Currents

[nafmeadmin]

This year, I began something new with my high school orchestra students. Every week, one student reports on a current event in the string world. Some students have reported on orchestra news; others have focused on strings in other venues (rock bands, etc.). It has been great to see students make connections between their school music making and the music happening outside our school walls. It has also paved the way for many enlightened discussions about orchestra listenership and the future of orchestral string playing.

As I was listening to a radio program this morning on the recent death of Lou Reed, I began to think more about the idea of “currents” in the classroom. It seems that we focus on historical events in formal music education but often forgo discussing things that are currently happening in the music world. How important do you think it is to discuss current events with your students? Would you consider discussing an influential artist who has recently passed away? Do you think engaging in such discussion is a worthy use of time?

[nafmeadmin]

It is a great idea to have students report on a current event in the string world. This is something I will share with my colleagues.

Your reference to strings and the real world reminds of the presentation Yo Yo Ma did last year at the Americans for the Arts Conference. This presentation can easily be found on the Americans for the Arts website. If you’ve not seen it – it’s great and includes some interesting non-traditional performances.

Yo Yo Ma reminds us that societies are powered by three engines, the economic engine, the political engine and the cultural engine. Certainly he has spent quite a bit of his life’s work making some amazing and unique musical and non-musical connections.

[nafmeadmin]

This is great! Thank you for the reference. I will share this as well .

[nafmeadmin]

I love this idea, Sarah. Students benefit from seeing what they do in the classroom as related to the world outside. It’s good to see them exploring strings in non-traditional settings such as rock bands. They might enjoy the cross-over music of the Turtle Island String Quartet and the incredible cellist, Jisoo Ok, performing with Pablo Ziegler and the Classical Tango Quartet!

[nafmeadmin]

Sarah – this is such a great idea. I think it is so important to connect school music with the community and local culture and this is one way to do that. Have you had any of your students share information about local music festivals or other music events as part of the “current events”

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