Music Man Says Children Should Be Taught To Enjoy Music
Jules Holland, musician, church restorer and all round good egg – especially according to me – came up with a brilliant quote in a recent Times article. “They (children) ought to be given lessons in how to enjoy music at school”. Music games can extend awareness if taught in a fun way. Apart from recognising the interesting maths games buried in music it is also about widening the range and appeal. Holland’s enthusiasm for a diverse range of music extends way beyond the jazz he is primarily tagged with. He believes that kids prefer contemporary music because their exposure to other forms is lacking. Only music high on the favourites list and less than six months old gets on the iPod.
When I was at school we had a very talented music teacher who composed several symphonies. He was an eccentric and would search the audience before any performance to check for recording equipment. He had a thing about pop musicians sampling his music way before the technology existed to achieve this. Unfortunately Mr Wain also believed only in classical music. All other forms were abhorrent.
At home like all kids we had a Dad who was way out of touch with music. He liked the “Hot Club of France†and a guy called Stefan Grapelli – Jazz violinist in case you wondered. After years of gathering dust Stefan’s unique style suddenly gained a resurgence and his skill recognised with performances well into his 80’s. My father suddenly became trendy. If education is to widen perception and provide children with the greatest opportunity we need to set the scene early on. Educational games demonstrating the various forms and styles of music can be the catalyst to a greater appreciation of all music later in life.
Alistair Owens =>
