--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started listening to classical music…" description: "\"I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/stephen-sondheim-1556_band_i-started-listening-to-classical-music-w_842439.jpg" --- # I started listening to classical music when I was in my… ![“I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/stephen-sondheim-1556_band_i-started-listening-to-classical-music-w_842439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/stephen-sondheim-1556_band_i-started-listening-to-classical-music-w_842439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/stephen-sondheim-1556_band_i-started-listening-to-classical-music-w_842439.jpg) > “I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects a personal shift in musical taste during adolescence, moving from mainstream pop to classical influences. **In simple terms:** He changed his music preferences as a teen. Key Takeaway Explore diverse music to broaden perspective. Themes personal growth music adolescence Mood nostalgic inquisitive Type personal reflective When to use this quote - school music class - personal playlists - family listening habits Key Concepts cultural exposure taste development artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - What sparked your interest in classical music? - How does music shape identity? A Different Perspective Classical music may seem inaccessible without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical/) [Classical music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) ## Related quotes > [I love listening to classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-mcphee/i-love-listening-to-classical-music/) [Katharine McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-mcphee/) > [“Listening to classical music. I thought it might be soothing, but it’s really irritating and has no proper tune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/listening-to-classical-music-i-thought-it-might-be-soothing-but-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sit around listening to classical music. I don't play video games. I love to go to dinner, go on picnics, travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/i-sit-around-listening-to-classical-music-i-don-t-play-video-games-i/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [I wasn't listening to that much classical music - not much more than anything else. I was really lucky to have parents who loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-mclorin-salvant/i-wasn-t-listening-to-that-much-classical-music-not-much-more-than/) [Cecile McLorin Salvant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-mclorin-salvant/) > [Listening to classical music is a journey not a state; it's an activity not a meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/listening-to-classical-music-is-a-journey-not-a-state-it-s-an/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [Lately I've been listening to some classical music again, some jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-vega/lately-i-ve-been-listening-to-some-classical-music-again-some-jazz/) [Alan Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-vega/) > [I have such an eclectic taste. I like listening to classical music and pop music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-have-such-an-eclectic-taste-i-like-listening-to-classical-music-and/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [I like to get away from noise, although I will play noisy music in my car to keep myself awake. But my ears need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-panozzo/i-like-to-get-away-from-noise-although-i-will-play-noisy-music-in-my/) [Chuck Panozzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-panozzo/) > [I find that jazz loosens up the deep place of my mind, lets me find my own strange rhythms. Generally, I find the knottier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lynch/i-find-that-jazz-loosens-up-the-deep-place-of-my-mind-lets-me-find-my/) [Paul Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lynch/) > [I had a big background in listening to classical music and I started trying to compose, like I was playing the guitar but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fahey/i-had-a-big-background-in-listening-to-classical-music-and-i-started/) [John Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fahey/) > [“What came first the music or the misery?People worry about kids playing with guns,or watching violent videos,that some sort of culture of violence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-came-first-the-music-or-the-misery-people-worry-about-kids/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I'm very easily influenced, and I'm also a quick study, so I think when I decided I wanted to write pop songs, I literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-m-very-easily-influenced-and-i-m-also-a-quick-study-so-i-think-when/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [Before I really knew country music, I listened to pop, and I still do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/before-i-really-knew-country-music-i-listened-to-pop-and-i-still-do/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [Actually, I've had very little classical training, although I love listening to classical music very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-green/actually-i-ve-had-very-little-classical-training-although-i-love/) [Benny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-green/) > [Listening to classical music is like reading philosophy books. Not everybody has to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/listening-to-classical-music-is-like-reading-philosophy-books-not/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. 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