Amahl and the decline (?) in music education

[MrGongGong]

IN some ways I do share some of your worry
but there are many wonderful things happening all over the country in ordinary schools with inspired teachers as well as those in the NYO etc etc
the myth that somehow "classical music" has been written out of the curriculum needs to be countered
whether music is taught WELL and in an inspiring way is another matter all together

[DoctorT]

My daughter sat GCSE music this week. Her unprepared listening pieces were by Coldplay and Westlife. Dumbing down? Never!

[MrGongGong]

music is a very wide subject
much as I would prefer Ligeti, Xenakis, Bruckner and Webern the contemporary song is as much part of the study of music (as opposed to the study of music that you like !) as these, and other composers

[Mandryka]

I know some music teachers. Long ago, schools decided to respond to focus lessons on what students 'want' - most seem to want to study rock/pop music. I don't have a problem with that, if it's used to provide an introduction to music theory, etc - a lot of children unfortunately have an instant allergic reaction to 'classical' music, just as people of my age have an instant allergic reaction to rap.

[MrGongGong]

Its ALL about context
nuff said

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I know some music teachers. Long ago, schools decided to respond to focus lessons on what students 'want' - most seem to want to study rock/pop music. I don't have a problem with that,

the end result of this dumbing down is that we have a generation of young people who (in the main) know nothing whatever about classical music - even the elite on University Challenge.

- a lot of children unfortunately have an instant allergic reaction to 'classical' music,

This is the perception put about by the pathetic educational cowards. They don't have an allergic reaction at all, when they are given the chance. They may say they don't like it, but anyone who listens to the automatic response of peer group brainwashing isn't fit to be education. Unfortunately, there are many such people around. Imagine the reaction if English teachers fed the children on a diet of Dennis the Menace. Actually, this would be far less damaging.

[MrGongGong]

Come on Alpen
Dennis the Menace is a work of staggering genius

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Come on Alpen
Dennis the Menace is a work of staggering genius

No it isn't, but "The Bash Street Kids" is.

[MrGongGong]

David Parkins (who draws Dennis) used to live in the house that backs onto ours, he is a great Opera fan and in the summer would have the windows of his loft studio open blaring out Verdi or Wagner whilst drawing
a great chap as well
(I think he did the bash street kids as well sometimes !)