Poll: Do you guys think classical music is worthless now?

[Ilikemilkshake]

Worthless as music or art? No..

If your goal is to make money or become famous you're probably going to need to literally be one of the best in the world to get noticed, otherwise few people are going to care. In Pop music you need to appeal to the lowest common denominator for a greater chance of success whereas that just doesn't work for classical music.

 

[snekadid]

No, Because "Flight of the Valkyrie" will ALWAYS be bad ass.

 

[Nyaliva]

*Votes no with gusto.*
*Sees the vote results so far.*
...I think I like it here...

Classical music will never be worthless, just worth less to certain people and more to others. In terms of classical singing, I'd say youtube is a good place to start. While the chances of being "discovered" are slim, it's better than doing nothing (unless Usher has already bugged your shower head, then you might get lucky). Also, like Belaam said, get involved in local stuff, if anyone's going to hire you to sing in their establishment, they're going to be local.

If you want to be ambitious, find out what classical songs are royalty free and make an album, that way if you're ever talking to a talent scout, you've got something ready for him listen to, something that he's probably heard before and can compare your version against others he's heard and then easily judge whether you're what he's looking for.

Or you could just go on a America's Got Talent. The classical singer always wins those things, and being a male soprano will get you the "oh he was probably bullied in school for sounding like a girl, but he's still doing it, gosh he must be passionate, bless his heart" vote.

Good luck!

 

[zxvcasdfqwerzxcv]

Classical music is still incredibly brilliant and relevant these days, though it is more niche. It constantly redefines and reinvents its boundaries.
Check your attitude though. Pretention will get you nowhere. Music and singing should be performed for the feeling and joy it brings. If you have fame on your mind it will always elude you. Also pop music is one of the hardest industries to be successful in. Your belief that pop artists are half as talented is half baked. Also there is no such thing as a 'male saprano' [sic] - if you've the range you could be a countertenor, but most likely you are a tenor. Ensure you are getting the right music education - it's invaluable, if not essential, if you're pursuing a career in classical music.

 

[Joccaren]

Speaking as a Bass, no, Classical music is not dead.
There are choirs, things like Opera, companies/groups like Two Steps From Hell, and people who win competitions like Australia/America/Britain/Wherever's got talent by having an amazing classical voice. It can get you places.
Personally I wouldn't rely on it. I'd go full forward for another career, and try to break into classical music on the side. That way if it doesn't work out you've got something to fall back on, but if you're good it can work out.

 

[Shocksplicer]

I'm asking because I have a classical voice and I really want to sing professionally. I'm a male saprano and everybody thinks that I'm going to become famous. The situation I always see is that pop singers with half the talent I have have more of a chance of becoming well known or famous. I've been going back and fourth with myself over the years and I just don't know what to do.

People suggest posting videos on youtube to showcase my ability, but I don't know what that will really do, but I still like the idea. Comments? Thanks guys!

Can you act? If so, musicals would be a good way to go.

 

[Daniel Ferguson]

Pop music is hip and cool - with the TEEN crowd, mostly. Adults have more sophisticated tastes, typically older stuff - I for one have an older taste in music, ie: 80s and 90s rock (and very little pop). I was born in the 80s and don't like most more modern stuff.

I used to work in government (first job, a couple years out of school) and there was a fair bit of interest in classical stuff there, among managers and the like.

Classical + metal seems to be a Thing now. There's bands like Evanescence, Within Temptation, Nightwish and Lacuna Coil, I think those are all Symphonic Metal and/or Gothic Metal. It's an interesting juxtaposition between the classical skills with the metal sounds. I don't know if you'd be interested in any of that kind of thing, of course. I don't really know how you get noticed and rise to the top, but even classically experienced singers can make it if they find the right manager. If you get a good singer noticed, they will - as long as the producer doesn't hate them - succeed to some degree. People don't seem to know it, but they actually LIKE good singing. And classical skills make for good singing, from what I know. Why? Such a singer stands out from the utter slush pile that the music industry seems to be today. But only if they're promoted right or get the right manager. That means someone competent and willing to do what it takes.

 

[Loonyyy]

Talent has little to do with success. There's probably many with similar talents. I wouldn't build yourself up, because you'll probably be disappointed. There's a million metal covers on YouTube, yet those guys aren't making millions as part of groups. Success really isn't just about ability, or even about marketability, to those who are going to go along the standard criticisms of pop music (Which I wholeheartedly agree with, but are completely irrelevant to the point, and bitter whinings and territorial pissings).

"Classical" (That word doesn't mean what pretty much anyone who uses it thinks it does) stuff isn't worthless, but it occupies a much smaller market share, and is a lot smaller. So it's harder to get money out of it, and harder to gain any sort of mainstream traction.

Do it if you want to. Don't set your career objectives on being a famous musician. Either have another plan, or become a working musician, and perform in mixed groups, tutor, etc. It takes more effort, and some training to do that, but it's a worthwhile career from what I've heard.

 

[Queen Michael]

In the the Felowship of the ring, the part after gandolf dies ...

First of all, spoiler warning. Sure, I've seen them and read it, but not everyone has.

Secondly, it's "Gandalf."

 

[Albino Boo]

If you want to sing in a classical style you need training. Without training you can easily wreck your voice due to the heavy demands place on it. I can remember a guy who has done 8 performances a week in musical theater saying that he couldn't do more than one performance a week of light opera arias.

Now if you are going to do something on youtube you have to do soemthing to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Opera is ideal for this because there is already a tradition of setting operas way out side of what they were written. Take this guy who normally does this


doing this


So find a piece you like a do something different with it.

On Topic: If you're a male soprano wanting to sing classically then you're out of luck. Soprano is for the female voice and parts aren't written for males. Last I heard anyway. (SEXISM!!!!!!11)

Actually there is quite a lot of classical music written for male sopranos, expect they were called Castrato (yes thats right snip snip). A lot of the more recently written roles are now sung by women but the early ones are now sung by what is know as a Countertenor. Its a bit of niche market as the tenors are the superstars of opera world.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I'm asking because I have a classical voice and I really want to sing professionally. I'm a male saprano and everybody thinks that I'm going to become famous. The situation I always see is that pop singers with half the talent I have have more of a chance of becoming well known or famous. I've been going back and fourth with myself over the years and I just don't know what to do.

People suggest posting videos on youtube to showcase my ability, but I don't know what that will really do, but I still like the idea. Comments? Thanks guys!

Do you mean soprano? Because male soprano singers are incredibly rare.

Go for it, due to the rarity of these types of singers chances are you won't be wanting for work.

 

[bluepilot]

I do not think that many classical singers can be famous on the scale of say Lady Gaga but it is certainly something that you can make a living from. If you are interested in it as a career I think that you should get involved with your local performing arts and maybe join an agency for wedding singers. Classical singers seem to peak after the age of 30 so I think that you can spend time increasing your profile and building up a portfolio.

I love classical singing so I do not think that it is worthless as all. Though I have never heard a male soprano before.

I myself am also a soprano singer but my voice is not good enough to be professional. I still enjoy it though

 

[rob_simple]

If being famous is all you care about then no, you probably won't become famous performing classical music.

If what you want is a career and you really are as talented as you claim, why not get into the opera and performance industry, rather than the recording industry?

Start auditioning for local musical theatre groups and shows in your area; if you're actually good --and not the kind of good people on X Factor think they are-- I see no reason why your career wouldn't take off.

 

[Johnnydillinger]

Well, first off, there are orchestras and neo-classical composers around with tremendous amounts of work (besides the famous film score writers like John Williams you'll find the likes of Philipp Grass too, and his music is awesome, just to mention one), although they are obviously not as mainstream as pop-music. If you look for it, you might find a very well paying position in an orchestra that has a choir, or a single choir itself.

If you're into more modern stuff and want to roll with the times, neo-classical has much newer and modern forms to turn to. Finding a group that plays music like that is kind of hard though, but the likes of Arcana and some modern post-rock "orchestras" like Godspeed You! Black Emperor prove that there is still an important amount of interest in such music, and that you can be even really successful and popular playing that kind of music.

As far as sopranos go, I'd love to hear a new kind of experimental music that applies them. Wether it's through metal, ambient or other kinds of electronic music, doesn't matter. If you want to take part in that, I suggest looking up some (probably underground) experimental musicians that might want to start up a new project in your area, and tell them about it. Case in point, you have lots of possibilities to turn to, so you should do it.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I do not think that many classical singers can be famous on the scale of say Lady Gaga but it is certainly something that you can make a living from. If you are interested in it as a career I think that you should get involved with your local performing arts and maybe join an agency for wedding singers. Classical singers seem to peak after the age of 30 so I think that you can spend time increasing your profile and building up a portfolio.

I love classical singing so I do not think that it is worthless as all. Though I have never heard a male soprano before.

I myself am also a soprano singer but my voice is not good enough to be professional. I still enjoy it though

Lady GaGa is a musical prodigy, no I mean it. She can play most instruments and sings fantastically. Her shit pop music made her big.

As for you OP, don't give up on your dreams. Lindsey Stirling (look her up on YouTube) was told she was great at violin but it would never lead her anywhere, or make money because it is not mainstream enough. She has a big following on YouTube now and goes on tour playing her music. Also she makes money from it. DON'T GIVE UP!

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

On Topic: If you're a male soprano wanting to sing classically then you're out of luck. Soprano is for the female voice and parts aren't written for males. Last I heard anyway. (SEXISM!!!!!!11)

Actually there is quite a lot of classical music written for male sopranos, expect they were called Castrato (yes thats right snip snip). A lot of the more recently written roles are now sung by women but the early ones are now sung by what is know as a Countertenor. Its a bit of niche market as the tenors are the superstars of opera world.

Well yes, but the fact is the soprano is a female voice. It's not just the pitch, the sound is important too and the female voice (and the castrated male voice, I expect) is inherently different from the male voice. If we're talking about pitch then you're right there are male parts, but you still wouldn't go around saying you're a male soprano.

 

[The White Hunter]

Dear god know, art is never worthless.

If all else fails, do some operatic metal, because thats always fucking awesome and can become internet famous if nothing else that way.

Edit: Oh and I love the irony seeping from the OP. Those other people in a different genre have less talent than me! But why are they so famous? Heh. Delicious.

They aren't less talented they just have different talents, I personally don't really listen to anything like Adele or whoever else is big these days but I can tell that they do have some talent. Just like Trent Reznor or James Hetfield or Dave Mustaine have talent. It's just a different kind.

 

[purplecactus]

In no way is classical music worthless.

The youtube idea is a good one. Put some videos up, spread the word, see if you can't do a little networking. If you've got the talent and the drive to match, you will get somewhere.

 

[Zipa]

Hell no Classical is still very much alive, you have people like Bill Bailey (british comedian) who is a classically trained musicaian and folds that into his stand up acts and is loved by many for it.