reason to try to lure teenagers away from their music, but it's good if they acquire a taste for other music as well. Rhythm is often a very strong element in classical music—for example the ever-popular Bolero by Ravel as well as his Scarbo, and Islamey by Balakirev. (Scarbo and Islamey are said to be the two most difficult piano pieces ever written.)
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Belinda »

Prismatic wrote:
I don't see any reason to try to lure teenagers away from their music, but it's good if they acquire a taste for other music as well.
But how can teenagers or anyone else devote the energy and time that are necessary for acquiring musical appreciation or performance ability without the provision of an environment that is not dumbed down by easy, seductive pop music ?
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Misty
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Misty »

Belinda wrote:Prismatic wrote:
I don't see any reason to try to lure teenagers away from their music, but it's good if they acquire a taste for other music as well.
But how can teenagers or anyone else devote the energy and time that are necessary for acquiring musical appreciation or performance ability without the provision of an environment that is not dumbed down by easy, seductive pop music ?

Hello Belinda,

Pop music is not a dumbed down form of music. It is relative and very important to society. All people have the right to like or dislike Mozart, Jazz, Pop or whatever. What one likes is no one else's business unless it is meant to hurt or kill others. If you like Moart for instance - that does not make you a better judge of music than the person who likes Pop. Wasn't Mozart the "pop" of his day? My favorite pop song is 'Imagine' by the Beatles - I love, love, love it. But I can also appreciate opera now because of Jackie Evanko. I listen to different kinds of music when a mood hits me. While some of the modern music just sounds like irritating noise to me, does not mean it sounds like that to the makers of said music. I can choose not to listen to it. No one has to appreciate a form of music because another finds it more sophisticated. Music, like love, beauty, ugly, etc., is in the eye of the beholder.
Things are not always as they appear; it's a matter of perception.

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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

I'm not convinced that teenagers like Mozart less than adults. I suspect that the comparison to pop stars doesn't fit because the pop stars are specifically marketed to a certain demographic who are most affordable to make into repeat buyers, such as middle to upper-class teenagers who have disposable income from a lack of living expenses such as rent to pay combined with an allowance and/or part-time job also combined with a financial feeling of irresponsibility and needlessness to save. The way adults appreciate Mozart does not compare to the way this fraction of teenagers react to the heavily commercialism, advertised commodity that is hard to even call musical art. In other words, it may not be that teenagers like Mozart less, but that adults like pop stars less and everyone likes Mozart the same.

Independent artists may not be appreciated by teenagers for the same reasons as pop stars, and these independent artists probably have a lot more appeal among adults than pop stars. But again this doesn't necessarily mean these indie-liking teenagers like Mozart less, but just that the adults like or I think more likely simply haven't heard many of these indie artists.

In any case, the conclusions to me seems not that teenagers like Mozart less than adults but that teenagers listen to music more.
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Prismatic »

Belinda wrote: But how can teenagers or anyone else devote the energy and time that are necessary for acquiring musical appreciation or performance ability without the provision of an environment that is not dumbed down by easy, seductive pop music?
You don't wait until the teenage years to start children learning about music. If a variety of music is part of their home life from their earliest years, they will usually come to like it. Every child should have the chance to learn to play an instrument. What degree of success you have depends on the children's intelligence and your diligence. In my own case I am more devoted to classical music than my parents were or my children are, but everyone in the family has some interest in music and my middle son can pick up an instrument and start getting music out of it right away, but his interest is in ethnic music and instruments.

Teenage music has a large social component—it's part of being in a group with tastes and styles separate from the taste and style of adults. It's almost a world-wide thing. If you go to London or Paris, teenagers on the streets are dressed just like American teens and they probably listen to the same kind of music.
Everywhere I have sought peace and never found it except in a corner with a book. —Thomas à Kempis
Jklint
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Jklint »

Classical music doesn't have much of an impact anyways. It's becoming more archival than appreciated. It's an art that's going down maybe not as much as poetry which is almost defunct but down is nevertheless DOWN!
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Prismatic
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Prismatic »

Jklint wrote:Classical music doesn't have much of an impact anyways. It's becoming more archival than appreciated. It's an art that's going down maybe not as much as poetry which is almost defunct but down is nevertheless DOWN!
In these days of mass communication, communication of all sorts must suit the masses.
Everywhere I have sought peace and never found it except in a corner with a book. —Thomas à Kempis
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HANDSON
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Re: Children and Music

Post by HANDSON »

Prismatic wrote:
Teenage music has a large social component—it's part of being in a group with tastes and styles separate from the taste and style of adults. It's almost a world-wide thing. If you go to London or Paris, teenagers on the streets are dressed just like American teens and they probably listen to the same kind of music.
In addition music aimed at the youth culture takes into account the hormonal nature of the beast. I wouldn't call pop music unsophisticated but the sometimes frantic beat, decibel level and lyrics written for those approaching active sexuality works in attracting teenagers.
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Jklint
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Jklint »

Prismatic wrote:
Jklint wrote:Classical music doesn't have much of an impact anyways. It's becoming more archival than appreciated. It's an art that's going down maybe not as much as poetry which is almost defunct but down is nevertheless DOWN!
In these days of mass communication, communication of all sorts must suit the masses.
...with the corresponding dilution especially when an art is assumed to be too complicated to be understood.
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Maldon007
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Maldon007 »

How does this process work—going from effeminate teenage boy singer to Mozart?
I think it is 90% capricious pier pressure/10% changes in physiology & taste.
XavierAlex
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Re: Children and Music

Post by XavierAlex »

Prismatic wrote: You don't wait until the teenage years to start children learning about music. If a variety of music is part of their home life from their earliest years, they will usually come to like it.
This is more what I had in mind, but couldn't quite express it. My nephew at one point was about three or four years old and he had a discerning taste for certain, that could be considered adult. Then he went through many phases. Still likes the older music, but perhaps will grow to appreciate more sophisticated and elaborate music.

Is there some kind of "blank slate," in which the child will like anything? A two year old may like Sesame Street songs, but ten year old won't. A 15 year old may like rock and rock, while a 30 year old will like Jazz or ethnic music.

Then the child, who has matured, may look back and wonder why he or she appreciated a certain type of music.

Perhaps there is immature and mature music?
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Re: Children and Music

Post by A Poster He or I »

Love of pop music and love of Mozart don't necessarily represent any kind of developmental spectrum. And they certainly don't preclude each other.

I grew up with 60's pop and The Beatles were my favorite. I was exposed to classical music haphazardly but was mostly intrigued by the orchestra, not the music (which I didn't understand).

At age 13, I heard the opening of Beethoven's 6th Symphony in a movie I was watching and it blew my mind. A real epiphany. I spent the next few months listening to every classical record I could get from my local library and have loved classical ever since (though not opera).

My love of pop and rock never suffered for this. I love Abba as much as Mozart. They are apples and oranges to me: comparing them is merely an academic exercise. When I hear one I respond to its musical language alone, whichever it is.
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Re: Children and Music

Post by Prismatic »

Today's New York Times carried an interview with the violinist and conductor Joshua Bell, who has been prominent since he was a teenager. In one section he describes what he listens to as he travels the world performing:
Joshua Bell wrote:LISTENING. I never tire of the nine symphonies of Beethoven, and my iPod is stocked with multiple interpretations — Kleiber, Harnoncourt, Norrington — each radically different but equally compelling. These recordings have inspired me as I have begun my own adventures directing these great works. I have just completed recording the Fourth and Seventh Symphonies with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. My dream is to conduct the entire cycle someday.

Although the bulk of my gigabytes are dedicated to classical music, I also carry with me stuff from other genres — Regina Spektor, Sting, Ella Fitzgerald and the rock group Genesis.
Everywhere I have sought peace and never found it except in a corner with a book. —Thomas à Kempis
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