Generation Z and the Resurgence of Classical Music

As we approach Classical Music Month, we thought we would explore what the future of classical music looks like and you might be more than a little surprised by what we have found. The genre has often been thought of as inaccessible, elitist and for a more mature audience, leading people to suggest that younger music listeners will opt for learning pop music on the piano, over classical pieces. However, there appears to be a resurgence in the genre, stemming from the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and growing from there. In this blog post, I will be exploring how Spotify and TikTok have led to a rise in the popularity of classical music within Generation Z, and what this means for the future of classical music.

It All Started With TikTok

If you had asked me in 2019 what the future of classical music looked like, I would have expressed concern that it was a dying art. In order for something to grow in, or even maintain, popularity, it must have future generations of fans, something that classical music did not. Statistica reported that in 2018 only 4% of classical music listeners were aged 16-19, perhaps unsurprising but not a promising statistic. However, with a lockdown and rising stresses for all, young and old, came an increased demand for classical music. According to a study from The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, three out of ten people asked, said listening to classical music helped them relax during the national lockdown and 55% of 18-25 year olds surveyed said they listened to orchestral music - a huge jump from 2018.

TikTok was used as a form of escapism during lockdown, and with that came the use of classical music for ‘TikTok sounds’, to create a sense of idyllic serenity during the lockdown. It is through this that many teenagers can hum along to Fur Elise by Beethoven just as easily as they can sing along to Shake It Off by Taylor Swift.

Classical Music Playlists

The first lockdown began over four years ago now, but classical music’s popularity did not wane as restrictions began to lift. Thanks to platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, classical music has become far more accessible. They curate playlists for specific moods and settings, many of which feature classical music. Therefore, you no longer need to know anything about classical music to find it, it comes to you! However, the music on these playlists are often a new subgenre of classical music, differing from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. This subgenre is often referred to as ‘ambient’, ‘neoclassical’ or ‘postminimalist’, and can be best described as simple, soulful and melancholic. It aims to create a quiet atmosphere rather than to demonstrate the kind of thrilling skill often found in traditional classical music - it is not demanding of your attention but rather designed to not command any attention at all.

The popularity of this new genre is evident when looking at Spotify’s statistics. For example, Ludovico Einaudi dominates the UK classical charts and has 8.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify - more than Bach, Beethoven or any classical performer, dead or alive. Einaudi features on several Spotify playlists such as ‘peaceful piano’, ‘calming piano’, ‘classical in the background’ and even ‘classical music for dogs!’. Younger listeners use Spotify playlists for specific purposes, so when they search ‘music for studying’ a playlist with Mozart and Einaudi appears, or if they search ‘music for my dog’ then bark - oh, sorry, I meant Bach - will be displayed. Young people are looking for soundtracks for when they wish to study or sleep, and are looking to classical music for that very reason and more.

For example, Nicholas, a university student we interviewed, says that he listens to Ludwig Göransson when studying. The composer of Oppenheimer’s soundtrack provides calming background noise that is not distracting, yet the music occasionally reaches dramatic heights, which Nicholas - much like Oppenheimer discovering the atomic bomb - uses to try to trick his brain into having a ‘lightbulb moment’! Was this the intention of the composer? No. But young people repurposing classical music does not seem to be a bad thing.

Softer piano pieces aren’t a new invention. For example, Erik Satie experimented with groundbreaking ambient composition, which got him labelled as eccentric by critics in the late 19th century. However, unlike the likes of Satie and Debussy, neoclassical music is widely ignored by critics, and even when it does get attention it is typically negative attention.

Despite the indisputable evidence that neoclassical music is on the rise, classical critics are failing to recognise it as a valid artform. For example, one review in The Guardian stated ‘Einaudi’s music speaks fluent cliche’ and another, also by The Guardian, claimed his music has ‘the balladry of Westlife but without their clarity of purpose’. The lack of appreciation from classical critics for this new subgenre may be because of the way people are repurposing it. Young people are using classical music to support other activities rather than being a sole activity in and of itself. The way this music does not demand your attention is not what classical critics are used to, yet I would argue that just because something is different it does not make it wrong.

Takeaway

Classical music has been reinvented again and again throughout history to adapt to the latest generation, often increasing in skill and flourish to capture a new element of awe. Contrastingly, Satie and Debussy are examples of composers who reinvented classical music to be softer, much like the latest subgenre. These kinds of shifts are just natural progressions within the genre of classical music and have added to the overall colour and variety of the genre, not replacing but actually widening appeal. The latest subgenre within classical music, neoclassical, has moved away from tradition, sticking to simple melodies that can play in the background without taking up too much attention from the listener. This may be suited to a generation known for having multiple sources of media playing at once, and who famously are developing a shorter attention span.

As we head into classical music month, let’s think about the future of classical music, which appears to be here to stay. Why not try playing some of the pieces that feature on playlists and TikTok as see which you prefer - classical or neoclassical. We offer a huge collection of piano sheet music both online and in our showroom. Additionally, I would highly recommend the books ‘Peaceful Piano Playlist’ and ‘Peaceful Piano Playlist Revisited’, which boast a comprehensive collection of famous classical pieces containing music both old (such as Beethoven and Bach) and new (like Einaudi and Max Richter), so you will be able to directly compare both. 

If you’re looking for other classical music anthologies, Faber music publish some excellent ones, here are a few recommendations:

Easy Piano Anthology

If you are new to playing classical music, the Easy Piano Anthology is a great starting point. Not only does it include some traditional classical music, such as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart and La Caroline by Bach, but it also includes songs from film soundtracks such as City of Stars from La La Land and pop music such as Your Song by Elton John.

Difficulty: Easy

The Faber Music Piano Anthology

This anthology is a collection of core repertoire from the great-composers, including Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. It is a must-have for Classical Music Month.

Difficulty: Any level