Do You Feel that You Are Not Mainstream?

[Doctor Strangelove]

I grew up listening to classical music and to a lesser extent, jazz. I don't feel comfortable with most rock and pop type of music. I think this has inhibited me as far as relationships/dating. I have a few friends who like classical music but for most people I know it is a foreign language and what they like might be foreign to me as well. I remember when I was young, other young people made fun of me because I liked classical music. For those of you who liked classical music from your childhood on up, did you grow up feeling like you were a member of a despised minority? Did it cause difficulties as far as friendships/relationships?

 

[LJCTAM]

@dr. -- I started to play cello in 2nd grade and got made fun of real hard. I was the biggest nerd in a bigger k through 6. More hated than the biggest nerd there. It was unbearable.

These days I do not look like I would listen to this music at all. I listen to tons of music people would find strange I guess. Here are some musical favorites if you want to listen:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7779557/

 

[Amred]

I grew up listening to classical music and to a lesser extent, jazz. I don't feel comfortable with most rock and pop type of music. I think this has inhibited me as far as relationships/dating. I have a few friends who like classical music but for most people I know it is a foreign language and what they like might be foreign to me as well. I remember when I was young, other young people made fun of me because I liked classical music. For those of you who liked classical music from your childhood on up, did you grow up feeling like you were a member of a despised minority? Did it cause difficulties as far as friendships/relationships?

I played clarinet in elementary school, was even in a orchestra. Was never made fun of. In Jr High quit the clarinet and got hep with rock. Played bass guitar in a rock band. Learned that rock consisted of three notes in different combinations. In my late 20's the simplicity of rock bored me and discovered the complexity of classical and some jazz. To this day my classical journey is still rewarding me with new discoveries with brief forays into the vocal harmonies of bluegrass.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

@dr. -- I started to play cello in 2nd grade and got made fun of real hard. I was the biggest nerd in a bigger k through 6. More hated than the biggest nerd there. It was unbearable.

These days I do not look like I would listen to this music at all. I listen to tons of music people would find strange I guess. Here are some musical favorites if you want to listen:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7779557/

I played the clips - nice! I was never able to play any instrument very well. I really didn't try hard enough - musical ability runs in my family. Classical music was considered something normal in my family. I must have been six or seven when I was taken to my first concert. I grew up listing to programs from around the world via shortwave radio and got to hear all sorts of music that way, too. So my musical world was way beyond the "Top Forties" just about everyone else I knew in school was listening too.

Like you, I was picked on a lot at school. I think the pack instinctively attacks anyone who shows above-average abilities, such as you knowing music and playing the cello. But you got to do and enjoy some things that were beyond the bullies' ability to even imagine.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

I played clarinet in elementary school, was even in a orchestra. Was never made fun of. In Jr High quit the clarinet and got hep with rock. Played bass guitar in a rock band. Learned that rock consisted of three notes in different combinations. In my late 20's the simplicity of rock bored me and discovered the complexity of classical and some jazz. To this day my classical journey is still rewarding me with new discoveries with brief forays into the vocal harmonies of bluegrass.

Cool! I am jealous of people who are skilled enough to play in an orchestra. I think a human-powered instrument - be it a clarinet or a banjo - is much more expressive than some amplified/synthesized thing like an electric guitar. I see some similarities between Baroque music and jazz. I think Bach would have enjoyed the improvisation in jazz. I imagine he would find rock boring and annoying.

 

[LJCTAM]

I played the clips - nice! I was never able to play any instrument very well. I really didn't try hard enough - musical ability runs in my family. Classical music was considered something normal in my family. I must have been six or seven when I was taken to my first concert. I grew up listing to programs from around the world via shortwave radio and got to hear all sorts of music that way, too. So my musical world was way beyond the "Top Forties" just about everyone else I knew in school was listening too.

Like you, I was picked on a lot at school. I think the pack instinctively attacks anyone who shows above-average abilities, such as you knowing music and playing the cello. But you got to do and enjoy some things that were beyond the bullies' ability to even imagine.

Yeah Dr., I didn't get to enjoy any of it. Playing cello wasn't my choice I actually hated it. At the age of 8 I really liked reading architectural books and drawing large square footage houses and buildings on butcher paper. School was so bad that I wanted to die at age 8. Not kidding. Up to a year ago I played music. I had always hoped for something better than my life.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

Yeah Dr., I didn't get to enjoy any of it. Playing cello wasn't my choice I actually hated it. At the age of 8 I really liked reading architectural books and drawing large square footage houses and buildings on butcher paper. School was so bad that I wanted to die at age 8. Not kidding. Up to a year ago I played music. I had always hoped for something better than my life.

Great about the architectural interests - you must be good at math, then. I was interested in astronomy and geography and I did things like draw (not trace) maps. Elementary school especially was like a prison to me - it was a negative place. I guess the good thing is I never confused education with mere schooling.

 

[Amred]

@dr. -- I started to play cello in 2nd grade and got made fun of real hard. I was the biggest nerd in a bigger k through 6. More hated than the biggest nerd there. It was unbearable.

These days I do not look like I would listen to this music at all. I listen to tons of music people would find strange I guess. Here are some musical favorites if you want to listen:

I enjoyed elementary school joined every club: science, art, band, library and glee club. When I entered Jr High school became a nightmare. Got out of school as fast as I could, so no clubs. College was a mixture of drudgery and useful knowledge that I enjoyed. I enjoy what knowledge I can acquire now because I choose what interests me. I find the more knowledge I acquire the more subjects that interest me. I now find myself wanting to increase my knowledge of music and learn a new instrument.

Your music choices are relaxing not strange at all.

 

[Rebecca Sue]

I feel the same way. I enjoy classical , jazz and blues. Never really cared for pop music, the sixties and seventies were ok I guess. I never played in a band and don't remember anything in my childhood fostering my taste in music. It is different. I grow weary of pop and country quickly. It was much harder growing up, now I don't care as much about what others think. I would like to think I've rubbed off on those around me, but still pretty much alone in my musical interests. They don't know what they are missing!

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

I feel the same way. I enjoy classical , jazz and blues. Never really cared for pop music, the sixties and seventies were ok I guess. I never played in a band and don't remember anything in my childhood fostering my taste in music. It is different. I grow weary of pop and country quickly. It was much harder growing up, now I don't care as much about what others think. I would like to think I've rubbed off on those around me, but still pretty much alone in my musical interests. They don't know what they are missing!

I agree. I think things like the electric guitar and synthesizers take away a lot of color and a lot of the human element. There's not so much warmth - just volume and repetition. So even as a child I liked classical music and some jazz - and some ethnic music. My upbringing was rather broad and I got to experience a lot of music. But to those who didn't go beyond the local "top forties" station or MTV, I was just weird and was made fun of. That I like classical music has had social repercussions. Once I out myself as one who loves classical music, some women roll their eyes and say "oh, that's nice..." - and that pretty much ends the conversation. It is almost like I have a disease or something.

 

[ayaanu86]

No i dont think so; I am A completely mainstream Person as I love Bollywood songs a lot.And also some classical Music from South India

 

[Fenny the Fox]

I grew up listening to classical music and to a lesser extent, jazz. I don't feel comfortable with most rock and pop type of music. I think this has inhibited me as far as relationships/dating. I have a few friends who like classical music but for most people I know it is a foreign language and what they like might be foreign to me as well. I remember when I was young, other young people made fun of me because I liked classical music. For those of you who liked classical music from your childhood on up, did you grow up feeling like you were a member of a despised minority? Did it cause difficulties as far as friendships/relationships?

I guess I was in a similar boat as far as growing up. My father (among other types of music, him being rather eclectic in tastes) was a huge fan of "classical" music - in particular Baroque violin works - so I grew up listening to a great deal of such music. Thankfully I was able to find other individuals that enjoyed such music as well. I was, as we were often called, a "band geek" - I played multiple instruments and listened to classical music and hung out with other band members and musicians.

(I was also kind of the odd man out in most groups music wise even without the classical persuasion, since I listened to extreme metal and such as well.)

But as for relationships, I didn't see it as an issue. I dated one girl who was a violinist and loved Paganini and Vivaldi as much as I did. Then later went on a few dates with other people that were musicians or music lovers, all of whom appreciated classical.

Now, my partner probably knows classical music as well as myself, if not better. He was also big into classical music growing up and it has stuck with him.

It has worked out well or me in the end. Though yeah, some people just don't get my love of classical music.

 

[Agnes Amelia]

I grew up listening to classical music and to a lesser extent, jazz. I don't feel comfortable with most rock and pop type of music. I think this has inhibited me as far as relationships/dating. I have a few friends who like classical music but for most people I know it is a foreign language and what they like might be foreign to me as well. I remember when I was young, other young people made fun of me because I liked classical music. For those of you who liked classical music from your childhood on up, did you grow up feeling like you were a member of a despised minority? Did it cause difficulties as far as friendships/relationships?

Yeah, I completely understand this. I would've been about 11-12 when I acquired my love for baroque and classical and it has really put a divide between me and my peers, especially during my younger years. It's somewhat different now that I've found a strong Christian fellowship who doesn't care that I don't care for garbage grunge and putrid pop with all its deadly dull repetition and mediocrity. I say somewhat different because my church fellowship prefers CCM which is just as monotonous to me as the easy listening favorites heard in elevators across America. I mean no offense to fans of CCM, just as I'm sure that fans of CCM and top 40 dreck mean no offense when they say that classical music is "relaxing."

 

[brightlikeme]

Well can One Define What is Mainstream.

 

[SapphiraMM96]

I resigned myself a long time ago to the fact that I am a Nerd and Not Mainstream, that I speak completely different language(s) than everybody else, especially my age. I grew up listening to classical and early music before I ever even knew what "pop" music was! The older I've gotten, the more comfortable I've gotten in my own skin and uniqueness -- and I can say that I'm proud to be different. I wouldn't say I rub it in people's faces though that's sometimes a temptation. Strangely though, in the past few years I've wanted to expand and "experience the world" and find out about what everybody else likes. I'm coming to like a lot of different sounds -- some Contemporary Christian, some bluegrass and folk and traditional -- but it is sometimes like studying foreign cultures.

 

[Adamdudley]

I never listen to mainstream music, in fact I couldn't name one song in the current top 40! I prefer to make my own music playlists on my Ipod or on YouTube and these playlists normally consist of songs to fit whatever mood I'm in. When you reach a certain age, mainstream chart music no longer holds any appeal.

 

[Goodbook]

apparently Carpenters weren't mainstream at the time yet everyone I know loves them except for those who don't!

So..it depends. What stream you are on. If you joining the main one that's been polluted, sure you'll feel like a fish out of water, but if you wade into the clear ones off to the side that are fed by rain from heaven, sure you'll find likeminded fish.

I would say, go with the flow and where you best can breathe.

Todays Rock and pop honestly give me a headache.

 

[keith99]

One has to slice the genres pretty fine before they can find one where I have not found something worth listening to. No idea what tops the charts today. But I'd be shocked if there isn't both one really good song and one instance of total drek.