Video games are children’s ‘access point’ to classical music, says arts chief

By August 29, 2018 Press Releases

A poll conducted by YouGov for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra poll has found that a popular way for young people to discover classical music is through video games.

The RPO commissioned a survey from YouGov in which children aged six to 16 were asked about how they experience classical music. Around one in six (15 per cent) of the children said they listened to classical music “when it’s part of a computer game I’m playing”.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, James Williams, managing director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said that video games are a good way of encouraging young people to appreciate classical music. He added that video game music attracts “very prestigious” composers and is “recognised as an art form in its own right”.

“I think exposure to orchestral music in all its forms is a fantastic thing,” said Williams. “It is encouraging to hear that there are platforms and opportunities for young people to engage with orchestral music, albeit in different mediums. It is about sparking their interest.

“What we are finding is once we have lit that fire there is a real desire to carry that journey on and explore. If [videogames] are the trigger and the catalyst that can only be a really positive thing.”

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, Chief Executive Officer of TIGA, said:

“It is great to see children being introduced to classical music through video games. This is in addition to a range of other benefits, including being a great source of learning, improving coordination, enhancing memory, and improving problem-solving skills.”

The full Telegraph article is available to view here

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