Why are audiences for classical concerts so old? Options

[Chris H]

Is it because people only develop a taste for classical music as they mature, or will audiences dwindle as the current generation dies off? This is a question which has been occupying my son and myself, as regular attendees of classical concerts. You can count the number of teenagers on the fingers of one hand, and my son can feel rather out of place amidst the sea of grey hair.

Any thoughts?

[liseypeasy]

I guess it is probably a mix of finances / time, and social influences - I would love to go to more concerts, but the cost adds up (I appreciate there are free ones but they're often through the week when I'm working!) and I have lots of other things to get done after work....add kids into the mix and most young families would have to be pretty dedicated to get to concerts regularly (you clearly are).

Also I think the general trend amongst secondary age students is that it's probably not cool to go to classical concerts, though of course those keen / not bothered what others think, or those in musical schools and families will have greater exposure than the general non-muso population, who rely on 4music and X factor for their musical education (sweeping generalisation I know).

There will always be a core of people who will go to classical concerts throughout their life - is there any evidence that audiences are dwindling generally? As a radio 3 listener I really don't know, to me classical music is alive and well, but I'm probably out of touch with the rest of the world.

Maybe it does seem more appealing with age, as your general insight to the world grows and you realise how flimsy the prejudices you had as a youngster were. Maybe more people have the emotional depth to appreciate the music as they get older, or maybe they go because there is a coach load going!

[Arundodonuts]

Also I think the general trend amongst secondary age students is that it's probably not cool to go to classical concerts,

Although I think going to a classical concert probably doesn't occur to most secondary age students and they wouldn't therefore get to the point of considering whether it's going to be thought of as uncool by their peers. They have their own music (as I did at their age), specifically targetted (i.e. marketed) at them. What could possibly entice them to listen to classical music?

[CJB]

I've been attending classical concerts for about 30 years now. The average hair colour has always been grey - over time I'm starting to blend in more.

[MNW]

I was just thinking this the other day when I wast at the RFH. There was a large elderly contingent but also a noticeable amount of 16-20 year olds. I was livid though because I was sat two rows in front of an elderly group who constantly opened and rustled plastic wrappers. I have no idea what container the sweets were in but the noise went on for a solid ten minutes and this happened more than once. It sounded like someone was opening and then crushing a plastic bag. I never thought when I went to a classical concert that the audience would be so disrespectful and selfish towards their fellow audience. I mean, why does anyone need to eat in a concert - we're not 5 years old?!

I'm not sure if it's that we only develop taste in classical music at a later stage in life but that the elderly generation become less tolerant or interested in other forms of entertainment. One week I may go to a comedy club, the next a controversial play and the next a classical concert. It may be that elderly people, on the whole, avoid the former and only choose the latter. I may not choose the latter again if I experience another "sweet" incident. I never expected to have to buy a box in order to hear the orchestra!

Rant over!

[Arundodonuts]

I've been attending classical concerts for about 30 years now. The average hair colour has always been grey - over time I'm starting to blend in more.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Grey and/or blue up in Manchester. I attended a meeting at the Halle years ago hosted by the new Maestro, Kent Nagano. It was set up just to engage with audience members to get some views across and receive some. I was almost 40 then and definitely the youngest there.

It descended into a "discussion" about which specific pieces should be performed. I don't think anything post 19th century was mentioned and in the end it wasn't very illuminating.

I was just thinking this the other day when I wast at the RFH. There was a large elderly contingent but also a noticeable amount of 16-20 year olds. I was livid though because I was sat two rows in front of an elderly group who constantly opened and rustled plastic wrappers. I have no idea what container the sweets were in but the noise went on for a solid ten minutes and this happened more than once. It sounded like someone was opening and then crushing a plastic bag. I never thought when I went to a classical concert that the audience would be so disrespectful and selfish towards their fellow audience. I mean, why does anyone need to eat in a concert - we're not 5 years old?!

Ah yes. Audience participation. Competing to see who can cough loudest in the quitest passages. Wonderful.

[MNW]

I'm not that bad - coughs can't always be helped - but a chewing gum in the pocket is all that's normally required to keep a cough at bay! Said group were not coughing at all!

[Arundodonuts]

I'm not that bad - coughs can't always be helped -

Indeed not, but they can be attenuated.

My observation of the phenomenon over many years of concert going leads me to feel there a certain amount of lack of consideration for others.

[Martin.Walters]

Being 24, I too have noticed how concerts attract the older generation.
Then the majority of this generation like people who make themselves known.

Lang Lang being a great example of this in terms of classical music!
Most classical musicians keep themselves quiet.. it appears unpopular.

Another reason for grey heads is because I mostly go to Lunchtime concerts. Many people are at work, however its not a rare site to see a couple of dozen music students.

[andante_in_c]

I'm not that bad - coughs can't always be helped -

Indeed not, but they can be attenuated.

My observation of the phenomenon over many years of concert going leads me to feel there a certain amount of lack of consideration for others.

I'm going to have to do my rant again, aren't I?

If I go to a concert where members of the audience sitting close to me wearing strong perfume or cologne it triggers my asthma. And an asthma attack for me is a cough which gets worse if I try to suppress it and often ends up with me in a panic attack because I can't stop the cough and can't get out of my seat. And the panic attack tends to be caused by my worrying about disturbing the people around me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Claudia's Mum]

I was thinking exactly the same at the last concert I went to.

Out of an audience of about 1000, I could only see a handful of children, a few middle aged people and everyone else was 80 plus.

I think the coach trip comment is a valid one. I don't think the elderly like classical music more than others - my grandparents certainly didn't. I think it's just an outing that's easy to do with wheelchairs etc. The man next to me snored the entire way through so wasn't there for the music! And it's not just sweets, they also get their sandwiches out!

There are plenty of free concerts at all times and days. I don't think money is the issue on the whole; have you tried getting tickets to a pop band at the O2?

I go to a lot because I like music. I always have done. The best ones were when I was in my 20s when we used to sit at the back of the Festival Hall in the cheap seats with all the music students. The atmosphere at the back of the hall was incredible.

[KTViola]

I suspect the situation is better in London than in the provinces. Certainly the Proms attract a wide range of ages, and people like the OAE are doing their very best with their Nightshift concerts.

Maybe eventually this sort of attitude to classical gigs will filter through to the rest of the country.

[barry-clari]

I suspect the situation is better in London than in the provinces. Certainly the Proms attract a wide range of ages, and people like the OAE are doing their very best with their Nightshift concerts.

It is. Average audience ages throughout London tend to be lower for most sorts of classical concerts. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

I suspect the situation is better in London than in the provinces. Certainly the Proms attract a wide range of ages, and people like the OAE are doing their very best with their Nightshift concerts.

Yes that indeed looks very interesting. Certainly a lot of orchestras seem have become aware of the fact that are a "product" which they need to market effectively. I think outfits like OAE and some of the contemporary ensembles such as Ensemble 10/10 in Liverpool have a more even age spread amongst their audiences than most symphony orchestras.

There is a need though to actively engage with younger people to attract them to classical concerts and on the whole, I don't think that is being done. Why should a 17 year old go to a classical concert as opposed to a rock or pop concert? Discuss!

[BerkshireMum]

I suspect the situation is better in London than in the provinces. Certainly the Proms attract a wide range of ages, and people like the OAE are doing their very best with their Nightshift concerts.

It is. Average audience ages throughout London tend to be lower for most sorts of classical concerts. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Is that because there are lots of university and college students around? One of the many nice things we noticed in Prague was that there were a lot of younger people at the classical music concerts. Maybe capital cities attract young people looking for culture?