How to Enjoy Culture on a Budget

Being a cultured person in this day and age is an expensive endeavor – one of the reasons why things like classical music and fine arts have been associated with the rich elite. But if you want to pursue it anyway, here are some easy hacks for free or inexpensive ways to enjoy ‘high culture’ in Nashville.

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Music schools are host to the finest of young musicians, and their concerts are on caliber with their performers who will one day play with the finest orchestras. Nashville is host to Vanderbilt University, whose Blair School of Music is one of the best in the country. Tickets for these concerts and shows are very inexpensive (usually around $5-15) or free. If going to TPAC (Tennessee Performing Arts Center) is out of your price range but you enjoy a good musical, check out Stephen Sondheim’s wonderful show Into the Woods by Vanderbilt Opera Theater November 15th or 17th. Or if you’d prefer some traditional classical music, on November 20th the Vanderbilt Wind Symphony has a concert entitled ‘Musique Francaise,’ highlighting various compositions from their upcoming CD The French Connection. If you want to get in the holiday spirit, on November 24th the Vanderbilt Community Chorus will be singing ‘Holiday Favorites.’ These are just a few of the many programs Vanderbilt has every semester. Check out the full list here.

If fine arts are more your cup of tea, do some research on your favorite museums, because typically they will have special deals on occasion or certain days or times that are completely free of charge. For example, the Frist (an art museum  in downtown Nashville) offers many free days to the public, you just have to check the calendar!