Harmonious thinking
Besides tarring a diverse range of musicians with the same brush, M. Lawrence (MT June 19) distorts musical history, chronology, biology, acoustics, and technical aspects of music-making while mindreading what we all think is ‘the norm’. The letter speaks neither for me, nor my pupils, nor any colleague I know.
One claim – that symphonic and folk musics have obeyed ‘the same fundamental laws of melody and harmony’ – is worrying (particularly the word ‘fundamental’). We may teach guidelines, of course, to help beginner pupils, but while are methods, there are no laws of composition. If music obeyed a law of physics, say, then the temperament used by symphonic music disobeys that.
As tutors, we can encourage the exploration and celebration of the joys of all forms of musicality and music-making – from the glorious distorted rasps of shawms and crumhorns, the huge sonorities of Berlioz to the delicate vistas of Morton Feldman or subtly soft electric guitar of Bill Frisell – while educating on the serious dangers of high sound levels (whether Wagner or Van Halen).
Integrity should be our guide, not intolerance and elitism. Trained as a lute player, I'm a composer in the western tradition (of which ‘the symphonic tradition’ represents a beautiful fraction). I also teach guitar and (the far louder) cello. I invite M. Lawrence to witness one of my ‘1-watt’ bands – of mixed ability, gender, age and musical preference – performing partly amplified blues together, with acoustic drums at levels low enough for singing managed comfortably without microphone. Such dynamics can be highly musical.
- A. Summers
Change is needed
I have been involved with teaching music for over 40 years, and in those years, I have seen terrible things within music organisations. Incredibly gifted and talented students deliberately held back in favour of less able students to promote those who have been selected for success, irrespective of talent – I have heard it called ‘manufactured success’. Discrimination against those who don't fit the criteria, humiliation of students, gross safeguarding breaches, mental cruelty, exclusion, and a culture of fear among teachers and parents who feel unable to speak out against it. And no, this wasn't years ago but fairly recently.
Students at leading conservatoires have been speaking out for change regarding such issues but receive little support from music leaders who are not keeping up with other industries which have more up-to-date policies regarding inclusion. Instead, competitions, bursaries, grants and FE places are dictated by the same few organisations and leaders.
There is a real need for change in the industry. How is this supposed to happen when the same names are involved with planning new curriculums? All this will do is reinstate and reinforce the connections that already exist, reinforcing old practices and attitudes. These decisions should be made by those at the coal face, with total independence from organisations.
- Anonymous
MUSIC & DRAMA EDUCATION AWARDS 2020
In response to the growth of the Music & Drama Education Expo, we have decided to expand the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence. This year, the awards will be open to both music and drama educators, mirroring the make-up of the Expo, and we want to encourage as many nominations as possible. The 2020 awards will take place on the evening of 4 March, following the first day of the Expo, in a bigger venue to accommodate this change. The new list of categories is as follows:
- Outstanding Musical Initiative
- Outstanding Drama Initiative
- Outstanding Music Education Resource
- Outstanding Drama Education Resource
- Outstanding SEND Resource or Initiative (Music & Drama)
- Excellence in Musical Theatre
- Excellence in Primary/Early years (Music & Drama)
- Outstanding School Music Department
- Outstanding School Drama Department
- Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award for Music
- Inspiration Award for Drama
- Music Teacher Magazine Editor's Award
- Drama & Theatre Magazine Editor's Award
- Young Music Critic of the Year
- Young Theatre Critic of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
For full details on the award criteria and information on how to apply, please visit the Expo website musicanddramaeducationexpo.co.uk/london. Nominations close on 17 October and the shortlist will be announced around Christmas.
