There are probably a million and one ways of putting together a music collection, any of which will work. They all pretty much have the same thing in common: buy a piece of music and add it to your collection. So what do I have to offer? A couple of suggestions if you will...

1) Decide if you will collect CD's or MP3's or both. Personally I go for the CD's and from time to time add in some MP3's and convert a lot of my CD's into MP3's.

2) Determine a buying strategy. Mine is to purchase at least 2-3 albums every other month. In reality this works out to more like 5-7 CD's every 3-4 months, but at least it's consistent.

3) Spread out your purchases amongst the composers, genres, etc. of the classical music you do like. I tend to pick something up from Mahler or Dvorak, a Cello work, and then a couple of others amongst the various composers I like. And then every third or fourth purchase I pick up stuff that has pickled my interest. For example, I've come to really like what I've heard from Leos Janacek, but don't have anything of his yet. Guess what's on my shopping list?

4) If you use a site like Arkiv Music, make use of it's wish list to keep a list of music that you are interested in but haven't gotten yet. I tend to pick up most everything but maybe one selection per purchase from my wish list and I keep around 100-120 items there. This way I am sure to be in the mood for something(s) on the list when I make my purchases.

Anyway hope this helps!

I take a lot of pride in my classical music collection. Each piece of music that I add usually comes with a lot of thought, some research and information gathering and at least some appreciation of the musicical piece coming into my collection.

Within a reasonably short period of time, I've managed to put together a fair sized music collection, though I will be the first to call it small in comparrison to those who've been collecting a lifetime. I've identified various orchestras and conducters that I like, so if I am ever "lost" in figuring out which recording I want, I have some other factors such as these that can help make up my mind.

With this month the start of composer month, and that composer being Beethoven, I'm going to try and give some insight into how I select my music and will be using Beethoven as my example, from figuring out what to select to the where and how of it.

The reason why I am doing this is to hopefully give some insight into this process for someone else who may be completely new to the collecting of classical music recordings. If it helps just one person out there, then it will have been worth it.

Enjoy and more to come!

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been checking out this blog! I would also like to encourage you to become a follower and leave your comments here!

Coming up in June I expect to blog about:

- What I've been listening to lately
- Recent selections and purchases
- More reviews!
- More information about my personal collection
- Expanded vocabulary page
- Expanded web site pages of use to other Classical Newb's out there

I look forward to writing more blogs soon, so stay tuned!

Tonight was a big start for me. For the first time in over 22 years I stepped foot back into a college class room. My first class was in Music Appreciation 101. Now, I've been listening to classical music for a couple of years now and have really enjoyed it. So much in fact that this blog has been on my to-do list ever since. Since tonight started a new journey I figured why not start this one as well. For starters, it may even help me focus on the class.

So, how did a guy like me get started in classical music. It was during a conversation with my wife when we were courting, that she made a baffling statement - at least to me, at that time. "European orchestra's play the 1812 Overture so much better than American ones in general." Intrigued by this statement I set off to listen to many many recordings of Tchaikovsky's 1812. It was during this time I made two discoveries. The first was that European orchestra's, in general do play the 1812 Overture not only differently but in my humble opinion now as well - better than American orchestra's. With a few exceptions, which I would say are on par.

The second discovery was a recording of 1812 by Antal Dorati, which played the 1812 not only as composed, but including the cannon and clarion aspects of the piece per period equipment as well. Thus becoming one of the only recorded versions of 1812 that is played exactly as composed. Startled by these revelations I began to listen to other pieces of classical music and the rest is history.

I am still a newb when it come to classical music. However, what I have learned is that I am a bit of a snob when it comes to classical music. I prefer the higher-end orchestra's and conductors as well as the top notch musicians in their respective places in the symphony. Not a snob in the sense of thinking I know better or that my tastes are better than others, but in my own enjoyment of the pieces and savor many works that I hold to a high standard. I am sure as this blog develops you'll get the picture.

A couple things about this blog. First, as a 3/4-time college student, a business owner (photography business), a full time outside sales professional, member of my church's board of directors, husband, father, animal owner, writer, reader and gamer; this blog will be kept up to date as time and desire fits. So you won't be seeing too many regular updates here. I am sure over the course of the next couple of months will be one of its busiest times when it comes to new posts, but don't expect it to last. Secondly, this blog will be a collection of thoughts, reviews, tidbits and trivia. Photos and videos may be posted from time to time as well, only because I am a strong believer in graphical elements in a blog.

Thanks for reading this introduction and I look forward to sharing more in the near future.