Use Groupmuse for Classical Music House Parties

Boston is shaking things up a bit with Groupmuse. Think Tinder, but with musical instruments in your home. This social and musical phenomenon is changing the future of classic musical by reconnecting the social and aesthetic, intellectual and intimate importance of the art form.

Sam Bodkin, founder and CEO, Groupmuse, fell in love with classical music at 19 years old. He is striving to bring classical music to younger audiences by taking it out of the concert hall and bringing it directly into homes. The website has facilitated more than 500 free living-room chamber concerts where the musicians get paid via audience donations. Musicians love the environment as being able to play for peers in a house party environment is unique. Those watching the performers are drinking, socializing and even playing the air cello. The only rule during the performances is no talking.

“Once someone comes to a few Groupmuses, they’ll see that anyone can host. If you have a huge parlor, we’ll bring a string quartet or quintet. If you have a tiny little studio apartment, we’ll bring a soloist and cap the audience at 10 people. Anyone can have a concert in their home because it’s classical music — we don’t need amplification, we don’t need to plug anything in, everyone brings the instruments on their backs, all we need is a few chairs to recreate some of the great masterpieces that humanity can lay claim to,” Bodkin said.

Today, there are anywhere from five to 10 concerts in Boston each week, with similar communities growing in larger cities like San Francisco, Seattle and New York City. The money varies, depending on the number of performers and audience size. Since the company doesn’t take a cut from musicians or charge attendees, the company launched a corporate offering, bring the living room experience to the office. The fees are negotiated in advance and musicians are paid a flat rate.