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May 23, 2006

No Idol left Behind

Some creative teachers are using the hot cultural phenom of American Idol to teach music. ABC's World News Tonight had this story featuring a music teacher, Evan Tobias, whose Catalysts & Connections blog we have frequented regularly.

Thirty-five million people watch "American Idol" every week none more intently than Evan Tobias' fifth and sixth graders at Willow Grove Middle School in New York state.

Watched in living rooms across the country, the reality show that churns out new pop stars and sets ratings records is required viewing. And it turns out that "Idol" is also a smash hit in music class.

Tobias' students aren't watching to see who gets eliminated or whether Paula is speaking to Simon. They're learning how to analyze music.

"I don't think that I normally thought to include a reality TV show in the classroom," Tobias said. "But because this was directly related to music, and it was directly related to the issues that we'd been talking about, it made sense to bring it in."

In a recent survey done by the National Association for Music Education, 80 percent of music teachers said they are using the nation's number-one TV show to teach.

At Plainfield Elementary School in Nazareth, Pa., the second graders take turns playing contestants and judges.

"It gets them excited about music," said Sarah Wallace, music teacher at Plainfield Elementary. "I had record numbers this year in the chorus, and I'm sure that that has something to do with it."

Read More: ABC News: Music Teachers Use 'American Idol' in Class

Posted by musicforall at 7:53 PM

May 16, 2006

UK's Music Education U-Turn

Every now and then Julian Lloyd Webber goes on a rant about music education in the UK. And why not... he has been a passionate advocate, along with Evelyn Glennie and the late Michael Kamen, to bring the issue to national attention.

Here are his latest musing from the Daily Telegraph:

Julian Lloyd Webber on the Government's U-turn on their music education promises

All children should have the opportunity to play a musical instrument," said Charles Clarke during his spell as Education Secretary.

Much as I hate to kick a man when he's down, it does look as if the odds of this being achieved during this government's lifetime are considerably less than the odds of one of Clarke's 1,023 "lost" foreign criminals reoffending.

Like so many New Labour initiatives, things were looking rosy. When the four members of the Music Education Consortium - James Galway, Michael Kamen, Evelyn Glennie and myself - were ushered into Clarke's office three years ago, there was a genuine feeling of hope in the air.

"Music has a unique contribution to make, both to education and to the health of the economy," Tony Blair wrote to the Consortium and his sentiments were echoed by Clarke. True, Clarke seemed keen to leave all the minutiae to his sidekick, David Miliband, but Miliband's were the safest pair of hands music could wish for in a politician.

Sure enough, a year later the government produced its much-touted Music Manifesto - a lengthy document that was widely acknowledged to be full of good intentions but noticeably short on how they would be delivered. Yet, after 30 years' neglect of music education by successive governments, it was at least a start.

Better still was the loudly trumpeted announcement in 2005 of a further 30 million (pounds) each year for "music services" - the organisations that run music education at a local level. Perhaps, at last, the appalling discrepancies between local education authorities would be addressed. (In Manchester, for example, 13.75 (pounds) per child is allocated for music education, whereas in nearby Sheffield the figure plunges to a meagre 1.15 (pounds) per pupil.)

But with Miliband moving to a different department, the U-turns began. Firstly, the extra 30 million pounds mysteriously became 26 million pounds. Then the money would no longer go to LEA music services at all but instead be sent directly to schools, where the headteacher could spend it on whatever he liked. In other words, the whole episode has turned out to be a classic case of New Labour spin.

Still, every cloud has a silver lining. The other day, I chanced upon a fascinating volume entitled Music in Schools - A World Survey, published in 1964 by the Schools Music Association. It was encouraging to learn that "the teaching of music in Iraq is similar to that in England". How gratifying to see our government preserving the status quo.

Telegraph | Entertainment | Government changes its tune on music

Posted by musicforall at 10:42 AM

May 10, 2006

Busy, Busy, Busy

Travel, Meetings, Travel, Meetings... will return to blogging on Monday, May 15.

Posted by musicforall at 8:12 AM

May 4, 2006

Losing a Friend: Mike Kovins

As I can back in from my son's baseball practice there was a message on my answering machine. "Bob, it's Jim. I calling to see if you know anything about Mike. I just heard he died. Call me back." click.

And just like that I learned that Mike Kovins, a person who has played an important role in my life and my career, has died. Very Sad.

Mike had been suffering with Leukemia... for seven years. None of his friends knew. He kept it private.

I thought it would be interesting to allow people who knew Mike to post comments here. I am still gathering all my thoughts before sharing.

So, if you knew Mike and want to share a story or a comment... just click below and share your thoughts.

To Mike... Thanks!

Posted by musicforall at 8:35 AM | Comments (2)