Daniel Levitin thinks that audiences should get up and dance to classical music performances.

While I understand that the stiffness and formality of a concert bothers some people, I wonder about the listening that can take place when people are busy dancing away. Or does listening not matter any more?

Using history to bolster his case doesn’t work for me. You can use history for all sorts of justifications then, right? Does history make it correct?

Levitin also says:

Children often demonstrate this nature at classical music concerts, swaying and shouting and generally participating when they feel like it. We adults then train them to act “civilized.” The natural tendency toward movement is thus so internalized, it is manifest in concert halls only as a mild swaying of heads. But our biology hasn’t changed — we would probably have more fun if we moved freely.

Hmmm. Children do a lot of things. Some of which have to be reigned in. Go figure.

But maybe I’m totally off base. Maybe I should change my ways.

Besides, if everyone is busy making a lot of noise a missed attack wouldn’t matter at all. Bad reeds? Who cares if you can’t hear them!

Hmmm. I think I’m going to change my stance!