To suggest that trance, as a genre, is categorically bad, demonstrates a general lack of exposure to begin with.
To suggest that this is somehow knowledge that comes only with "musical education" is not only ignorant, but snobbery as well.
The fact is that there is a lot of bad trance simply because bad trance still sells. I agree wholeheartedly that strict, formulaic paint by numbers trance is about as boring as music gets, but I also believe -- strike that -- know that there is such a thing as excellent trance music.
Most people who abhor trance as a genre do so because of the flatline nature and lack of musical dynamics of most commonly played trance. This results in a sonic phenomenon that is not only predictable, but overwhelmingly monotonous and annoying.
That being said, genuinely good trance music achieves something that most other genres of EDM cannot as effectively achieve, and that is, specifically, putting the listener into a trance.
While personal tastes vary widely, there are some trance tunes that were, and still are, examples of good dance music despite having 'dated' or even boring sound patches. Even people who dislike trance on the grounds that it is trance cannot make a case against such pieces like the better mixes of "Gamemaster" or PVD's excellent Vorsprung remix of "Binary Finary".
Granted, these two examples are examples of formulaic, predictable music...but then again, Pachebel's classical example of formulaic composition is still one of the most loved pieces of music on Earth.
I have had the pleasure of 'educating' my househead friends by exposing them to good trance for five years now. Don't get me wrong. I am an absolutely avid, drooling follower of twisted, funky tech house, e.g. Zabiela, Ty Tek, Harry Romero, etc...I believe great house music is as good as anything.
But to those who think that house or techno is better simply by virtue of the fact it isn't trance, well...
...it is you who needs educating.
I would strongly suggest digging a bit deeper into some of the current good trance producer's achievements before closing yourself off completely to the genre. The reason isn't to prove anything to you. Quite the contrary. The reason is because you are missing some very enjoyable musical experiences.
As a dedicated music producer, performer, DJ and dancer, I can tell you that there is nothing as fun as rediscovering that first appreciation of EDM, whatever it was, and finding that it never gets old. It's simply a matter of motivation and perserverance. Finding great trance seems to be more difficult than finding great house or techno.
And that is because composing great trance is actually more difficult than composing great house music, rather than less difficult, as some have suggested. Indeed, the paint by numbers commercial trance isn't really trance at all in my book. It is simply a facsimile that on the surface seems fine, but does not hold up to any scrutiny. It is noise with form, but devoid of content or purpose.
This is what has led so many of us to get frustrated with the genre...the fact that one can simply sequence arpeggios with the first patch and arrange simple pads and simple beats, or rather pulses, to accompany and then call it trance.
It's like Yngwie Malmsteen's garishly arrogant mistake of calling his music classical. It isn't.
I would reecommend to anyone who is looking for that really good trance, or even looking for an example of what great trance might actually sound like, to do some motivated searching among artists like Markhus Schultz, Noel Sanger, Memnon, etc. From there you will find a path to techno via some masters of crossover music like Sander van Doorn, or even DJ Preach...depending on where you want your mix to wind up.
For more melodic, 'supersaw' type trance there is still Solarcoaster, John O'Callahan, even Paul van Dyk and yes, Tiesto.
While no artist puts out only excellent, high quality trance, these are examples of trance producers who have some great pieces under their belt. That's not even getting into some of the incredible psy-trance that is coming out now.
Truly, to those who genuinely believe that you are now too educated or musically refined to enjoy trance...may I suggest that you find the maturity (and in some cases, some much needed humility) to rethink your position and examine the issue with a fresh ear and mindset...
...you might find you actually enjoy it.
