Frederick Viner

What does music mean to you personally?

Just about everything. Cliched but true. It’s a profession, hobby, comfort and bane all wrapped up in one mysterious package. A religion too, perhaps?

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

For me, music feels like a science – something to puzzle and work through logically – as well as a fantasy – something to daydream with your critical faculties disengaged.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

Maybe an astronomer. If only I‘d paid more attention at school...

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

This probably goes for concert audiences, but I’m not sure whether this applies to those vast and growing audiences who experience classical music online. I worry about the former, but am of course delighted about the latter.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

Music is essential, and this will never change. What will change is how, where and why we hear it (less on the radio and more on youtube, for example).

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

Many pop artists don’t have any trouble selling out stadiums packed full of young people, proving that they are willing to go out and hear live music. If classical musicians start getting even a fraction of the coverage and support that they deserve then maybe things would look a little different.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

My process involves caffiene, crying and creative cul-de-sacs, and that’s only the first half-hour. I’ve been very satisfied with some of the intermediate piano miniatures I’ve composed – Something She’d Like, for example – as they’re great fun to write and have been quite well received, by family and friends but also total strangers.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

Forget every stereotype you know. ‘Classical‘ is an umbrella term that encapsulates an entire musical universe. And the chances are you already know much of it, either through film, tv or videogames. Do yourself a favour and listen to just one Beethoven sonata, Chopin nocturne or Rachmaninoff concerto – you won’t need any more convincing after that.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

Of course! But first and foremost I compose to my own tastes. I figure that if I like it, at least a few others might too.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

I’m extremely excited about my upcoming album, Keeping On, which consists of five intermediate piano pieces. It was purely a passion project that kept me going over the last year, and I’ve dedicated each of the pieces to people who’ve helped support me in various ways.

Other than that, I’ve got some new youtube videos in the works with guest stars! Be sure to subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/c/FrederickViner to stay up to date.