A String Quartet in Your Living Room

Groupmuse is one of my favorite things about San Francisco. The service brings amazing classical musicians — mostly local professionals — into the homes of the community for intimate performances. Groupmuse members volunteer to host events, and anyone can sign up to attend. Depending on the size of the home, performances range from soloists to full string quartets.

I’ll listen to live music anywhere, but being invited into a stranger’s home to do so is a particularly special experience. Compared to the theaters and concert halls where we normally encounter classical music, these small venues are often a better fit for the music. Though we don’t often hear them in such settings, much classical music was written for small parlors and music rooms no bigger than your living room. Hearing a string quartet in its natural habitat never disappoints.

More importantly, Groupmuse has cultivated a strong community of music enthusiasts. The community at these events is friendly and diverse, and generally a refreshing change from the tech bubble many of us live and work in. And given the small settings, the musicians themselves feel like part of the community. Without the wall between the stage and the audience, they’re more free to engage with us, discuss the music, and answer questions.

Keep an eye out for the next Groupmuse in your city. You won’t be disappointed. In the meantime, here’s some Beethoven…

10 of 100

Want to follow along? You can receive the next 90 posts via email by signing up here.