Re: developing musicians and a musical culture

[mark <sine@zerocrossing.net>]

On Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at 10:34  AM, David wrote:
> But here's my point :  What high-school music teacher today can teach 
> these kids how to use Reason or Live, etc.??????   I suggest THESE are 
> the kinds of instuments that kids today will be using more and more to 
> make their music.

I agree.  Reason is the new Casiotone.  Some will flail around and 
loose interest, others will be inspired to dig deeper.  I think there's 
something really nice and democratic about tools like these, but 
they're a double edged sword.  They can encourage an emphasis on music 
production and not being an instrumentalist.

This isn't new though, dulcimers tuned to a chord, jew harps and other 
"folk" instruments can encourage instant gratification.  Other 
instruments offer a much higher form of flexibility but require 
learning a more complex instrument.  Look at simple musical forms like 
Blues music.  Learn 3 chords and you're on it.  Of course it's much 
more than that, but that is what I'm talking about.  I'm helping my 
wife learn piano and she's using a combination of piano instruction 
books and pop music books.  After learning the dry stuff she can at 
least have fun playing the chords to "Still Haven't Found What I'm 
Looking For."  I think this is where most teachers fall down.  Find out 
what turns on your student and teach based on that.

Mark Sottliaro