should todays kids get music education??

I thought about posting this topic here ,after some debate over in one of the musical thread , how kids are voting for singers in music reality shows..not because of singing but looks.We talked about how kids donot know about music and average voter is a teenger...who is voting right now.As far as IAm concerned cannot say that for sure as Iam not in India and donot know the trends there.After listening to the members I started to think , may be if we have basic music education in schools, may be this trend can change...or atleast get better.

The value of music education is being questioned like never before. "Education in music is most sovereign because more than anything else rhythm and harmony find there way to the inmost should and take strongest hold upon it, bringing with them and imparting grade if one is rightly trained. The idea of music education is good. Few will say they don't want their kids to know something about music. Educating the parents of our children in the value of music education is equally important .

In my opinion,  these points I feel can be taken into consideration for music education. offcourse iam talking in favour of the education, but would like to hear you guys what you think.

Why music in education?

1. Music contributes to the school and community environment (quality of life).

2. Music helps prepare students for a career and is an avocation.

3. Music makes the day more alive and interesting, which in turn leads to more learning.

4. Music combines behaviors to promote a higher order of thinking skills.

5. It provides a way to image and create, contribute to self-expression and creativity.

6. Music enriches life, it is a way to understand our cultural heritage as well as other past and present cultures. (especially for NRI's)

7. Performing, consuming and composing are satisfying and rewarding activities.

8. Music contributes to sensitivity

9. Music education provides for perceptual and motor development.

10. It encourages team work and cohesiveness.

11. It fosters creativity and individuality.

12. Music education adds to self-worth of participants.

13. Music education fosters discipline and commitment.

14. It is a major source of joy and achievement.

15. Music provides unique and distinct modes of learning

16. Music is a therapeutic outlet for human beings.

17. It is a predictor of life's success

18. It develops intelligence in other areas

19. To provide success for some students who have difficulty with other aspects of the school curriculum.

20. To help the student realize that not every aspect of quantifiable and that it is important to cope with the subjective.

 

 

Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

Hi Dolly , but Music is being taught in school . When i went to school it was being taught , and while i was a teacher in India , it was being taught starting from junior classes . Most schools let you have instrument lessons , singing is taught at junior and Middle school levels . But in Senior schools kids get too busy preparing for Boards and don't continue . But yup !! Singing is already a part of Indian School curriculum !!

you are right aparna, its taught. but its very very superficial.I have seen if a kid is really really good parents often donot encourage and think its waste of time and all. Our education system in india is still very focused on books and all, very little sports and arts related things are taught. I feel if we are going for all this reality music shows and all , we really need to see that the person who is deserving should get the chance ..for that we need to have more awareness then its already given. what do you think? Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

Dolly, this indeed is thought provoking topic. 👏

About your concern over teens voting on basis of looks and not talent I don't think "only" lack of music knowledge is responsible for it . I also think it is lack of responsibility and naive behaviour. Teens should be responsible for what is right and what is expected.

About music you are right. Music is tought in schools, but very basic and just as a fun activity and not seriously. However, not all children are interested in learning music and I don't think they should be pushed keeping that as complosory subject. There should be extra activities and then kids should be allowed to choose one as compulsory. In my school we had Karate, Skating, Dancing and Swimming and we had to choose 1 from first grade. I think any extra activity will help you with the list of things you have above.

I don't watch any TV show right now so not sure what kind of voting and show are popular. However, years back I used to watch Sa Re Ga Ma with Sonu Nigam hosting it and that was my best show. They used to call artist who were expert in music to judge the show which makes much more sense than "janta" voting. Edited by sowmyaa - 18 years ago

very good topic...but i think dolly u have already put it beautifully so..i wud not dare to tamper with it...
grt work 👏 👏 👏

Originally posted by: sowmyaa

Dolly, this indeed is thought provoking topic. 👏

About your concern over teens voting on basis of looks and not talent I don't think "only" lack of music knowledge is responsible for it . I also think it is lack of responsibility and naive behaviour. Teens should be responsible for what is right and what is expected.

Well Sowmyaa, you are right to some extent..but I think thats part of their age...responsibility comes with maturity and usually maturity comes with age.(unlike me😆).
About music you are right. Music is tought in schools, but very basic and just as a fun activity and not seriously. However, not all children are interested in learning music and I don't think they should be pushed keeping that as complosory subject. There should be extra activities and then kids should be allowed to choose one as compulsory. In my school we had Karate, Skating, Dancing and Swimming and we had to choose 1 from first grade. I think any extra activity will help you with the list of things you have above.

When I was talking about music education , what I meant was even if kids who do not have the voice or interst in learning any instruments  ,can have atleast some theorotical knowledge of music.This might help them in the areas I have mention in my 20.points.I want to give you example, in school don't they sometimes have you learn languages like sanskrit, which no one understands. Not that IAm against it., but if sanskrit then why not music ,which is something is so much visible , especially nowadays.

I don't watch any TV show right now so not sure what kind of voting and show are popular. However, years back I used to watch Sa Re Ga Ma with Sonu Nigam hosting it and that was my best show. They used to call artist who were expert in music to judge the show which makes much more sense than "janta" voting.

Well, now this is money game we are talking about, there are pros and cons for this!!.These shows are now commercialised. They have sponsers for this show , who wants there piece too.And ultimatly they want to make sure that janata likes the singer so they can cash in later on. Thats one of the reason I feel we need to have more awareness of music  

Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

Once a King asked a sage how to make sculptures of the Gods. The sage said, "Someone who does not know the laws of painting could never understand the laws of sculpture. Someone who has no knowledge of the principles of instrumental music cannot know the laws of dancing. Someone who does not understand the art of vocal music cannot understand the principles of instrumental music." ( from Centre of Indian Arts, London during the Sanskritik 7th Festival of Arts of India)

 

Having said that....What I meant by music education was teaching the theorotical knowledge of music, about ragas, sur tal.For this you donot have to have a good voice !!.What I mean is that all forms of arts are interrelated and its not just limited to the art itself it goes beyond it!!( 20 points in begining of my post).

Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

There is one more point I would like to add, in my list.And that is the therapeutic value of music.Music is used especially in west as a therapy especially with kids( among them autism is one condition).I have seen up close how much difference it can make to the young kids for their attention , verbalization, cognition and their motor develpment. Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

Now,
I think we have somewhat established that music should be taught. My next question is how and why parents should be / can be involved in this.Without parents involvement no education is complete.
I will write my veiws later , would like your input first. Edited by dolly - 18 years ago

Well, I've noticed in general that most Far-east Asians (Chinese, Filipino, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc) send their children for piano lessons from a very young age. I dont know why that is the reason, but I have seen it more with these parents than with South Asian parents. And the neighbourhood where I live is more of a Mini-South-Asia, so that is saying something!

Most Indian parents consider arts as a waste of time as very few people get jobs in those fields. If they are not interested in music, they do not encourage their children to pursue its education either.

So, if they are to be involved, they should be also educated on the benefits of musical education for their children. For Eg. a study conducted by a newspaper (dont remember which one it was) showed that children who study music are better at academics than others on average.

Also, shy children develop a confidence in facing other people during recitals.

But, a parent should not force the child to continue learning music if he/she does not enjoy it. Try it out initially and ask the teacher about his/her progress. If the teacher thinks he/she is good/promising OR if the child simply enjoys it, just continue with the education.