Mike Leghorn said:

>while I'm on this planet, I'm going to try to absorb and
>appreciate all that I can (it's so much fun!).

While I broadly share this view, I think that at least part of classical
music's limited appeal turns on its *not* being fun.  'Don't mean that
to sound like some martinet piano teacher, but to point instead to the
suggestion of immediacy in the term 'fun.' Catchy pop tunes can be fun
since they connect immediately, while, say, a Tuur symphony seldom
communicates so well or deeply the first time around, or even the first
few times one hears it.

Those delights are conveyed only after a few listens, at least for me,
and after some patient attention.  Even those familiar with the Tuur
soundworld, who will latch onto more on that first go-around, aren't
likely to say that 'fun' sums up their musical experience.

I'm not suggesting that smarts or intelligence are needed to make the
connection with classical music.  Surely this view only gives CM a bad
name, a reputation it doesn't need or deserve.  Especially in societies
like ours (i.e., the current English-speaking world), which value instant
gratification so highly and treat intellectuals like week-old fish.
While cerebral types may be likelier to realize that patience, effort,
or something like 'work' are needed, I don't think that that makes music
appreciation *intellectual* work.

If this were the case, the role of education in fostering such appreciation
would be to teach people to be more intellectual, which is just silly.
Rather, it's to get our friends and children to invest more in their
listening, to be more patient or attentive with the music.

Bert Bailey