Wessal+E’s+2017+OpEd+Article

=**Is Classical Music Dead?**=

In the year 1750, much status was attached to being able to listen to classical music. Only the “high end” people would be able to afford the admission to a concert hall and listen to a live symphony. Attending these concerts was a way to display their wealth, but little did they know that, listening to the classical music being played, was greatly beneficial. These benefits ranged from lowering blood pressure to enhanced emotional intelligence, but in the 18th century, no one was aware of this phenomenon. In the 21st century, we are now aware of the positive impact that classical music has on our brains, yet we are allowing this art to die. It is no secret that classical music is not a favorite genre among Americans. In fact it is one of the least listened to musical genres, along with children's music and jazz. Why is it that in a nation aware of the benefits of something, we refuse to do it? The common population is consumed with what is “popular,” and radio stations continue to play the same few songs over and over again, due to the high ranking status of the song. This limits the diversity of music that is being exposed to the population, making classical music less favorable. The “top” musical artists in America have become unoriginal, using the same chord progressions, and only playing a variation to previous melodies that were once popular. Do you ever wonder why so many songs sound so similar? That is because the artists' have main goal in writing music has become to make a living and they have limited themselves to only a couple of different keys that people tend to favor. The true artists, who write music because they love it, rarely get their time in the limelight because what they write contradicts what is “cool.” In the 21st century, shallow, unoriginal music has become “cool” and classical music is “nerdy,” “boring” and “uncool.”

A British study has proved that listening to classical music can lower your blood pressure (BP) by having a number of people take a stressful arithmetic test that heightened their BP. Afterwards, the people who were put in the room with the music playing had lower BP than those who weren't. Additionally, it can help relieve stress levels, fight anxiety, and manage pain. This is no shock, because while listening to music, people are able to get lost in the sounds, unable to worry about anything else. In fact, there are musical therapies that prove classical music as a very effective antidepressant. It can also improve sleep quality, enhance mental alertness and memory, and make you more in sync with your emotions. It is a shame to live in a world that is allowing such a beautiful art to slowly diminish. There have been a number of studies that have proven a number of benefits, and yet classical music is one of the most unpopular musical genres listened to in America. Music is something that I am very passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy music with lyrics as well, but listening to the art that composers from hundreds of years ago wrote, is something that I will never take for granted. Not only am I fortunate enough to be able to listen to this music, but thankfully, I am able to play it as well. Being a violinist has shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me lessons that I think every person should learn. These lessons include discipline, dedication, and growth in something that I am passionate about. I will continue to spread my love for classical music in hopes that the art will continue to live. The next time you are conflicted about what you should listen to, maybe give Shostakovitch or Mozart a try.