The music education world, as large a spectrum music itself covers, is quite small. Generally, the most skilled and inspiring public school music teacher is no celebrity, and often, these legends of higher level education are not aquainted with the blogishpere. Like many classical musicians/enthusiasts, it's all about the music, not about social networking--on the internet no less. This does not mean that music educators shouldn't keep up with technological advancements. In fact, even with the detrimental budget cuts, technology is continually finding ways to change music education.
Evan Tobias is Instructor of Music Education at Arizona State University. In my "blog search," I have found that his blog is most comprehensive in terms of combining new technological elements of music education, advocacy and the contributions of the "outside world" to music education. Tobias's blog, Catalysts and Connections, not only provides detailed information on various music ed. conferences throughout the country, but also provides thought provoking stories on how music is changing the world (through education). His entries are professional and academic as he often discusses the most effective ways to work with music students from a more pedagogical stand point. At the same time, he avoids the pretentiousness that comes with being a music critic or expert.
His last entry was in April of 2009, and I am ardently hoping he writes more this coming fall--there are comments on the blog as recent as one week ago. His readers are generally music teachers--public school or university level. He also receives comments from arts advocacy organizations.
In one article, he discusses how the music of T-Pain and Bjork can be used in the classroom to demonstrate different ways to portray and use the human voice. This is not only be an aid to teaching voice production, but also to exposing students to world music. As a member of the "teeny-bopper/pop culture music generation," adding a bit of pop culture to a lesson plan is so applicable. It is music, after all.
Another article demonstrates how music contributes to history: Tobias congratulates the Lesbian and Gay Band Association and provides a bit of a feature on the group as they were invited to march in the inaugural parade back in January. It's so important, especially in the case of advocating for music ed in public schools, to emphasize the fact that music helps groups of people (LGBT) make history!
Tobias speaks of the importance of bringing music to students in need also. He wrote in early 2007 about the importance of high school marching band to students whose programs suffered from Hurricane Katrina. He makes reference to an article in the New York Times that featured a band that marched in the first Mardi Gras parade since the hurricane and "proved they could do something positive in such devastated surroundings." He quotes students who were suggested by their English teacher to join the band after behavioral issues, and later dream of becoming band teachers.
These stories reveal the magic of music in schools! In my blog, I hope to feature more discussions of advocacy and the state of the arts budget throughout the country, and less pedagogical teaching methods, as valuable as they are. This blog can definitely be an aid to my research. and I am excited to start the magic!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Hello World!
I love meeting people who are passionate about their craft. Whether it be biology, fashion or physics, a healthy dose of genuine enthusiasm gives life more meaning. I am a musician and I've met hundreds of students who are passionate about music, who have inspired me to write this blog. These students are instrumentalists, orchestral musicians, choral singers and wind players. They all speak, read and express the same language--a language that helps them have a voice, a wish for change and a seek for peace.
Unfortunately, in the US, classical music is considered a "dying art"--literally. Patrons of professional symphonies and chorales are growing old, and music of MTV is taking over the tastes of younger generations. This is not to discount the validity of pop music, but the values that are taught through the rehearsal and performance of classical music is being lost, bringing me to the culmination of the topic of my blog.
Like the professional music world, music education in the US is dwindling. The No Child Left Behind Act led many school districts to cut funding to their music programs. Of course there always exists the argument: better test scores and more motivated students are results of school music programs. (I can elaborate on exact statistics later).
Still, I can't finish this blog without mentioning my first example of change:
Recently, an example has been made of the Jose Abreu's El Sistema in Venezuela--a program that consists of 125 youth orchestras and training programs throughout the country that has absolutely changed the nation. Much of the students of this program have formerly been involved in gangs, crime or originate from extremely impoverished areas. The El Sistema has produced hundreds of professional musicians since it's conception in the 1970s, including conducting prodigy Gustavo Dudamel--the newly appointed conductor of the LA Philharmonic.
Is it coincidence? That the product of the most notable music program in the world is coming to Los Angeles--home of a school district that projects a complete cut of all of its public school music programs within the next ten years. I hope not.
In this blog, I hope to discuss the happenings within the Los Angeles area in regards to the promotion of the professional arts as well as education. I also hope to address the actions of different music education organizations such as the MENC (National association for music educators), the Music For All Foundation and others. I also hope to share my own personal stories of how the music I encounter as a student changes and inspires passion in my life.
Many blogs on this subject are written by large organizations of seasoned music educators. (People I might affectionately call "old, white men"). I've grown up in a musical environment, and am currently studying to earn my Bachelors of Music in Oboe Performance. In my experience, music teachers have the power to transform a music piece as well as the musicians playing it. My ramblings of passion, inspiration, teamwork and dedication might seem farfetched, but I hope to somehow portray how I came to be such a zealous advocate through the entries in this blog. I am so excited to share my thoughts about the importance of this beautiful art with the world!
Unfortunately, in the US, classical music is considered a "dying art"--literally. Patrons of professional symphonies and chorales are growing old, and music of MTV is taking over the tastes of younger generations. This is not to discount the validity of pop music, but the values that are taught through the rehearsal and performance of classical music is being lost, bringing me to the culmination of the topic of my blog.
Like the professional music world, music education in the US is dwindling. The No Child Left Behind Act led many school districts to cut funding to their music programs. Of course there always exists the argument: better test scores and more motivated students are results of school music programs. (I can elaborate on exact statistics later).
Still, I can't finish this blog without mentioning my first example of change:
Recently, an example has been made of the Jose Abreu's El Sistema in Venezuela--a program that consists of 125 youth orchestras and training programs throughout the country that has absolutely changed the nation. Much of the students of this program have formerly been involved in gangs, crime or originate from extremely impoverished areas. The El Sistema has produced hundreds of professional musicians since it's conception in the 1970s, including conducting prodigy Gustavo Dudamel--the newly appointed conductor of the LA Philharmonic.
Is it coincidence? That the product of the most notable music program in the world is coming to Los Angeles--home of a school district that projects a complete cut of all of its public school music programs within the next ten years. I hope not.
In this blog, I hope to discuss the happenings within the Los Angeles area in regards to the promotion of the professional arts as well as education. I also hope to address the actions of different music education organizations such as the MENC (National association for music educators), the Music For All Foundation and others. I also hope to share my own personal stories of how the music I encounter as a student changes and inspires passion in my life.
Many blogs on this subject are written by large organizations of seasoned music educators. (People I might affectionately call "old, white men"). I've grown up in a musical environment, and am currently studying to earn my Bachelors of Music in Oboe Performance. In my experience, music teachers have the power to transform a music piece as well as the musicians playing it. My ramblings of passion, inspiration, teamwork and dedication might seem farfetched, but I hope to somehow portray how I came to be such a zealous advocate through the entries in this blog. I am so excited to share my thoughts about the importance of this beautiful art with the world!
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