I think the problem lies with more modern genres of music who are heavily dependent on 4/4 rhythm. Once the percussion and the rhythm is slipped out from under them they find it boring...most people see classical as being too long, they want it to get to the point like most contemporary music doe. It's a shame that people never give it a trying chance because once you get used to listening to classical you see the composers intentions, his message and the emotion he is conveying to you. It's an octillion times deeper than more modern music, but that isn't to say most of the newer styles are bad, but rather that classical is just better at what all styles are trying to accomplish.
True, true.
The lack of patience is indeed what has caused many younger people to turn away from Classical music. I was fortunate to grow up with it, and I am very grateful that I was able to fully appreciate Classical music from a very young age.
Many human emotions transcend words. Some try to label a piece as "happy," or "sad," or "angry." However, these words can't really be applied to music. You don't need lyrics to tell you how to feel, all you need are sounds. And a good composer can make not only feel "happy" or "sad" or "angry," he/she can make you feel exactly how they feel.
I don't want to get overly zealous with my choice of words or come across as silly. The fact is, for me and for many others who fully appreciate Classical music, it puts you on a journey. A 4 minute song is entertaining, but 4 minutes is simply not enough time to really be able to express large musical ideas in a full fledged manner. Hell, for some composers, 3 hours isn't even enough, yet there is not one bar that can be cut.
I could, and have, sat through a 3 hour symphony nonstop. For most, it would be a long, arduous task. It would be unbearable. For me, I had no problem sitting through it.
It isn't easy to listen to a 3 hour symphony. I have introduced my friends to classical music. I'd start with shorter, more approachable pieces such as Preludes, Etudes, Nocturnes, etc. I would later move on to longer, more dense pieces, and finally, they'd have grown an appreciation for Classical music.
When people hear of classical music, their mind immediately goes to the famous opening notes of Beethoven's 5th symphony, or to the Ode to Joy, or to the Moonlight Sonata, or to Fur Elise. These are only 4 pieces out of the literal 100,000s of pieces out there. To be perfectly honest, those 4 aren't even among my favorites. Not even close.
Classical music is too large a genre to be cut down to only 3 or 4 composers and a handful of pieces. Few outside the Classical world have probably heard of Messiaen, or Scriabin, or Alkan, or even more famous composers such as Rachmaninov and Liszt. However, if people would only give a chance to these composers and their music, and if they were willing to develop the patience to really enjoy it, then they would probably grow an appreciation for it.
Modern music is often times good and enjoyable. However, Classical music is a different kind of enjoyment and it requires a different kind of listening. If one is willing to put in some effort towards understanding it and appreciating it, the pay-off is invaluable.