Classical Music – Becoming More Accessible, Inexpensive and Respected with the Boom of Internet

A common approach to classical music confines it within the domains of elite individuals and aristocrats. Although classical music remained reserved for the people of the higher social stature in its nascent stage, today it is available for, respected by, and enjoyed by people from all walks of life. With the advent of technology, classical music has ‘come out in the public’ by means of wide range and type of media. A ‘concert only’ type music before the invention of radio and television, this music genre is now accessible by anybody who has an interest or to whom classical music creates an appeal.

Technology introduced classical music to us all. But it was not until the advent of the Internet that common people could relish the full flavour of classical music. The Internet provided the most important opportunity for classical music lovers, the ability to interact and discuss about music. Internet forums and recently the blogs have provided us a platform to discuss about classical music, make comments on various pieces, submit or read a review posted by experts or general audience – all without the fear of embarrassment from the so called ‘elite’. The Internet has truly become the icebreaker in the arena of classical music.

Although the transition from the earliest medieval period to the 20 th Century opened up the horizon of classical music to a great extent, the nature of its presentation remained somewhat binding to strict rules and customs. Until the revolution in the media, enjoying classical music essentially involved attending concerts in reputed venues. Such concerts were costly and formal. On the other hand, in the later part of 60s and in the 80s, other genres of music like pop, rock, reggae, and rap appeared and conquered the hearts and minds of a substantial portion of the music audience. These were easily available, accessible, and cheap and were in conformity with the popular demand of the people. Such a phenomenon slowly and gradually reduced the demand of classical music especially in the late 80s. Popularity or acceptability, whatever you call it, waned alarmingly in this period. Thanks to the Internet for reviving the dying music.

As the Internet is growing, so does the platform of classical music. If you’re looking for resources or information on classical music, you don’t need to buy an expensive book nor do you need to find an expert. All you need is a computer connected to the net. As far as information is concerned, plenty of web page resources are there to enlighten you with the basics of classical music or expert opinions. More interestingly, access to most of these resources does not involve a single penny.

Today, the Internet has traversed further in promoting classical music. Audio embedded websites allow you to listen to classical music in the streaming form. There are also sites that offer free classical music. If you are an artist yourself, you can post your trial piece and get back invaluable comments and reviews. Video embedding has allowed people to see trailers or full versions of classical music performances without stepping out of their homes. It is for all these reasons that the most feared ‘extinction’ of classical music is a remote possibility.