As of early 2018, we can look at the coming years as an interesting time for music. In recent years, hip-hop and EDM has overtaken rock for the first time in sales and popularity, and we’re certainly still in a time dominated by solo artists and vocals more than groups and instruments. With that said, we’re also seeing more genre blending than we have in years past, from collaborations between Kygo, Selena Gomez, and Marshmello, to Skrillex and Justin Bieber. There are subtle hints of a rock and band comeback, which were discussed in fascinating detail in a recent interview with talent manager Scooter Braun (who’s worked with the likes of Kanye West and Justin Bieber). In the next few years, we may be transitioning into a time where every genre of music is popular in one form or another.

Although classical music may be viewed as “old school” or boring to some of the younger generation, we often forget that many of our favorite DJs and producers’ influences come from classical music. In fact, some of our favorites, like Andrew Rayel, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Kygo, BT, Zedd, Deadmau5 and Andrew Bayer are classically trained! So if you haven’t given classical music a chance, here are a few reasons why we think you should!

It Has Numerous Health Benefits

It might sound odd to say that a given genre of music has health benefits, as opposed to music in general, but there’s been a fair amount of research into this. A health article delved into it and began with the simple observation that classical music makes your brain work better, can help people with dementia, help you sleep better, and even reduce pain. You can chalk most of this up to the genre’s ability to simultaneously stimulate and calm the mind, but it’s still fairly miraculous when you think about the specific benefits.

It Can Get You Going

Another piece on some of the scientific benefits and effects of music was written fairly recently, and specifically to benefit gamers. Aimed at the Irish casino market, its ultimate point was to suggest that the music played in casino venues can have a somewhat manipulative (or at least strategic) effect. The same piece, however, mentioned classical music, and that it can play a role in motivating, relaxing, or inspiring us – which is basically to say it can get you going. Classical music has a way of clearing your head and inspiring you – to create, to achieve, and to see a situation more clearly, etc. This is something a lot of young people would benefit from.

Multiple articles have compared classical music on vinyl to “sex for the first time.” Vinyl is basically known for bringing out the most authentic quality of music, which makes it a nice pairing with a genre that relies solely on a variety of instruments and all their delightful subtleties. Given that a lot of young music lovers are bringing vinyl back these days anyway, this would seem to be a good thing to try. It depends on personal taste, but we’re betting listening to a single great classical record once through can turn most people into fans.