The ‘New’ Classical Music with Reuel Meditz

Despite the evidence that creativity in today’s popular music is dying, all is not lost. A new genre is emerging and it’s gaining popularity fast– it’s modclass, the “modernization of Classical music”.

Reuel Meditz, the creator of modclass, originally trained as a Classical pianist, has won numerous competitions both nationally and internationally.

Reuel’s compositions move beyond existing genres, into Modclass, and he doesn’t limit himself to existing ideas in music– Reuel’s a cool guy.

Modclass combines elements of Classical music to anything you can imagine, inviting a new type of creativity in sound.

Below, Reuel shares how he created the new genre with his creative habits, his biggest influences, and how he became the popular innovator he is today.

“I believe in the adage ‘you have to know the rules to consciously break or improve them.’”

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Reuel’s Creative Habits

“[T]he key element to creativity lies in creating healthy, positive routines.”

Routine induces productive creativity.

I’ve seen many musicians complain that they can only create when the “muse” is with them or when “inspiration strikes”, but the key element to creativity lies in creating healthy, positive routines.

Occasionally, in moments of depression or sadness, I feel a strong rush of inspiration, but it’s usually unreliable and rarely brings anything to fruition.

“I gain an ‘enhanced access’ to my deeper emotions and I become more creatively ‘open.'”

Now I understand that this “rush” occurs because I gain an “enhanced access” to my deeper emotions and I become more creatively “open.”

I’m working to cultivate this emotionally-driven creativity through positive thinking and complete awareness on living in the present (and not the past nor future).

I maintain an open mind, a heightened sensory awareness to immediate possibilities around me, and filter out negative thought processes.

Not only does this routine build constant creativity, but it keeps me satisfied with life.

“I… filter out negative thought processes.”

Reuel’s Biggest Influences

My influences constantly change with different situations and different people in my life.

The foundation of who I am as a pianist and composer comes from an early appreciation of how music has changed my life, and I wish for others to undergo these same transformations.

Music played a huge role throughout my childhood and high school. Instead of playing sports or hanging out with my few friends, I spent extreme amounts of time practicing and composing on the piano.

“… I turned to music for hope, enjoyment, and therapy…”

My constant dedication to piano helped me understand its powers that improve the bad moments in life and make the good moments unforgettable.

As I turned to music for hope, enjoyment, and therapy, I also performed with similar intents for my listeners.

My constant influence or motivation comes from my desire to convey the multi-dimensional powers of music to audiences so they, in turn, can understand its purpose.

On Classical Music Today

“… I coined the phrase Mod-class to represent my adherence to classical values in modern music.”

All my classical training has benefited me in my ambition to be known as an improvisational pianist.

I give a huge amount of credit to my long time teacher, Dr. Julia Kruger, who instilled perfectionism into my mindset when I was just a kid.

Much of what I know and use daily in composition, finger technique, advanced improvisation, and work ethic was initiated and improved throughout the years I studied classical repertoires.

I believe in the adage “you have to know the rules to consciously break or improve them.” I coined the phrase Mod-class to represent my adherence to classical values in modern music.

“Mod-class takes classical crossover to a new level by focusing on classical training and its techniques…”

Mod-class takes classical crossover to a new level by focusing on classical training and its techniques to create new music; it’s not just about mixing famous classical pieces with modern music styles anymore.