Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward Convergence Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture. Music Educators Journal, 99(4), 29-36.
In his article, Evan Tobias explores the integration of modern culture in the field of music and music education. He mentions many possibilities, explaining how educators might encourage their students to think beyond the realm of 'traditional' music-making. This article is of great interest to me, as it offers new and unique methods of musical discovery and exploration. If the ideas in this article come to fruition, it could open up an exciting field of education and creativity. Challenging students to be individuals, to think 'outside the box', can often be a difficult task. How does one present a group of students with a task in which each individual can express themselves fully? How can the technology present within society be used to its full educational potential? The merging of music education, contemporary society and participatory culture may be the answer.
I appreciate the focus placed on the creativity of students in this article. These types of projects could foster a great amount of passion in students, and therefore produce a new appreciation for musical composition and analysis. The mention of changing the style and context of the musical Into the Woods is particularly exciting for me. I would enjoy doing that! This type of project would require both musical, dramatic, and literary thought and experimentation. It would allow a student to contribute to a work that they love by adding their own personal ideas and imagination. How often is anyone given this opportunity? As a lover of musical theatre, I would give anything to live in the world that I love to be in, for more than the usual two hours. This does not only apply to musical theatre; students could connect with their favourite singers, players, on an entirely new level, all while having an educational experience.
Upon the mention of arranging, a high particular high school assignment comes to mind. In my grade 12 year, I was in a vocal jazz class. For our final project, we were required to arrange a song that was in a style other than jazz. My group chose to arrange Ain't No Sunshine, by Bill Withers. As we worked on writing four-part harmonies, adding our own ideas, and rehearsing the song, we faced many struggles. The freedom was somewhat daunting. We were accustomed to singing music that had already been written and perfected. As we progressed through the project, however, making decisions became easier. We made use of online applications and websites, which helped when we were trying to figure out voicing and chords. When the final product came together, we were proud of what we had accomplished. It was something none of us had ever tried, and it introduced a brand new learning experience.
Although nothing in this article frustrated me, I am curious to know how music educators would respond to this new form of learning and musical exploration. Some teachers have already begun introducing it to their students, but I wonder if all teachers would be open to it. I wonder if Tobias has an age group in mind, or if there are age groups for which certain projects would work best. How could students in elementary school participate in these activities? The possibilities for this type of musical exploration are endless. The ideas in this article are exciting and unique, and it would open up many new opportunities in the world of music education.
In his article, Evan Tobias explores the integration of modern culture in the field of music and music education. He mentions many possibilities, explaining how educators might encourage their students to think beyond the realm of 'traditional' music-making. This article is of great interest to me, as it offers new and unique methods of musical discovery and exploration. If the ideas in this article come to fruition, it could open up an exciting field of education and creativity. Challenging students to be individuals, to think 'outside the box', can often be a difficult task. How does one present a group of students with a task in which each individual can express themselves fully? How can the technology present within society be used to its full educational potential? The merging of music education, contemporary society and participatory culture may be the answer.
I appreciate the focus placed on the creativity of students in this article. These types of projects could foster a great amount of passion in students, and therefore produce a new appreciation for musical composition and analysis. The mention of changing the style and context of the musical Into the Woods is particularly exciting for me. I would enjoy doing that! This type of project would require both musical, dramatic, and literary thought and experimentation. It would allow a student to contribute to a work that they love by adding their own personal ideas and imagination. How often is anyone given this opportunity? As a lover of musical theatre, I would give anything to live in the world that I love to be in, for more than the usual two hours. This does not only apply to musical theatre; students could connect with their favourite singers, players, on an entirely new level, all while having an educational experience.
Upon the mention of arranging, a high particular high school assignment comes to mind. In my grade 12 year, I was in a vocal jazz class. For our final project, we were required to arrange a song that was in a style other than jazz. My group chose to arrange Ain't No Sunshine, by Bill Withers. As we worked on writing four-part harmonies, adding our own ideas, and rehearsing the song, we faced many struggles. The freedom was somewhat daunting. We were accustomed to singing music that had already been written and perfected. As we progressed through the project, however, making decisions became easier. We made use of online applications and websites, which helped when we were trying to figure out voicing and chords. When the final product came together, we were proud of what we had accomplished. It was something none of us had ever tried, and it introduced a brand new learning experience.
Although nothing in this article frustrated me, I am curious to know how music educators would respond to this new form of learning and musical exploration. Some teachers have already begun introducing it to their students, but I wonder if all teachers would be open to it. I wonder if Tobias has an age group in mind, or if there are age groups for which certain projects would work best. How could students in elementary school participate in these activities? The possibilities for this type of musical exploration are endless. The ideas in this article are exciting and unique, and it would open up many new opportunities in the world of music education.