Ensembles and music classes should exist to serve students, not the ensembles, directors, or composers. This shift in perspective places students at the center of music education, emphasizing their participation, growth, and creative engagement over traditional structures and priorities.
The Need for Diversity and Creativity
Students today require more diversity in repertoire and greater opportunities for creativity and improvisation in their musical experiences. While traditional literature remains a valuable part of the curriculum, it cannot remain the sole focus. When students are offered an exclusive diet of ensemble repertoire, it limits their potential for the future, reducing their ability to adapt, innovate, and connect with music in meaningful ways.
Shifting Priorities in Music Education
Notation should be introduced only after students have experienced music-making through singing, playing by ear, and improvisation. This sequence allows students to internalize music as a meaningful, lived experience rather than an abstract exercise in decoding symbols.
Even when students are ready to proficiently read notation, the skills of improvisation, playing by ear, and building a repertoire of songs for life should continue to exist alongside reading notation. These complementary skills provide a richer and more balanced musical education, ensuring that students are not confined to performing literature but are also empowered to create, express, and engage with music on a deeper level.
Music as Art and a Path to the Future
Music-making as art prepares students for a creative future in an ever-changing world. In this future, creativity will be more than a skill—it will be a necessity. The creatives of today will shape the machines of tomorrow, rather than simply serving them. To equip students for this future, music education must move beyond preparing them to play notation-driven literature as interchangeable "cogs in a machine."
A Broader Vision for Music Education
To meet the needs of today’s students, we must adopt a broader, more creative and inclusive vision of music education:
Incorporating Creativity: Improvisation and composition should be integrated into both classes and ensembles, fostering students’ ability to express themselves musically.
Expanding Repertoire: A more diverse selection of songs and works ensures all students see themselves and their cultures reflected in the music they make.
Balancing Skills: Notation must work alongside improvisation, playing by ear, and song-building to equip students with the skills they need for lifelong music-making.
By broadening our approach, we inspire students to view music-making as an empowering, lifelong pursuit, rather than a series of technical skills aimed at performing preselected pieces.
Creatives Leading the Machines
The world is changing, and education must adapt. In a future shaped by automation and technology, it will be the innovators and creatives who lead. Music education has the unique ability to prepare students for this reality by fostering their creativity, adaptability, and collaborative skills.
Conclusion
The future of music education is one where students' voices and creative potential take center stage. Ensembles and classes should reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of today’s learners, providing them with the tools and experiences to thrive—not just in music, but in the evolving world around them.
Comments