I’m Not Talking about Classical Music | Zach Manzi | TEDxCoconutGrove

so there’s this really great kind of

so there’s this really great kind of music out there nowadays and it’s all

music out there nowadays and it’s all

music out there nowadays and it’s all over the place it’s in movies and TV ads

over the place it’s in movies and TV ads

over the place it’s in movies and TV ads crowded apartments and bars across the

crowded apartments and bars across the

crowded apartments and bars across the country and even playing over the

country and even playing over the

country and even playing over the speakers at the fresh market while

speakers at the fresh market while

speakers at the fresh market while you’re grocery shopping tons of you are

you’re grocery shopping tons of you are

you’re grocery shopping tons of you are probably listening to it every day and

probably listening to it every day and

probably listening to it every day and don’t even know this is what we call it

think of all the things that come to

think of all the things that come to mind when you see the name classical

mind when you see the name classical

mind when you see the name classical music do any of these look familiar

if so I get it but as a musician here’s

if so I get it but as a musician here’s what I think of so what’s the real story

what I think of so what’s the real story

what I think of so what’s the real story here there’s a lot wrapped up in the

here there’s a lot wrapped up in the

here there’s a lot wrapped up in the name classical music but today let’s

name classical music but today let’s

name classical music but today let’s escape this label and start fresh I play

escape this label and start fresh I play

escape this label and start fresh I play clarinet in an orchestra in Miami Beach

clarinet in an orchestra in Miami Beach

clarinet in an orchestra in Miami Beach called the New World Symphony we play

called the New World Symphony we play

called the New World Symphony we play music that was written centuries ago to

music that was written centuries ago to

music that was written centuries ago to music that was written last week and we

music that was written last week and we

music that was written last week and we perform for audiences who are looking to

perform for audiences who are looking to

perform for audiences who are looking to be inspired the kind of music that we

be inspired the kind of music that we

be inspired the kind of music that we and all orchestras play has never been

and all orchestras play has never been

and all orchestras play has never been locked away in concert halls it’s

locked away in concert halls it’s

locked away in concert halls it’s probably been explored by some of your

probably been explored by some of your

probably been explored by some of your favorite musicians of other genres for

favorite musicians of other genres for

favorite musicians of other genres for example the Beatles incorporated

example the Beatles incorporated

example the Beatles incorporated orchestral instruments into a lot of

orchestral instruments into a lot of

orchestral instruments into a lot of their songs like one of my favorites

their songs like one of my favorites

their songs like one of my favorites Eleanor Rigby

Eleanor Rigby

Eleanor Rigby in 1999 the metal band Metallica

in 1999 the metal band Metallica

in 1999 the metal band Metallica collaborated with the San Francisco

collaborated with the San Francisco

collaborated with the San Francisco Symphony on their album s-and-m which

Symphony on their album s-and-m which

Symphony on their album s-and-m which stands for symphony and Metallica on

stands for symphony and Metallica on

stands for symphony and Metallica on Spotify there are tons of electronic

Spotify there are tons of electronic

Spotify there are tons of electronic dance music versions of pieces like

dance music versions of pieces like

dance music versions of pieces like Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Tchaikovsky

Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Tchaikovsky

Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Tchaikovsky zhh Nutcracker and at the 2016 Super

zhh Nutcracker and at the 2016 Super

zhh Nutcracker and at the 2016 Super Bowl Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor

Bowl Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor

Bowl Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Youth Orchestra

Gustavo Dudamel and the Youth Orchestra

Gustavo Dudamel and the Youth Orchestra of LA shared the halftime show stage

of LA shared the halftime show stage

of LA shared the halftime show stage with Coldplay Bruno Mars and Beyonce so

with Coldplay Bruno Mars and Beyonce so

with Coldplay Bruno Mars and Beyonce so no matter your favorite genre everybody

no matter your favorite genre everybody

no matter your favorite genre everybody has their Beyonce – some people I know

has their Beyonce – some people I know

has their Beyonce – some people I know yo-yo Ma’s Beyonce Renee Fleming is

yo-yo Ma’s Beyonce Renee Fleming is

yo-yo Ma’s Beyonce Renee Fleming is Beyonce Michael Tilson Thomas is Beyonce

Beyonce Michael Tilson Thomas is Beyonce

Beyonce Michael Tilson Thomas is Beyonce and maybe even to somebody out there

and maybe even to somebody out there

and maybe even to somebody out there I am Beyonce

[Applause]

[Applause] this word can imply that this music is

this word can imply that this music is

this word can imply that this music is reserved for people of an elite

reserved for people of an elite

reserved for people of an elite community one that’s stuck in the past

community one that’s stuck in the past

community one that’s stuck in the past but here’s the truth

but here’s the truth

but here’s the truth what I do everyday is not classical it’s

what I do everyday is not classical it’s

what I do everyday is not classical it’s here and now all around us and it’s

here and now all around us and it’s

here and now all around us and it’s constantly evolving

constantly evolving

constantly evolving however this traditional concert

however this traditional concert

however this traditional concert experience one that can feel stiff and

experience one that can feel stiff and

experience one that can feel stiff and full of rules can make it hard to see

full of rules can make it hard to see

full of rules can make it hard to see that but this is changing I’m breaking

that but this is changing I’m breaking

that but this is changing I’m breaking rules almost every day at the New World

rules almost every day at the New World

rules almost every day at the New World Symphony two weeks from tonight I’m

Symphony two weeks from tonight I’m

Symphony two weeks from tonight I’m hosting a performance that’s designed to

hosting a performance that’s designed to

hosting a performance that’s designed to activate the audience in response to the

activate the audience in response to the

activate the audience in response to the music being performed audience members

music being performed audience members

music being performed audience members will engage in activities like doodling

will engage in activities like doodling

will engage in activities like doodling writing messages and even reciting

writing messages and even reciting

writing messages and even reciting poetry by the end of the evening we’ll

poetry by the end of the evening we’ll

poetry by the end of the evening we’ll see how the audience has been moved by

see how the audience has been moved by

see how the audience has been moved by the music on these large displays of

the music on these large displays of

the music on these large displays of post-it notes on which they’ve written

post-it notes on which they’ve written

post-it notes on which they’ve written and drawn throughout the evening it

and drawn throughout the evening it

and drawn throughout the evening it becomes one big collaboration between

becomes one big collaboration between

becomes one big collaboration between Orchestra and audience also at our

Orchestra and audience also at our

Orchestra and audience also at our concert hall which is the New World

concert hall which is the New World

concert hall which is the New World Center in South Beach we do these

Center in South Beach we do these

Center in South Beach we do these concerts called wall casts we’re an

concerts called wall casts we’re an

concerts called wall casts we’re an outdoor audience gets an up-close

outdoor audience gets an up-close

outdoor audience gets an up-close cinematic experience of the orchestra

cinematic experience of the orchestra

cinematic experience of the orchestra live concerts happening inside the Hall

live concerts happening inside the Hall

live concerts happening inside the Hall are broadcast to the outside onto a

are broadcast to the outside onto a

are broadcast to the outside onto a 7,000 square foot wall and an army of

7,000 square foot wall and an army of

7,000 square foot wall and an army of speakers that surrounds this park

speakers that surrounds this park

speakers that surrounds this park thousands of people gather on our lawn

thousands of people gather on our lawn

thousands of people gather on our lawn on a Saturday night just to hear our

on a Saturday night just to hear our

on a Saturday night just to hear our Orchestra play unfortunately we’re not

Orchestra play unfortunately we’re not

Orchestra play unfortunately we’re not the only ones totally turning the

the only ones totally turning the

the only ones totally turning the experience of live classical music on

experience of live classical music on

experience of live classical music on end group Muse is a startup that’s like

end group Muse is a startup that’s like

end group Muse is a startup that’s like a dating service for music it pairs

a dating service for music it pairs

a dating service for music it pairs people who want to hear great music with

people who want to hear great music with

people who want to hear great music with people who want to play great music the

people who want to play great music the

people who want to play great music the perfect match a bunch of people crowd

perfect match a bunch of people crowd

perfect match a bunch of people crowd into a cozy apartment for an intimate

into a cozy apartment for an intimate

into a cozy apartment for an intimate evening of music when the performers not

evening of music when the performers not

evening of music when the performers not only play but also engage the audience

only play but also engage the audience

only play but also engage the audience and talk

and talk

and talk about music in a recent New York Times

about music in a recent New York Times

about music in a recent New York Times article the young author and host of a

article the young author and host of a

article the young author and host of a group news event recounts being

group news event recounts being

group news event recounts being surprised by how much she enjoyed

surprised by how much she enjoyed

surprised by how much she enjoyed classical music when it was right in her

classical music when it was right in her

classical music when it was right in her living room now imagine your favorite

living room now imagine your favorite

living room now imagine your favorite bar or your parents favorite bar and in

bar or your parents favorite bar and in

bar or your parents favorite bar and in walks a concert pianist ready to play

walks a concert pianist ready to play

walks a concert pianist ready to play sound box is a space owned by the San

sound box is a space owned by the San

sound box is a space owned by the San Francisco San Francisco Symphony that

Francisco San Francisco Symphony that

Francisco San Francisco Symphony that looks much more like a club than a place

looks much more like a club than a place

looks much more like a club than a place for classical music but musicians of the

for classical music but musicians of the

for classical music but musicians of the orchestra play the same music you could

orchestra play the same music you could

orchestra play the same music you could hear in a concert hall in a setting

hear in a concert hall in a setting

hear in a concert hall in a setting where the audience is invited to get up

where the audience is invited to get up

where the audience is invited to get up move around grab drinks and even use

move around grab drinks and even use

move around grab drinks and even use their phones to share the experience on

their phones to share the experience on

their phones to share the experience on social media and right here in Miami we

social media and right here in Miami we

social media and right here in Miami we have the new deco ensemble which is a

have the new deco ensemble which is a

have the new deco ensemble which is a futuristic kind of Orchestra they play

futuristic kind of Orchestra they play

futuristic kind of Orchestra they play at venues of all kinds indoor and

at venues of all kinds indoor and

at venues of all kinds indoor and outdoor and they collaborate with

outdoor and they collaborate with

outdoor and they collaborate with surprising artists like pop singers and

surprising artists like pop singers and

surprising artists like pop singers and DJs I recently attended one of their

DJs I recently attended one of their

DJs I recently attended one of their programs on which they started with a

programs on which they started with a

programs on which they started with a piece by Leonard Bernstein and then

piece by Leonard Bernstein and then

piece by Leonard Bernstein and then moved into a collaboration with

moved into a collaboration with

moved into a collaboration with singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi and almost

singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi and almost

singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi and almost all of these musicians you see here are

all of these musicians you see here are

all of these musicians you see here are classically trained so why are we

classically trained so why are we

classically trained so why are we bothering to revolutionize live

bothering to revolutionize live

bothering to revolutionize live performance you could hear all of the

performance you could hear all of the

performance you could hear all of the greatest classical music you want right

greatest classical music you want right

greatest classical music you want right now online in the comfort of your own

now online in the comfort of your own

now online in the comfort of your own home well one of our audience members

home well one of our audience members

home well one of our audience members recently helped me remember why this

recently helped me remember why this

recently helped me remember why this woman approached me after one of our

woman approached me after one of our

woman approached me after one of our Sunday afternoon performances and she

Sunday afternoon performances and she

Sunday afternoon performances and she had tears in her eyes she told me she’d

had tears in her eyes she told me she’d

had tears in her eyes she told me she’d never heard an orchestra play before and

never heard an orchestra play before and

never heard an orchestra play before and in that moment I had to stop because I

in that moment I had to stop because I

in that moment I had to stop because I hadn’t thought about this in forever

hadn’t thought about this in forever

hadn’t thought about this in forever but I tried to remember what it was like

but I tried to remember what it was like

but I tried to remember what it was like my very first time hearing an orchestra

my very first time hearing an orchestra

my very first time hearing an orchestra play

I was about seven years old and my piano

I was about seven years old and my piano teacher had brought me to a performance

teacher had brought me to a performance

teacher had brought me to a performance of a piano concerto at the Colorado

of a piano concerto at the Colorado

of a piano concerto at the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and we were sitting

Springs Philharmonic and we were sitting

Springs Philharmonic and we were sitting in this box over on this side of the

in this box over on this side of the

in this box over on this side of the stage a couple levels up and the whole

stage a couple levels up and the whole

stage a couple levels up and the whole time I was on the ledge trying to play

time I was on the ledge trying to play

time I was on the ledge trying to play along with the soloist and practically

along with the soloist and practically

along with the soloist and practically falling over onto the stage a couple of

falling over onto the stage a couple of

falling over onto the stage a couple of times trying to get a closer look but

times trying to get a closer look but

times trying to get a closer look but what I remember is just this feeling of

what I remember is just this feeling of

what I remember is just this feeling of my body being completely alive with

my body being completely alive with

my body being completely alive with Wonder and my mind expanded into this

Wonder and my mind expanded into this

Wonder and my mind expanded into this unseen world and from that moment on I

unseen world and from that moment on I

unseen world and from that moment on I understood that when an audience jumps

understood that when an audience jumps

understood that when an audience jumps to their feet in applause after a

to their feet in applause after a

to their feet in applause after a performance it’s not because they’re

performance it’s not because they’re

performance it’s not because they’re inspired by this history or tradition or

inspired by this history or tradition or

inspired by this history or tradition or angsty German composers they just feel

angsty German composers they just feel

angsty German composers they just feel it I’m willing to bet that even if

it I’m willing to bet that even if

it I’m willing to bet that even if you’ve never been to a concert

you’ve never been to a concert

you’ve never been to a concert you’ve already been impacted by

you’ve already been impacted by

you’ve already been impacted by classical music ever heard this before

classical music ever heard this before

classical music ever heard this before [Music]

and what about this

and what about this [Music]

[Music]

[Music] yes okay

yes okay

yes okay so good these two pieces have been used

so good these two pieces have been used

so good these two pieces have been used in countless movies TV shows and

in countless movies TV shows and

in countless movies TV shows and commercials over the years why

commercials over the years why

commercials over the years why well we react to them they inspire us to

well we react to them they inspire us to

well we react to them they inspire us to go buy things it’s true the melodies the

go buy things it’s true the melodies the

go buy things it’s true the melodies the harmonies the rhythms they speak beyond

harmonies the rhythms they speak beyond

harmonies the rhythms they speak beyond reason it’s like our hearts and minds

reason it’s like our hearts and minds

reason it’s like our hearts and minds are being hacked and both of these

are being hacked and both of these

are being hacked and both of these pieces were written over a hundred years

pieces were written over a hundred years

pieces were written over a hundred years ago what about these because music for

ago what about these because music for

ago what about these because music for TV and film is outside the context of

TV and film is outside the context of

TV and film is outside the context of formal performance it doesn’t carry a

formal performance it doesn’t carry a

formal performance it doesn’t carry a stigma it’s just music that tells a

stigma it’s just music that tells a

stigma it’s just music that tells a story but most often this music is

story but most often this music is

story but most often this music is played by an orchestra identical to one

played by an orchestra identical to one

played by an orchestra identical to one you could see in Carnegie Hall and with

you could see in Carnegie Hall and with

you could see in Carnegie Hall and with star wars really be star wars without

star wars really be star wars without

star wars really be star wars without the music of John Williams upon seeing

the music of John Williams upon seeing

the music of John Williams upon seeing Darth Vader you might say yeah that guy

Darth Vader you might say yeah that guy

Darth Vader you might say yeah that guy looks pretty evil but when we hear his

looks pretty evil but when we hear his

looks pretty evil but when we hear his theme we feel the evil as a great poet

theme we feel the evil as a great poet

theme we feel the evil as a great poet put it music begins where words end

I’ve grown up hearing a lot of people

I’ve grown up hearing a lot of people say that classical music is dying but I

say that classical music is dying but I

say that classical music is dying but I know that’s not true every week I see

know that’s not true every week I see

know that’s not true every week I see people of all kinds of all ages who are

people of all kinds of all ages who are

people of all kinds of all ages who are brought to life by this music a few

brought to life by this music a few

brought to life by this music a few months ago we were performing this piece

months ago we were performing this piece

months ago we were performing this piece called pictures at an exhibition by

called pictures at an exhibition by

called pictures at an exhibition by modesta Mussorgsky he’s a Russian

modesta Mussorgsky he’s a Russian

modesta Mussorgsky he’s a Russian composer and the final section of this

composer and the final section of this

composer and the final section of this piece is a grand finale called the great

piece is a grand finale called the great

piece is a grand finale called the great gate of Kiev and the whole time I was

gate of Kiev and the whole time I was

gate of Kiev and the whole time I was minding my own business sitting there

minding my own business sitting there

minding my own business sitting there playing I would became completely

playing I would became completely

playing I would became completely distracted by this young couple sitting

distracted by this young couple sitting

distracted by this young couple sitting over here in the audience very close to

over here in the audience very close to

over here in the audience very close to the stage oh yeah by the way we see you

the stage oh yeah by the way we see you

the stage oh yeah by the way we see you oh yeah we do and we feel your energy

oh yeah we do and we feel your energy

oh yeah we do and we feel your energy when we play but these two are getting

when we play but these two are getting

when we play but these two are getting super into the music smiling and dancing

super into the music smiling and dancing

super into the music smiling and dancing and laughing and toward the end crying

and laughing and toward the end crying

and laughing and toward the end crying and I just couldn’t stop watching I was

and I just couldn’t stop watching I was

and I just couldn’t stop watching I was so fascinated and moved to see two

so fascinated and moved to see two

so fascinated and moved to see two people my age feeling exactly the way

people my age feeling exactly the way

people my age feeling exactly the way that I was feeling about this music

so now you know the real story and have

so now you know the real story and have escaped the label classical music so go

escaped the label classical music so go

escaped the label classical music so go out be adventurous and discover how this

out be adventurous and discover how this

out be adventurous and discover how this music will move you thank you

music will move you thank you

music will move you thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]