Please Support Music Education

@czarivey 

Well damn, you are right.  All those college programs and music schools are just a load of crap. Can't believe they make money at that.


Erik

czarivey just may be what we'd call a "music snob"...s'cool, not uncommon at all, really. 

"...Superman was born a Superman and wakes up as a Superman. Same with a musician."  

Juilliard graduates, for example, have included: Miles Davis, Itzhak Perlman, Bernard Herrmann, Yo-Yo Ma and others. 

I'm sure they all could've gone to any music school, but maybe you should've asked one of them, or any of Juilliard's current crop, if **they** see themselves as "waking up as a Superman" every day...I don't really know myself what any of them would in fact say, but it might be an interesting question to pose.

Great musicians have been made without music school, but suggesting that music schools have little or no positive effect on music or musicians, to me, is a bit blind.

The evidence is quite clear that exposure to music education at an early age develops better cognitive skills and not only enhances communication ability, but also math comprehension. These are skills that even if jr. is not gifted with natural born musical talents, will benefit the child the rest of his/her life. Also, in the divisive world we live in, music should be a common denominator that we can all enjoy. Not allowing children this opportunity is sad. 

Juilliard graduates, for example, have included: Miles Davis, Itzhak Perlman, Bernard Herrmann, Yo-Yo Ma and others.

Once again it’s Talent + Courage and they were all waking up as musicians from day 1.

@czarivey

You miss half the point of music education. All of elementary education isn’t about getting a job. All of music education isn’t about making great musicians. It’s about literacy the same way that exposure to great writers from around the world is.

What good is Yo Yo ma in a world where everyone else is an illiterate consumer of whatever pablum comes down the music industry next?

Not having musically literate citizens is like having citizens who are illiterate in math or science, or history.

How many of these great musicians have made it a priority to go back and teach themselves?  I think that alone speaks volumes about whether they feel music education is worthwhile, but again, music education includes history, culture, politics. It's not just about whether person X has the mojo or not.

Best,


Erik