Music

In not only New York City, but in all of America today, the popularity of electronic dance music, more commonly referred to as EDM, has been rapidly rising. In the article, “Drug Deaths Threaten Rising Business of Electronic Music Fests”, the use of MDMA in electronic music festivals is discussed. Since March, at least seven young individuals have died after overdosing on MDMA and other party drugs known as ecstasy or molly. As a result, the three-day Electric Zoo festival on Randall’s Island was shut down after the second day at the request of New York City officials after two individuals died. In America today, the rapid growth of drug-related deaths in electronic festivals has become a growing concern to many. Personally, as a fan of EDM and electronic festivals and concerts in general, it bothers me that one of my favorite hobbies is often tainted with the words “drug misuse” and “immature young kids”. Why should others have to suffer because a few kids couldn’t handle themselves? Personally, I think that if you’re gonna take drugs at these festivals, at LEAST be responsible so you don’t ruin the party for everyone else.

In a “letter to the editor,” a retired violinist named Les Dreyer is concerned that classical music in the US is dying. According to Dreyer, a big reason as to why this is occurring can be blamed upon the media. He feels as though the media mainly focuses “on rock and pop superstars,” and does not give classical music the attention it deserves. In response to this letter, Anthony Rudel, the author of “Classical Music Top 40,” presents a different perspective on this phenomenon. He points out that today’s parents were not raised with a love for classical music and that “the failure to bring younger audiences to classical music happened more than 30 years ago.” With this in mind, it seems as though classical music has been dying for quite some time now, and that it’s possibly too late. However, Rudel concludes that there is hope, in which classical music can be revived through marketing. By promoting it as “an experience” rather than “an education,” perhaps the passion for classical music can return to modern society. So who knows, maybe you’ll hear Beethoven all over the radio someday!

Baruch students decided to form the Soulcats while trying to raise awareness for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). Although members were’t expecting to follow on this musical career, they changed their minds after a fantastic performance at Baruch’s talent competition conveniently named Baruch’s Got Talent. Ever since then, they have been trying to squeeze practice time through out the year but this seems difficult since only two members currently reside in NYC yearlong. Future performances can be found on their Facebook page.

Soulcats performing at Baruch Street Plaza Rock The Vote September 3, 2013
(From left, Shahverdi, Kesoglides, Schmid, Higgs, Park, and Anderson)

In “Why We Like Sad Music,” Ai Kawakami illustrates why we strangely enjoy listening to melancholy tunes. Through the results of his study, Kawakami describes our common feelings toward sad music as “romantic” and “blithe” because we know that as we’re listening to it, there’s no “real danger” in doing so. So continue to enjoy your sad music!

Three day long electronic music festival Electric Zoo was cancelled on its third day in late August due to the death of two concertgoers and the critical illness of at least four others. Both deaths were related to an over dose of the drug MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or molly. Over the past five years Electric Zoo swiftly became the go-to festival for electronic music lovers. It remains unclear if Electric Zoo will run for another year. Founders of the festival sent their condolences to the grieving families.

Electric Zoo 2013

There may be a link between the skills needed to be a musician and  how those apply to jobs other than being a musician. The author of the article says that they asked “top flight professionals” and stated that most referenced that they did have some past life as a musician. According to the author people said that music helped with skills such as “collaboration, the ability to listen, the power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously, and a way of thinking that separates disparate ideas.” This all sounds accurate if you’ve ever played an instrument, been in a band, or just wrote a song in general. It is stated by the author that “being a musician often paved the way to more creative ideas.”

This is a 1965 Fender Mustang.

Paul Allen who is a co-founder of Microsoft and plays guitar as well. Allen says “playing guitar is a way to channel a different creative impulse.” in the article we see Woody Allen plays clarinet weekly in a jazz band. There is a lot of evidence that playing an instrument or being a musician in general can overall help your skills in many fields other than actually being a musician. The article is convincing in the sense that being a musician does not have much evidence of being a negative impact on people.