Reply #36: There's no one place to start [View All]

I took piano and violin lessons as a kid, and I've sung in choirs almost continuously since I was 8 years old, but I didn't really get into classical music until I lived in a dorm for people interested in the arts. I started going to my friends' recitals and tagging along to concerts with them. Another friend worked in a record store, and when I heard something I liked, I'd ask him what the best recording was. My first interests were Baroque and Early music. I didn't get into the nineteenth century stuff till later, and in the past five years or so, I've started to appreciate 20th century more.

The old favorites are favorites for a good reason, but these days, I've reached the point where I prefer concerts that feature pieces I haven't heard before.

I second the recommendation of subscribing to BBC Music.

Listening online is another form of education.

BBC3 has extremely good commentary and features a different composer every week. It also features jazz and world music.

KBPS-FM in Portland is a small all-classical station that is programmed by the hosts, so you get to hear things that are a bit outside the mainstream. It's at allclassical.org.

In short, you can take one of two approaches. You can take a music appreciation or music history class and receive a systematic introduction. Or you can use a discovery approach. Listen to classical radio and write down the names of pieces that appeal to you; then buy them. Or subscribe to BBC Music or Gramophone and just listen to the CDs that they send every month. Attend concerts.

Have fun.