Why Criminals Are Afraid of Classical Music

American Thinker ^ | 07/30/2014 | Enza Ferreri

[SeekAndFind]

Many young people, especially the anti-social, dislike classical music so much that it can be played to discourage them from intimidating, harassing and robbing.

This experiment has been successful over many years in countless locations.

The earliest occurrence was in the mid-1980s, when Canadian outlets of 7-Eleven played easy listening and classical music to disperse teenagers loitering outside. After that, companies from McDonald's to Co-op, transport authorities, housing estates and shopping malls around the world have employed this method.

In the UK, the first to do so was the Tyne-and-Wear Metro system in 1997, following Montreal’s underground system in Canada.

Other British transport providers, including the much bigger London Underground, imitated the scheme. The most effective deterrents were anything sung by Pavarotti or written by Mozart.

Across the pond, whether at New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal, La Guardia, Newark International and John F. Kennedy International airports, and Pennsylvania Station; at Portland, Oregon, light-rail stations; in Seattle's parking lots; or in Anchorage, Alaska, Town Square, classical music has helped even against crimes like drug dealing.

Same in Australia and New Zealand. In Queensland, it reduced vandalism and graffiti.

The evidence seems plentiful. Why, then?

The simplest explanations, in the time-honored scientific tradition of Occam's razor, should be considered first.

Teenagers, especially those with uneducated ears, don't like classical music, and they think it's not "cool" to be seen by their peers listening to it.

Still other explanations are in the nature of classical music itself. Much of it conveys a sense of order, symmetry and beauty, that conflicts with the disorder and ugliness in the minds of hooligans.

[SMARTY]

My brother and I had to have a nap every day. I remember that distinctly.

Of course now days, Mom won’t do that! To make sure her child has a nap, Mom has to BE AT HOME... and THAT ain’t gonna happen!

These young girls are all over the place with NO conception how to make a home or to raise children.

[SandRat]

Does it work on politicians as well?

[COBOL2Java]

I bet Phillip Glass would make them uneasy too.

Or Olivier Messiaen. I did a term paper on Chronochromie for my Music Analysis course in college. I'd probably be the only person in the mall to actually enjoy it. :-)

[Usagi_yo]

There’s classical music I like and classical music I despise as much as heavy metal.

In our struggle to be different, we’re all the same. — ME.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Yngwie is an amazing guitarist. Just ask him; he’ll tell you.

[gspurlock]

Maybe they are not afraid, maybe music really does soothe the savage beast.

[dmz]

So only music composed between (roughly) 1750 and 1800 has this impact? Baroque and Romantic periods don’t have the same impact?

[COBOL2Java]

Actually, putting on what we call easy listening music works just as effectively. Small wonder why I'm a big fan of Mantovani. :-)

I have four pre-selected stations on my Sirius XM, and I switch back and forth depending on the particular mood I'm in during my 1 1/2 hour commute:

• Spa (New Age Music - soothing. Good for heavy traffic);
• Watercolors (Smooth Jazz - nice elevator music. Good for long distances);
• 40's on 4 (Hits from the 1940's - Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, etc. I just happen to like it);
• Kids Place Live! (Kids music - for the kid in me! If you're driving on the DC beltway and you happen to see some old fart mouthing the words to "What Does The Fox Say?" - that's me)

[dmz]

I have the perfect way that I am counteracting what you describe (not that my kids with kids of their own resemble what you describe).

Banjo music.

I play the banjo (as well as a few other stringed instruments).

Scares the heck out of the dogs, but the toddlers are fascinated. One of their first full sentences: pop pop plays the banjo.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Why do vampires fear holy water?

Not the recent vampires I see on TV today... heck they don’t even fear the cross anymore.

[camle]

with a weak hypothesis, it sounds more like someone looking for grant money

[Fred Hayek]

Otherwise how do you explain Yngwie Malmsteen?

[freepertoo]

Mozart was cool, and his music is so much fun that I find it hard to believe that anyone doesn’t enjoy it. He was the first rock star, so they say! :-D

[Charles Martel]

Related article:

Reaching the Sleeping Soul Through Music.

[dfwgator]

Small wonder why I'm a big fan of Mantovani.

You know Steve Martin decided to become white after listening to his first Mantovani record.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

You and I are on the SAME WAVELENGTH!

I love SPA & Watercolors on SiriusXM!

Never tried the 40’s on 4—but I will today! Thanks for the tip!

[IYAS9YAS]

I can't even guesstimate the number of times I have been sitting at a stop light and have been forced to hear the hostile sounds of rap music from another car waiting for the light to change. Inevitably, the driver has his windows rolled down and his music turned up to 11, his antisocial proclivities on audio display.

I want a drone-like device that would zero-in on the bass and zap the car's electrical system. Just leave 'em in the road, dead system, dead ignition, dead stupid.

[COBOL2Java]

If I recall, it’s Sirius Channel 4 (hence the “40’s on 4” label). I particularly enjoy it because it makes me think about the kind of music my parents would have listened to during WW II.

[Grams A]

It stimulates the brain and is much more effective than country or rock, IMO.”

My teenage grandson has been listening to non-vocal classical music during homework time since he was in pre-k. Although he does listen to the popular non-rap music at other times his favorite group since he was three has always been Manhattan Transfer. Parents always have music playing in the background at home and the TV is rarely on so it’s what he grew up with.

[P.O.E.]

heck they don’t even fear the cross anymore.

Or appearing too emo.