Music has been deemed the universal language of mankind, and is praised for its diversity and keen ability to express emotions, tell stories, and unleash creativity. Music is innately wired in our brains, allowing us to express ourselves naturally and understand others. With roots in Europe tracing back to around the 5th century BCE, classical music has a long-standing story. Compositions from the 18th to the 21st century have survived up to the present and are recognized worldwide.

Unfortunately, as depicted in stereotypical high school movies, many teens nowadays have lost an ear for classical music, favoring lyrical pop music instead. In a survey conducted to determine how Punahou teens (not involved in Punahou School’s Symphony Orchestra) viewed classical music, a Google form was sent out. The form asked them to rate classical music on a scale of 1 to 10 and list why they rated it at that number. From the results received, 50% of the teenagers rated classical music a 4 or below, and 25% rated it a 5 or 6. The remaining 25% rated it a 7, putting the average rating at 5.25 out of 10. 

One student who filled out the survey stated: “With today’s technology and advancement in music components like instruments and more freedom with lyrics, the music shines through with its uniqueness and pleasantness. For me, classical music is nice, but it’s harder to find a sense of character that makes a lot of music enjoyable for me.” Another stated that classical music lacked energy, human connection, and simplicity, usually sounding too bougie.

However, when the form was sent out to the students in Punahou’s Symphony Orchestra, they felt almost the complete opposite about classical music: about 60% of those who filled out the form gave it a solid 10 out of 10.

Many of the symphony musicians stated that classical music takes skill, practice, and precision to master, and few have the capability of composing such elegant, flowing pieces. A cellist stated that classical music has more diversity when focusing on colors, techniques, and motifs, making the melody feel exquisite and sophisticated. Others have said that classical music allows emotions to be expressed universally, penetrating all language barriers, and many pieces have a deeper meaning than most modern pop songs. People can enjoy classical music through  a deeper meaning, as emotions can be expressed outside lyrics, allowing many pieces to be an emotional rollercoaster, unlike many modern songs.

Cash Steele is a 10th-grade student who does not play in Punahou’s Symphony Orchestra. He rated classical music a 6/10. Steele gave some valid points on why younger generations might not like classical music: “Classical often severely lacks a quality of ‘danceability’ that can be found in almost every modern genre of music. It doesn’t have lyrics; it is often much more difficult for listeners to immerse themselves into the emotion of the piece,” Steele stated. 

We can infer that our surroundings profoundly influence how we view different genres of music. If one enjoys sitting around and hanging out with friends, not all of their attention will be diverted to the music, rendering it primarily background music. However, in an orchestra, the instrumentalists are actively interacting with and making music, allowing them to appreciate it more, even when they are listening to something else, clearly showing that to understand something is to appreciate it, such as getting a sense of the creative, yet organized structure of your orchestra, which can only be understood through experience, and not through words. 

Classical music demands more attention to appreciate it as it contains a series of complex harmonies and sounds, whereas other genres like rock can often serve as background music, allowing for more casual conversations with friends as it plays. Although classical music has lasted this long in civilization, it is escaping the minds of many young people. While classical music may not be the best genre to play at parties or listen to in groups, it has had a large influence on many modern-day pop songs; many of them use elements of classical music. This antique music gives our ears a taste of history, and while it is understandable that some may not prefer classical music, classical music has influenced almost all modern music, and there are many legitimate reasons why you should give Beethoven or Mozart a chance.