I have observed that most pianists avoid new age stuff with an avidity that is almost fanatical. Why is this? Much new age music is beautiful - often more beautiful than the classics. And it isn`t simple either, some is down-right hard. So, what`s our problem? Why don`t we play it?
I love it, compose it, and hope to play it professionally, but it would be nice to know what others think is the big problem...

~robert quiller

I quite agree. I am a great fan of George Winston - some of his stuff is easy, other pieces hard. `New age` is an unfortunate label. Classical music is being written today - get with it everyone!. I guess the definition of classical music is that it has to follow a certain form, and I don`t want to detract from that, but good music is being written today. Scott Joplin`s music wasn`t appreciated in his own time, but it`s almost establishment now. Open your minds and listen to Ludovico Einuadi`s Le Onde. If that piece embodies `New age` then consider me a convert!

You`re reply borught up an interesting point in my mind. vis. Some New Age music is actually following classical forms - Jim Brickmann`s `Prelude`, and almost all his other stuff is following the form of the classical divertimento. Winston actually play a lot of `acknowledged` classical music.
I think you`re right - its just the name. It really stinks. If the people who always put it down would listen - wow would they get a surprise.

~robert quiller

I don`t know... I don`t think people actually avoid modern music intentionally. For example, I`m open to everything but since we don`t have a wide choice of it here I simply don`t know what there is, so in the end I listen to classical music simply because it`s easier to find.

Probably the reason you can`t find modern music that the majority of it is written by the people who play it - hence it is still copy righted. I think the only way to really play new age music is to, as I do, listen to as much of it as possible and then write your own... Perhaps that`s it new age is to hard to <i>write</i>?

hey im from venezuela!!! ROBERT!!! you left me in awe!!! i thought it was only here in venezuela!!!... but i have a question... what`s what you call new age music??? i think it is what we call here... contemporary music???... like boulez??? or Stockhausen? or Ligeti???... well... if this is it... i dont know....i always thought that like in everything in arts... in order to comprehend the new music... you have to really comprehend old music... bach... guillaume de Machaut mozart wagner or brahms!!! any composer!... but it will help a lot in ENJOYING the new music... im not saying that i know everything about barroque classic or romantic era... but aproching to the new music... makes me go back in time... in fact listen very carefully to everything unless its really avant garde... but it looks like we are taking back in time for the "inspiration" to the new music... for example... i know ligeti`s concerto for 13 insrtuments!!! its a incredible piece and its MOVIMIENTO PRECESO E MECCANICO... listen very carefully... but it looks like the orchestra is recreating the sound of nature... like frog in swamp i dont know (i havent heared it in natural) but some enviroments gives you that impression... there are a lot of posibilities... other example... to this "problem" my last piano teacher... excellent i love her veeeery much... she graduated in russia and its an great pianist... but she never worked contemporary music... maybe her teachers... or her... she doesnt like contemporary music... but she can read it and give an opinion but it isnt her area... and me... simply curiosity.... and i have a good friend composer in contemporary music... he heped me a lot... GOD too long again!!!... ok this is my short opinion... i say short because it has maaaany causes!!! ok... and robert good luck in teaching!!!... i would like to teach!!! but i prefer to be better prepared!!!... something new.... you should try to play John Cage`s sonatas for prepared piano... or Henry Cowell Music... that is different!!! GOOD TOPIC!!!