How to Get Started with Classical Music as a Complete Beginner

Start with classical music for beginners. Learn where to begin, who the greatest composers are, and which genres to try. Also, build your first music library.

Classical music can seem intimidating at first. It has a huge collection of music and formal rules, which can make it hard to know where to start. If you learn a little history and start with popular pieces, it’s easier to enjoy classical music.

This beginner’s guide will help you get started with classical music. It will give you all the basics you need to feel confident. We’ll cover:

• What exactly is classical music is
• The benefits of listening
• Beginner-friendly composers and genres
• Building an introductory music library
• Resources for discovering new pieces
• Attending your first classical concert
• And much more to launch your classical music journey

Whether you want to become a classical music expert or just enjoy it more, keep reading to learn how to start.

Jumpstart Guide:

• Learn about music history and classical music.
• Focus on composers like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.
• Start with famous pieces like Canon in D and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
• Explore different music styles: Baroque, Classical, and Romantic.
• Listen to short pieces under 5 minutes.
• Build a starter music library.
• Discover solo instruments first.
• Take a tour through different musical eras and periods.

What is Classical Music?

Start with classical music for beginners. Learn where to begin, who the greatest composers are, and which genres to try. Start with classical music for beginners. Learn where to begin, who the greatest composers are, and which genres to try. Also, build your first music library.

Classical music includes small piano pieces and big symphonies with orchestras and singers. It started in Europe, but today, composers from everywhere still create it.

Classical music usually refers to music from the mid-18th century to the early 1900s. At its core, classical music has these key traits:

Defining Characteristics

• Lengthy, complex musical structures
• Prominent melodies and motifs that develop over time
• Layers of harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration
• Expressive dynamics across emotional spectrums
• Virtuosic instrumental showpieces
• Innovative forms like symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music
• Sophisticated rhythms and syncopation
• Deeply layered “vertical” harmonic textures and “horizontal” linear textures

There are many sub-genres in classical music, each with its style. However, these core elements are found in most classical music.

Now let’s explore why it’s worth listening to.

Why Listen to Classical Music?

Why should you explore classical music more? Here are some top reasons:

Cultural and Intellectual Enrichment

By learning these famous pieces, you’ll recognize classical music in movies and shows. This will help you enjoy classical music more.

Listening to classical music takes you back to different periods. For example, Mozart’s operas show the fancy life in 18th-century Vienna. Baroque dance music brings to mind elegant French royal balls. Tchaikovsky’s melodies remind us of the passion in 19th-century Russia. These pieces help you imagine the history behind the music.

Classical music lets you explore the times when these great compositions were made. Learning about the history behind the music helps you understand it better. It also lets you imagine what life was like during those times.

Stress Relief and Relaxation

Some classical music is lively and bold, while much of it is peaceful and relaxing. The long, smooth melodies and harmonies create a calming atmosphere. This music offers a break from the chaos of daily life.

Listening to classical music can lower heart rate and blood pressure. This helps your body relax.

Baroque music, like slow harpsichord pieces, creates a peaceful mood. It helps make the environment calm and relaxing.

Concentration and Focused Attention

Classical music helps you focus while working or studying. Since it has no words, it doesn’t distract you. The music slowly develops, keeping your brain engaged without interrupting your thoughts. This helps you stay concentrated.

Many people listen to dramatic classical music to help them focus and work hard. Fast Baroque and Classical pieces with strong rhythms can boost productivity. These upbeat tracks keep you moving and help you stay determined.

Try playing dramatic music like Wagner, Beethoven, or Orff when facing tough challenges. The energy in these pieces will help you stay focused. They can also motivate you during long tasks.

Emotional Resonance and Catharsis

Classical music shows a wide range of emotions. It can express joy, sadness, excitement, and calmness. In one piece, you might hear happiness, sadness, or even calm thinking. Classical music can make you feel many different things.

Great composers use harmony, rhythm, and other musical tools to express emotions. When you listen, you feel the power of a heroic theme or the sadness in a Chopin nocturne. You can also enjoy the lively energy of a Strauss waltz or the calm of a Debussy prelude. These pieces help you connect with different emotions through music.

Let classical music help you through life’s highs and lows. It can match or improve your mood. You can use it to feel better when you’re going through tough times. Now, let’s see how to start listening to classical music as a beginner.

Classical Music Genres for Beginners

Classical music has many styles that developed over nearly 200 years. As a beginner, focus on these three main periods that are great to start with:

Baroque Era (1600-1750)

The Baroque period produced famous composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel. They helped shape what we now call “classical” music.

Characteristics:

• Melodies featuring ornamentation and trills
• Prominence of harpsichord and pipe organ
• Basso continuo – a continuous harmonic accompaniment
• Contrapuntal textures with multiple independent melodic lines
• Emergence of the modern orchestra
• Rise of the Solo Instrumental Concerto Tradition
• Increasing use of functional tonality and harmony

Influential Composers:

• Bach
• Handel
• Vivaldi
• Rameau
• Lully
• Corelli
• Purcell
• Monteverdi
• Pachelbel
• Scarlatti
• Telemann

Recommended Starter Pieces:

• Bach:
  • Brandenburg Concertos
  • Goldberg Variations
  • The Well-Tempered Clavier
• Handel:
  • Messiah oratorio
  • Water Music
  • Music for the Royal Fireworks
• Vivaldi:
  • The Four Seasons violin concertos
  • Gloria Mass
  • L’estro armonico string concertos
• Purcell:
  • Dido & Aeneas opera
  • Come Ye Sons of Art Away ode
  • Music for Queen Mary’s Funeral
• Pachelbel:
  • Canon in D
• Corelli:
  • 12 Violin Sonatas
  • Christmas Concerto

The Baroque era is full of energy and emotion, making it a great start to classical music. The music has a steady rhythm that keeps you interested. Its complex textures also offer many interesting details to explore.

Baroque music is often heard in pop culture. For example, Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue” is in horror films, and Vivaldi’s “Spring” is in commercials. This helps people recognize and enjoy these pieces more.

Classical Era (1750-1820)

The Classical period is known as the golden age of classical music. Composers like Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven created clear melodies and elegant music. Their works are a great place to start. They made these ideas even better.

Characteristics:

• Emergence of the modern symphony orchestra
• Development of sonata form, string quartets, and concerto genres
• Lighter, elegant, balanced melodies and forms
• Clear musical architecture gives logic and coherence to compositions
• Focus on refinement, moderation, and sand symmetry rather than heavy ornamentation
• Major key centers more prevalent than minor keys

Influential Composers:

• Haydn
• Mozart
• Early period Beethoven
• J.C. Bach, C.P.E Bach
• Christoph Gluck
• Carl Stamitz
• Johann Stamitz
• Luigi Boccherini

Recommended Starter Pieces:

• Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Piano Concerto No. 21, The Magic Flute opera
• Haydn: Symphony No. 94 “Surprise,” String Quartets Op. 76
• Early Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight,” Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”

The Classical period has catchy melodies, memorable themes, and a clear structure. This makes it easy to recognize and enjoy. It is the best era for beginners to explore.

Romantic Era (1820-1910)

The Romantic era made classical music more emotional and complex. It took music to new levels of feeling and harmony.

Characteristics:

• More passionate, dramatic expressions
• Expanded harmonic vocabulary including chromaticism
• Larger symphony orchestras with more diverse colors
• Exploration of piano sonorities and virtuosic showpieces
• Increased use of cyclic “motivic transformation” across movements
• Music is explicitly designed to tell stories, paint pictures, or convey specific scenes
• Composers beginning to intentionally evoke certain moods from listeners

Influential Composers:

• Brahms
• Berlioz
• Chopin
• Dvořák
• Grieg
• Liszt
• Mahler
• Mendelssohn
• Puccini
• Schubert
• Schumann
• Strauss
• Tchaikovsky
• Verdi
• Wagner

Recommended Starter Pieces:

• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake ballet, 1812 Overture,
• Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre
• Brahms: Hungarian Dances
• Chopin: Nocturnes for piano
• Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies for piano
• Puccini: La Boheme, Madame Butterfly operas
• Verdi: Rigoletto, La Traviata operas
• Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”
• Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites

Romantic music speaks to the heart with rich sounds and strong emotions. Tchaikovsky’s ballets and Liszt’s piano pieces are great examples. This music focuses on feelings and self-expression, making it a good starting point.

Focus on these three eras to build a solid introductory classical library. Start with Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music. Once you’re comfortable with these, you can try more modern 20th-century music. For now, focus on these three styles for your first listening session.

Where to Start Listening

Listening to classical music can lower heart rate and blood pressure. This helps your body relax. These tips will help you as a beginner listener.

Seek Out Famous, Recognizable Melodies

You may have already heard famous classical music in movies, TV ads, cartoons, or pop songs. Even if you don’t know it, many well-known pieces come from classical music.

Starting with familiar songs from pop culture makes exploring classical music easier. These songs are less intimidating and provide a comfortable entry point.

By learning these famous pieces, you’ll recognize classical music in movies and shows. This will help you enjoy classical music more.

Here are some of the most famous classical pieces you’ve probably already heard:

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 opening fate motif, “Ode to Joy” chorus finale
• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake ballet, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker
• Vivaldi: “Spring” violin concerto from The Four Seasons
• Wagner: “Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre
• Rossini: “William Tell Overture” Finale (incorporating the famous Lone Ranger theme song)
• Bach: “Toccata and Fugue in D minor” organ work
• Mozart: Opening movement of Eine kleine Nachtmusik serenade
• Strauss: Sunrise opening fanfare of “Also sprach Zarathustra” tone poem
• Orff: “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana’s choral work
• Pachelbel: Canon in D
• Bizet: “Habanera” aria from Carmen opera
• Dvořák: Largo’s second movement of “New World” Symphony No. 9
• Handel: “Hallelujah” Chorus finale from Messiah oratorio

Listen to these famous classical melodies in their full versions. This will help you become more familiar with classical music.

Begin with Shorter Pieces (3-7 minutes)

Symphonies, concertos, and operas are the most famous classical works. However, they are long and can be hard for beginners to follow. These pieces take more time and focus to fully understand.

Start with shorter pieces like chamber works and character pieces. These are smaller and easier to enjoy. They let you experience classical music without feeling lost in long pieces.

Pieces like Chopin’s piano miniatures and Schubert’s songs are short, usually 3-7 minutes long. These shorter works let beginners enjoy classical music without feeling overwhelmed. They offer a quick and easy way to experience its beauty.

Here is a sampling of short famous classical works perfect for first-timers:

Chopin (piano):

• Prelude in E Minor Op. 28 No. 4
• Prelude in E-Flat Major Op. 28 No 15 “Raindrop”
• Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major Op. 9 No. 2
• Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor
• Etude Op. 10 No. 3 “Tristesse”
• Mazurka Op. 7 No. 1

Debussy (piano):

• Clair de Lune
• Reverie
• Golliwog’s Cakewalk

Satie (piano):

• Gymnopédies No. 1
• Gnossiennes No. 1

Albeniz (guitar):

• Asturias (Leyenda)

Bach (various instruments):

• Sheep May Safely Graze (arranged from cantata)
• Air on the G String (from orchestral suite)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (arranged from cantata)
• Prelude No. 1 in C (The Well-Tempered Clavier, piano)

Vivaldi (violin concertos):

• “Spring” first movement from The Four Seasons
• “Winter” first movement from The Four Seasons
• “Summer” Presto finale from The Four Seasons

Mozart (various):

• “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” K.525, first movement
• Rondo Alla Turca 

Conclusion

Classical music is a rich and rewarding genre to explore, offering emotional depth, cultural insight, and relaxation. Starting with well-known composers, shorter pieces, and familiar melodies can make the journey enjoyable and approachable. With a bit of curiosity and persistence, you can build a deep appreciation for the art form and enrich your life with its beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of classical music?
Classical music enhances relaxation, focus, and emotional expression. It also provides cultural enrichment and a deeper understanding of history and art.

What composers should beginners start with?
Begin with Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Tchaikovsky. Their works are accessible and represent a range of classical styles.

What should I listen to first?
Start with famous pieces like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

How do I build a starter music library?
Choose a mix of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic works. Include shorter pieces, well-known symphonies, and solo instrumentals. Streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube are great resources.

What classical music is used in famous movies?
Pieces like Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, and Orff’s O Fortuna frequently appear in films.

What instruments are used in classical music?
Common instruments include strings (violin, cello), woodwinds (flute, oboe), brass (trumpet, horn), and percussion. Pianos and harpsichords are also central to many compositions.

Where can I get affordable tickets to concerts?
Check local symphonies, student performances, or online ticket sites for discounted prices. Many orchestras offer community events and free outdoor concerts.