How important is Music?

The importance of music for children- (and everyone else!) 

The importance of music is a subject often covered in the 'round the pub table' sort of setting and is one that many people have very passionate opinions on whether they are musicians or not. I would like this blog to look at the importance of music for children from as many angles as possible from academic, to expressive, even as an aid to identity. And as usual I would love to hear your thoughts. 

So I would like to begin with the idea that music is in fact intrinsic to life...this is the idea that it is built into us before we even know about it. This is something that I strongly believe, it is evident in children from a young age. Babies use lyrical sounds before actual words and even learn words through musical inflection. Think of the way you talk to a baby, many people tend to automatically sing at them. But why is this? 

We could look at parts of the brain and get incredibly scientific at this point and there is valid evidence about the brain and how it works and reacts to modes such as music, but I ask you for a moment just to humanly think about what music makes you FEEL? Wether the answer to that question is positive or negative I would hasten to say that the answer is not 'nothing.' It makes all of us feel something and that is what tells me that it is in fact intrinsic. 

At my recent taught session for my CME we compiled lists of why children like/dislike music and needless to say the lists were filled with everything from self identity, peer pressure, the pure noise, freedom, social aspects, being just a few of the positives and almost the same things appearing on the negative list as reasons to dislike it too. So it is becoming more and more clear that it truly effects us all in a variety of ways. 

There is evidence to show that the sounds and patterns of music are an aid to learning, it is a base level skill. For example; our childhood is filled with nursery rhymes which truly should be given more credit as they are a real aid to learning and are something that stick with us right through life, I wonder if they would have had the same impact without their melodies, would we have remembered them as clearly if they were spoken stories? 

As a teenager, my social group was largely formed around music taste as I'm sure was the case for many people, it is a powerful enough thing that it can even influence the kind of people that you become friends with and spend recreational time with. On a separate note as an instrumental teacher this is an important point to consider especially when teaching 11-18 year olds, in my experience this is the age group that becomes more socially aware of what makes them 'cool' music wise and all sorts of peer stigmas start to set into place, influencing their motivation to learn instruments and their choices of which instrument to play. 

So as well as social groups forming around music styles there are also clear cultural groups when it comes to music, some of the more well known genres include, Reggae, Country, Rock 'n' Roll, Hip Hop. All of these genres have a certain culture attached to them, many of these genres roots go deeper than the rhythms and melodies of the music. Reggae and Ska was really first brought to Britain in the early 60's, it wasn't until late 60's when Reggae truly started to gain airplay and a place in the British music scene, and it had travelled four and a half thousand miles, this is just one example of the power of music and its connection to culture. 

So when considering how important music is to children and students we first have to consider the massive importance and effect it has on socialising, culture, learning, mood, relationships and the world really. The recent passing of David Bowie was a bitter sweet reminder of the importance of music in peoples lives, his music wasn't just melodies and lyrics, it influenced styles, attitudes and cultures in every period, it completely broke the boundaries down and made people feel accepted and free. In his passing it is even more apparent what an idol he was to many people and it all lives on in his music. 

Music is a powerful medium and should not be underestimated, it is something that is not only important to children and learning but is powerful enough that it often stays with people through generations. My Dad brought me up listening to old rock n roll vinyl's that he listened to from a young age, he and I still listen to them now, music is timeless and this is another great example of its importance and power to outlive us!  

As an instrumental teacher I feel it is very important to encourage my students to explore these avenues music provides. My focus as a teacher is to allow music to be an expressive subject and find the avenue that means most to my students as individuals. Whether this is theory, improvisation, history, performance or exams, I aim to find what is important to them and use this for the most effective learning. 

This is not to say that the other avenues should be ignored, the options should be there but knowing how to balance them and utilise favourites is something we can look at over time and learn as teachers to harness the right thing in our students to benefit them the best we can.

Assessments today; lets get creative!

So it has been a long time since I have entered a blog on here, and I mean years, but my reason for a return appearance is actually study! I recently started studying with trinity college London through the Elgar school of music in Worcester for my CME or Certificate for Music Educators. And the study itself has inspired me and given me a very good reason to begin blogging again.

It is interesting how a formal qualification has inspired me to do something creative like write a blog but actually it is part of the assignment, which got me thinking about just how far education has come and really how accepting it has become of more informal ways of portraying thoughts…or has it?

I would like to pose a question…what do you think about using more informal means of communication/writing to complete assignments for formal qualifications? Good, bad, irresponsible, irrelevant, indifferent?

Well…I hope to share with you my thoughts and in return hope that I can hear some of yours.

Since I can remember, through GCSEs, A levels and even a former qualification completed with trinity, I have had to officially reference my work down to the last quote and sites such as Wikipedia were always a big no-no. And suddenly I am faced with this amazing opportunity where this blog itself, full of my own thoughts and opinions no less, will count towards at least a section of my overall assessment for possibly my most in depth and formal qualification yet!
I have to say, I am a big fan of this concept and would be very supporting of this attitude towards many other qualifications…I may even be very bold and say all!

Let me ask you this… In whatever profession you currently stand, did you learn more from books and facts and figures or more from doing, living, and being the job? I know what my answer is.

Let's take this blog for an example. When writing this or any blog, I feel a true sense of freedom with my words and don't feel restricted by any criteria that I need to meet because it's my honest thoughts based on my real experience, wether it is right or wrong is not the point, it harnesses my experiences and provides a platform on which I can present them and what I have learnt from them.

Shall we also look at the other side of the spectrum… What if the thoughts and opinions I have based on actual experience are not valid? Isn't it possible with the greatest of respect to anybody reading this or agreeing with my first stance, that some people's experiences and opinions on their profession are affected or biased by years of experience, although it is possible to be passionate and entirely in love with your job, it is also possible to feel the opposite way. And this does not necessarily make for the most constructive study or comment in whatever particular area you have chosen. How do we vet this? Is it even possible?

Then we come to marking against criteria, how would an examiner or higher body then mark somebody's opinions and experiences!? Which if any boxes will this blog tick for me?

Personally I believe that real experience is priceless wether it is positive or negative. Everything gained from working within a particular field, in my case music, can build up knowledge and skills in a person. It is really what that person decides to do with them that determines their value. But surely even by providing a channel through which people and professionals feel free to speak their opinion is going to rock the boat a little and inevitably open up some cans of worms that have long needed straightening out…even if they are the cans at the back of the cupboard that nobody dares touch anymore!

I say bravo! To my qualification with trinity and any others that are taking this brave step into alternative and honest ways of approaching key and professional subjects. I like it. And I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about it…let's see how this blog does…mark away trinity!

Thoughts…?

A Night at the Proms- a night to remember?

On Thursday the 27^th December, just safely out of the mad three days we call Christmas, I found myself seated about 6 feet away from the Timpani of the London Concert Orchestra in the magnificent and underrated Birmingham Symphony Hall. My eyes wondered round the majestic 2,262 seat concert hall, clocking the well renowned features that give this venue its reputation. The colossal acoustic canopy hangs relatively low tonight, a tool that is used here to match the style and feel of the repertoire being provided from one evening to the next.  The concert tonight was none other than the Last Night of the Christmas Proms, a beautifully diverse programme of old English classics, sea shanty’s and vocal compositions to be reckoned with.

With the Timpani just a few feet below me and the rather intimidating but impressive Organ towering above me, I felt a certain confidence about my seat tonight, not to mention it being pretty much in line with the conductors podium. As the Orchestra slowly took their seats and the lights lowered, the now packed out Symphony Hall rippled into applause and that familiar rush crept into my stomach and the conductor made his entrance. This is a rare indulgence.

As if to ease us into a sense of security, the Orchestra began with the well-known Tchaikovsky’s ‘Sleeping Beauty Waltz’, a lilting and melodic piece of music best known for its use in the popular Disney film. The acoustics of the Hall already prove their worth, being seated so close to the percussion, anyone would expect to be over powered by their rhythms over all else, but this is simply not the case. The music fills the room perfectly giving every section of the Orchestra a chance to shine. As the carefully selected programme continued, the performers energy only seemed to grow but the highlight of the first half had to be the Saint Saens Organ Finale, the instrument was installed in 2001 and designed Kleis Orgelbau, towering at a mere 65 feet above me I could not help but feel belittled as it blasted out the final chords of this beautiful composition by Saint Saens.

A gin and tonic and a few nibbles later, the audience retook their seats to enjoy the promising and patriotic second half. This is the part of the Proms we all look forward to. Time to wave the flags and sing along; a rare privilege when you frequent orchestral performances. So many concerts are bound by traditional etiquette of clapping at the correct moment and restraining your ‘whoops’ until you leave the Hall, but the proms are a tradition all by themselves. By this point I was comfortable with the Orchestra and already sufficiently impressed, but my expectations were blown out of the water with the introduction of Nicholas Ransley, the chosen Tenor for the evening. As he delivered a beautiful rendition of Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ I remembered exactly why it was that I made my yearly trip here.

The evening reached its climax with the utterly breath-taking ‘Rule Britannia!’ Not a person was left sitting down and not a voice remained quiet as the piece reached its chorus. Flags were flying and music was filling every curve of the room, it truly was a stunning end to the concert. As the Hall slowly emptied, I was aware of the elated conversations going on all around me, and I was suddenly very aware of the diversity of the audience; from children at the age of 8 to the elderly age of 80 and no particular imbalance of males or females, this really was a concert to reach everyone.

The evening was great, from the beauty of the venue and the talent of the London Concert Orchestra to the shrewdly picked programme and accurate acoustics of the room. I left with the same elated buzz that I entered with. A magical evening that I would recommend to anyone.