When reading the Musical Bill of Rights, I was struck by the way music is treated as something that everyone should experience. It reminded me of a video I'd seen recently in which Sir Ken Robinson contends that the arts should be taught in public schools as seriously as reading, writing, math and the hard sciences.
In the clip, he breaks down the education system, showing how children are taught to bury their expressive qualities and conform to models that will get them a "real" job. I couldn't help but be reminded of the expressive nature of our class and how it breaks the traditional barriers of education.
It's exciting to be a part of a system that more and more progressive minds are saying is the correct way to go. I think that our class is a perfect model of something that could greatly benefit young children as they discover their passions.
I've included the link for anyone who is interested. It's a 20 minute clip but is hilarious, informative and very much worth your time if you so choose to watch it.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Thanks, Burke. I'll look forward to watching the clip (which I may have seen before).
ReplyDeleteWe cannot cover EVERYTHING in our FYS, although the blog, including posts such as this, helps us to touch on things we don't have (much) time for in class. Arts advocacy, and arts education advocacy, are important causes. This isn't just so we are making jobs for ourselves. It's because of the tremendous benefit of the arts, and participating in the process of the arts, have for us as individuals, groups, and a society.
I too, found this concept interesting. As music students, many of have been so exposed to different musical styles and ways of expression that, at least for me, it is hard to imagine the life of someone who has not. Musicians are said to be more expressive beings in the way of emotions and ideas, we are lucky. We are also a minority in this sense, so many children do not have a creative outlet such as music and I believe that this lack may sometimes be the cause of crime or suicide etc.. In all seriousness music should be taught to everyone, if not as a passion, as an essential part of brain development and many other basic human skills.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, America's public education system. Science math SPORTS history government SPORTS economics SPORTS and maybe a band or choir tacked on. (That was my high school, anyway). This is why people and politicians should not be talking about cutting funds for the arts in education. Thank you for posting this, Burke; this is absolutely essential for everybody to see.
ReplyDeleteSorry if I come off a bit strong in this post and/or generalize a lot, but this is stuff I've dealt with firsthand. Many schools not only minimize arts education under their jurisdiction, but they fail to recognize those students who exhibit gifted tendencies in these areas. (Note that I say many, not most.) This is a very frustrating aspect of education as it stands right now.
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ReplyDeleteI think it was great for you to show us this Burke. I know we're all music students and we believe what we are doing is right, and that the system sometimes doesn't always look in our favor, but the other sides of school are important. I wish music was stronger in schools (here in Indiana music has taken a HUGE hit in schools) and I think with all the readings we had this week this was a great tie into all of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our class is a great thing that we should all take with us to use in our own classrooms someday. Your comment that music is something everyone should experience is something we can also remember when we are teaching others. I understand to that my comments are geared towards us Music Ed. majors but performance people will likely end up giving a lesson or two at some point in their lives and relate to this as well.
ReplyDeleteTED Talks are awesome.
ReplyDeleteAs a music student, I'm obviously a big advocate for arts education. Music and all other art forms are extremely important and necessary to fully develop a students mind and creative thought process. All types of research have been conducted on this topic, and the results are unanimous. An education is incomplete without at least a solid foundation of or introduction to the arts.
With the different levels of government constantly looking to make cuts, unfortunately it is often arts funding that gets put on the chopping block. Hopefully, they will learn this is not the way to go.
Sorry Burke I almost forgot to add this..
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful!