Is there a role for classical musicians post-collapse?

[JurisDoctorOfDoom]

I answer this kid's email in tomorrow's reader q and a. Let her rip! I've removed all identifying information.

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Dear Mr. Savinar,

I'm an 18-year-old, studying history at (Extremely Prestigious University). I read all about peak oil (both sides of the argument), and I'm now convinced  that peak oil will happen.

I'd like to do what you suggest, but I'm in a pretty big pithole. First of  all, I don't have a lot of friends, being that I am different (I love  classical music, I play the piano all day, and I never go to bars or  anything to drink or party), let alone any friends that will believe in peak  oil. My parents, to whom I've spoken about peak oil, classically dismiss it,  get on with other business, and think that my head is leaking air. I don't have any money either.

The only "skill" I have, other than what I've already got from writing loads  of history essays and doing regular short-term-memory-testing schoolwork, is  playing piano. So I wanted to ask, though it might seem a very odd and stupid question given all of the resource wars and corruption and machines killing Iraqis, what do you think about the future of classical music?

Contemporary music - rock, pop, rap, hip-hop, or whatever - is a mixture of  sounds that are electrically produced - electric guitars, synthesizers,  microphones, MIDI, and so on. On the other hand, classical music - orchestras, violinists, pianists - perform pretty much electric-free. Once  the instrument is made, the performer only needs his fingers or arms or lips  to produce sounds. When the oil peaks, and there are power shortages and  blackouts, where are these contemporary musicians going to get their  electricity to power their massive stadium concerts with huge amplifiers and  TV screens, let alone their electric guitars and microphones?

But assuming that all of the contemporary does become unavailable, who will  turn to classical music? Who wants to listen to a bunch of music written by  people who've been dead for over two centuries, who used to wear fancy clothes and red heels and had enormous beards, and who prided themselves on  being noble and aristocratic?

The majority of people don't know that these composers - Beethoven,  Rachmaninoff, Chopin, etc. - thought and felt the same way as any human  being. They've had their moments of sadness, grief, confusion, happiness,  pain - emotions that everyone's felt.

I just wanted to know your opinion on that, because I don't feel anybody  would understand. If it's a waste of time for you, then I apologize for  writing to you.

I would like, though, to thank you for your website. It's concise, it gives  clearcut arguments backed up with evidence. It's given me a whole new  perspective - I realized how much oil-dependent our lives are, and how big of an issue peak oil is.

Sincerely,

Y.

[Anasazi]

Well (big sigh here), Her skills won't be needed or appreciated  immediately. I'd suggest a shift in genre.
Just a guess, but foot stomping, booty gyrating, boot scraping tunes that bring people together via the ancient activities of community dances are going to be in higher demand than classical music. At least in the short run.

[Nicole]

Y.,

Yes, I think there is a role for musicians post-peak. 

Ever since Eek the caveman whack two sticks together rhythmically, music has gone wherever people have gone.  The pioneers took their mouth harps and the African slaves built instruments as soon as they could.  The problem is, they weren't specialists.  Music was something they did on the side.  Certainly being a skilled muscian will increase your attractiveness and value to a community you might want to belong to, even if you can't do it professionally.

I seriously doubt orchestral classical music will survive in any great way, but folk music is harder to kill.  In a post-apocolyptic scenario, Madonna tunes are more likely to get modified and inserted into folk music than Bach, because they are easier to remember and learn by ear.  Many of the classical pieces you know and love are based on older folk tunes, and a lot of that folk music is much harder to play than classical.  If you haven't explored some of the wealth of early folk music that has survived to today, definately do so. 

If you have a strong grasp of theory and a good ear, you should be able to pick up a new instrument quickly.  And I do suggest a more portable instrument!

However, studying to be a professional classical player means practicing 8 or more hours per day, every day, no matter what.  It leaves little time for learning other things -- like how to feed yourself.  I wouldn't attempt to make a career of it, but I would keep your skills sharp and start memorizing tunes and sharpening your ability to pick up new tunes by ear.

In other words, don't let that tool get rusty, but you need a bigger toolkit.

YMHO

[Anasazi]

FWIW, the Brandenburg Concertos are the highest expression of musical (and mathematical) human creativity in my opinion.
She'd probably do fine at those from her education but getting a patron to support that activity is decades or longer in the future.
Dirt skills, that's what most of us will need.

[Thuja]

Are you kidding?  Absolutely there will be a place for classical music in the future.  First of all, consider that there will be a cadre of very wealthy people in the world who control the remaining fossil fuel deposits.  Even if these people hate the Symphony or Opera, they will end up funding it as a way to establish their superiority over the lumpen proletariat.  That's how it has been for hundreds of years and that trend will continue, especially after the lights go out.  Rich people need to be entertained, and few will stoop to go to Big Jimmy's boot-stompin booty shakin' post-apocalypse revival party.

So, yes there will be room for classical music, if you are in the right locale, and you're good enough to play with the best players.  If you're planning to stay in Iowa, you might have some problems though.     

 

[Anasazi]

I did say that classical musicians will need patrons and that implies that the rich will still be around, but in no way will I advise a 19 year old to depend on finding them for their PO survival strategy.

[Calles]

The way I see it, when people stop watching T.V. they are gonna be bored. Anything will keep their attention, even classical music. And talk about a CONCERT!!! A properly orchestrated classical production is light years of awesomeness ahead of a few acoustic guitars and a drum. They were big draws before, I foresee them being big draws in the future.

[oliver.rochford]

FWIW, the Brandenburg Concertos are the highest expression of musical (and mathematical) human creativity in my opinion.

Hear Hear.

i am banking on people still liking music.

Imagine the venues?? With no large scale T.V and communities hopefully coming back together, live music should hopefully see a huge revival.

I play Guitar, so it's one of the revenue streams I am planning for later on

ta
Ollie

[Dennis from Oregon]

THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED.  PLEASE BE CLEAN.

[JurisDoctorOfDoom]

THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED.  PLEASE BE CLEAN.

Behave. Besides, you don't even know if the person is a man, a woman, or something in between.

[Dennis from Oregon]

Actually I was being semi serious... Seems the most probable eventual outcome with someone with these "skills"....

[gylangirl]

Diversify your repertoire, my dear. Study some jazz and blues and gospel in addition to classical.

And how's your voice? Take voice lessons while you can. Learn how to write poetry/songs.

It might also be useful to pick up an additional and more transportable instrument. Just in case you can't find a baby grand to play.

Because wealth will become even more concentrated, the average person may not hear whole orchestras as much in the post peak oil world. But wherever there are people, a musician will be in demand every Satuday night and Sunday morning.

[thriftwizard]

I think it's possible that life may eventually revert to something like it was over here in medieval times - and there certainly were accomplished musicians making a good living back then, as minstrels retained in great households or "wandering" i.e. touring & playing to the common folk. But I suspect they were very adaptable & responsive; playing more than one instrument, & writing their own stuff with relevant lyrics to pass news & probably other information round the countryside. I'd agree that this young person needs to pick up other skills, either directly related to survival like gardening, or things that will be in demand like designing & making clothes. And I'm speaking as a parent of more than one talented full-time music student, with a variety of instruments & genres under one roof!

[oliver.rochford]

I don't see the medieval thing coming.

We won't undo completely what we've learned and know, and there will be bastions of light keeping alot of the knowledge we have managed to obtain.
I don't even think we can compare it to a past age, it will be something completely new

ta
ollie

[davevogel]

There will absolutely be a role for all acoustic musicians. I imagine that their demand will be higher than it is today once all the electronic instrumentalists run out of juice.  Whether or not you can earn your keep that way is an entirely different matter, just as it is today.  I am also a classical pianist and composer and am looking forward to a classical resurgence where great LIVING composers are once again celebrated.  But, I am pretty certain there will be a terrible "crash-and-burn" period before society eventually stabilizes, and I can't say how long that will be, but I would guess at least a few decades.  But you're only 18, so (if you live through it) you won't be too old by then.  As to learning a different instrument, that usually takes quite a while, but you're still young enough to do that.  As you get into your late 20s (like me), then it becomes much more difficult.  But, just as the piano and its forebears were the most common instruments for the middle class in the 18th and 19th centuries (before oil), I would imagine it will be again by 2050 or so.  I sincerely doubt we'll have to re-live the Middle Ages or that we'll even revert to the God-awful harpsicord or clavicord.  Picure Chopin's Pleyel piano--I think it will be something like that, because the modern grand I would guess is a heavily industrialized process (don't quote me on that!).  One thing you may want to look into is piano tuning and/or repairing or even building.