The Crossover Conflict: Creating a Framework for Combining Classical and Popular Music in the 21st Century

Given that most musical compositions are often influenced by other works, it is no surprise that classical and popular music should at times overlap, causing one of these genres to crossover into the other, thereby creating a whole new genre conveniently declared "crossover." Crossover is most commonly defined as when a mainstream pop artist decides to broaden his or her artistry by including elements of classical music, or a classically trained musician experiments with so-called lighter fare. Such a notion can be expanded, however, if crossover is examined more closely and assigned to different genres. Creating an advanced classification system for certain types of Classical Crossover can enhance the music education experience, allowing new generations to appreciate, and experiment with, classical music in new forms.