Partner Question:
In the excerpt we read, Woodford discusses the idea that so many music teachers are "classically trained" meaning that they went to college, studied classical music, majored in music education, and upon graduating went straight into teaching. My question to you is: How do you think the profession of music educator would change if the majority of music educators were not "classically trained" by Woodford's definition? For example, what if a majority of primary and secondary school music educators majored in performance in college, performed for a few years and then upon retiring from performing, obtained their Masters in Education and then taught or what if a majority of educators focused on Jazz or Reggae or Gospel music rather than a more classical training? How do you think this would benefit/hurt the music education professions and its students?
posted by Caroline @ 12:47 PM
1 Comments:
Well, the obvious answer is that the focus of the curriculum for these teachers would be different. In the first scenario, performers might have a more jaded view of the world having only performed for a few years and possibly not succeeding. Perhaps they would want to focus on teaching students about how to live in the "real world." They would have a more extensive background about their practice, such as voice, violin etc...and although they studied that practice they wouldn't have as much experience teaching it. I think that they could disadvantage students in the way that some of those teachers could be using education as their fall back plan. However, I think there is some advantage to having that experience of being a performer that most teachers can't draw on. Also, the students may respect him or her more easily.
In the second scenario, this goes along with a lot of what I've been saying about popular music. I really think that more teacher education programs should focus on a wide range of music, rather than just classical and music theater. It just doesn't make sense to me that teacher training is so centered in traditional, western canon, classical music. Lawrence Kramer said it perfectly when he said that classical music’s “audience is shrinking, graying, and pale-faced (Reimer, 2003).” It also goes along with Regelski's talk of paradigms, and how we are so stuck in our ways that we don't even consider new and exciting ways of doing things. While the golden oldies of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart are very important to learn about, they should be be considered as the same importance as the music that the students are actually listening to. Even at a choir college, you'd be hard pressed to find a student who listens to ONLY classical music. The people of America are rapidly and continually changing, and so should the way that we reach them. I think it would be a great benefit to music education, and would in fact make it an easier job for some, if a part of the teacher preparation was to open our minds to all of the numerous kinds of music that exist in the world.
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