It is well-known that classical music puts people to sleep. It’s inaccessible, it’s arcane, and it’s boring, boring, boring. Now, it’s our job to convince you that all of those assumptions are just plain wrong.

The age of the music does not make it obsolete. The music was written by dead white guys in powdered wigs, but these are melodies and themes so transcendent and accessible that people of any race or hairstyle can easily relate. Classical music continues to resonate with modern audiences as the deepest and most adaptable of musical forms: musical interpretation breathes new and exciting life into classical music every day.

In truth, classical music is worth your attention, and some of the most engaging examples of this vital medium are right here in Boston. A bus ride and a few dollars can offer you a peek into an exciting new world, and finally give you a guiltless and properly cultured response to the question, “So, do you ever go into Boston?”

Classical music is the hidden gem of Boston’s music scene, and there has never been a better time to discover the joys of this music. When given a chance, classical music can truly have a powerful emotional impact—one boast 50 Cent could never make.

THE STUNNING HALLS

In light of the grungy cool intrinsic to many “modern” musical establishments, it may seem strange to go to a beautiful hall to enjoy music. But take the chance and you’ll be astounded at the energy—both acoustic and visual—well-designed halls can give to great music. The four halls you need to see in Boston before your four years are up are Symphony Hall, Sanders Theatre, Jordan Hall, and the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum. Symphony Hall is best known of the bunch and the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The most convenient is obviously the on-campus Sanders Theatre. The New England Conservatory features the newly-renovated Jordan Hall, which boasts near-flawless acoustics. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, rivaling The Middle East in size, was once the home of a wealthy art collector.

THE GRATIS VENUES

When your Kong budget at last takes full control of your wallet, a classical concert is also your best bet for a cost-free Friday night. Boston teems with free concerts, most of which can be found at the large selection of music schools. The New England Conservatory has the largest presence, but the Boston Conservatory, the Boston University School of Music, and the Longy School of Music all have concert calendars full of free performances. Longy, a hop and a skip from Cambridge Common, is closer to the Yard than even the Quad. MIT also has a very eclectic concert calendar, though its hall, Kresge Auditorium, may turn off visitors with its resemblance to a giant football stuck in the mud.

THE MUSICAL THEATER

Hearing chamber music is the aural equivalent of a theatrical experience. Without a conductor, the players assume independent roles, taking turns delivering their “lines” as solos. Take, for example, Franz Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” string quartet, a passionate work that features the cello as a tragic heroine. Without the utterance of a single word, the instruments engage in heated arguments or profess their lyrical love for one another.

Chamber music originally emerged as small groups of amateur musicians who played together for fun. Now, these tightly constructed pieces are among the most sought after among both performers and audiences.

Founded in 1983, the Boston Chamber Music Society has established itself as one of the best chamber music groups in Boston. The group is made up of eight freelance string and woodwind players from Boston and New York.

Offering six different programs a year, they feature a wide range of guest performers and composers.

Ticket prices start at $17, though student rush tickets can also be found at the Harvard Box Office for $10, at 5:00 p.m. prior to the concert. The next concert cycle, performed on March 18 and 20, features Maurice Ravel’s “Sonata for Violin and Cello,” a piece about Ravel’s traumatizing experiences in World War I—which is of particular relevance in light of today’s war-obsessed social climate.