Why do musicians who like classical music seem like snobs?

The purpose of classical music is to be the most nuanced, sensitive music in the world. By definition, it is not supposed to appeal to the masses; it’s just supposed to be incredible music. I’ve heard classical musicians describe this as steak vs. milk duds: everyone loves milk duds, and lots of people don’t like steak, but steak is nourishing and substantial to those who eat it in a way that milk duds just aren’t. This is sort of how classical music lovers feel about it, but I also think it’s a glib analogy so let me just say this:

When I was six years old I first heard a recording of Karajan conducting Beethoven. I didn’t know anything about anything, I was six years old; I wasn’t a snob! I thought it was really cool music, but not appreciably cooler than the pop music I had heard. I was a kid. I liked music, I’d been taking piano lessons for a few years, etc., so I tried to learn more about music. Within a few years I felt like I could listen to the radio and understand how people came up with most of the pop music. I could imitate it myself on the piano, I could take dictation by ear, I could imagine writing it.

The purpose of classical music is to be the most nuanced, sensitive music in the world. By definition, it is not supposed to appeal to the masses; it’s just supposed to be incredible music. I’ve heard classical musicians describe this as steak vs. milk duds: everyone loves milk duds, and lots of people don’t like steak, but steak is nourishing and substantial to those who eat it in a way that milk duds just aren’t. This is sort of how classical music lovers feel about it, but I also think it’s a glib analogy so let me just say this: When I was six years old I first heard a recording of Karajan conducting Beethoven. I didn’t know anything about anything, I was six years old; I wasn’t a snob! I thought it was really cool music, but not appreciably cooler than the pop music I had heard. I was a kid. I liked music, I’d been taking piano lessons for a few years, etc., so I tried to learn more about music. Within a few years I felt like I could listen to the radio and understand how people came up with most of the pop music. I could imitate it myself on the piano, I could take dictation by ear, I could imagine writing it.