What if every child had access to music education from birth? | Anita Collins | TEDxCanberra

[@manuelmolina1127]

It hit me when she said this directed to parents about their children, "if they ask to give up, don't let them". It hit me because when I began to learn the guitar, I suffered a lot and told my mom constantly that I did not want to go to class, but she told me that I was not going to give up on that class. And now I am doing better in school, play 5 instruments, and mentor other kids who used to be like me. It has helped me through sad times and made good times better, and for that I am thankful.

[@violagenius]

Awesome talk! Now..... Here we are, three years down the track from this great TEDx Lecture - and the world is such an uneasy place. How fabulous would it be if our politicians could look BEYOND their 4 year term and do something that would have long-term benefits for the country? Anita - you and I see the evidence in our work EVERY DAY. We see "amazing" musicians become doctors, architects, scientist.....the list goes on. Why would you NOT want to give this gift to our kids? Not just for their brains, but for their hearts and souls as well. We need SMARTER people in this world, who also CARE about it and their fellow human beings.

[@chelseawatson6063]

It's 2020 now and the world is more educated but yet they won't take enough action to incorporate music into our lives. Oh well, lets hope this realisation happens soon

[@Steffieffieffi]

"Babies are born musical." This is one of the core beliefs of Music Together, a music and movement program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, together with the adults who love them. There are classes in over 40 countries around the world!

[@evaw4062]

If we all were not born musical we could never learn to speak. It is the same center in your brain.

[@essennagerry]

Thank you for sharing that, I'd love to look into them.

[@KatM26]

from the perspective of someone who has been in music education of some form since I was 3 years old - I am constantly grateful to my parents for putting me into music at such a young age

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

You are lucky or fortunate plus bright

[@MichaelLynMusic]

Yes indeed....you are defiantly on to something Anita with the learning of music and the Brain! When I was 3, I had a drowning incident in which I was rescued and apparently recovered. When I was sent to school, 2 yrs later.... I became a D & F student most of my school life until I discovered music at 16 and was lucky enough to have a very open minded... but focused teacher (WW2 Veteran) that insisted that I read music notation. Within about 8 mos. I went from the D & F student to the A & B student! I wish we could get the education sys. to realize this here in Calif.USA. But they have deaf ear's on the subject.

[@Jackodawg66]

WOW ... Just WOW - This woman needs to be in Canberra as the PM !!!!!

[@STEAMLabDenver]

We need you as an arts education lobbyist. There are many adults that need to be educated on this who are making life changing decisions for many people. Thank you!

[@nataliesanders8712]

Thank you Anita! I've just started working as a primary school music teacher in Sydney- hopefully there will be a growing number of us... :)

[@merelquinteyn6792]

The importance of music education is so underrated. The biggest problem is that not enough people get acces to a music education because they think they will not like it or they just don't know it exists. This is exactly why it has to get more attention: learning music is about so much more than just learning music. Like Annita says it's firework in the brain, that gives you benefits in so many more areas than just the area of music.

[@davidknight95]

As a 50-year-old now I taught my self to play keyboards in the 80s and had a career for over twenty years as a full-time musician, I only play for fun now this may sound strange, but i feel smarter while playing and after playing my piano still today, it's like my brain is going for a run and it feels energised for a short time afterwards, it wasn't till I learned how to sing and play at the same time that I felt the fireworks, I'm glad to know I wasn't dreaming, the fireworks were real. great talk thanks.

[@beautyintheskies]

Yeah it’s like your brain took a cold shower. I get it.

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

I personally own the complete collection of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts on DVD. These DVDs are filled with enormous amounts of information designed to teach children to understand and appreciate instrumental music. I have offered to loan these DVDs to several music educators and have suggested that they be shown to their students. The angry responses I get are, " How will that help my students perform better?" or "How will that help my students get better scores at music festivals?" Music education is suffering because there are very, very few adults who support and care about music education, even though there are thousands and thousands of adults in this country who participated in music education. Music educators are not even trying to teach their students to appreciate legitimate music and when those students become adults, they do not support music education in any way.

[@mr.beeken8647]

+Modern Day Warrior I know what you mean, it's tricky because there is so much competitiveness in school music programs. Often times students won't sign up for something unless it has a reputation for high scores.

[@jimmyrotheram3703]

I'd love to borrow your DVDs - those Bernstein lectures are first rate!

[@msmith53]

As a 40 yr music educator with a Masters degree in music, I was exposed to that series as a youth and appreciate your concerns , however performance is a different experience than merely listening to a lecture. Most students have a deeper experience when performance is involved. Don’t generalize about “music educators are not even trying to teach their students...” is not my observation as I worked with many through my state of California. I advocated, promoted and cajoled my education colleagues about HOW music would enhance the school environment and learning abilities of students. Yes, many can miss the point by focusing on contests and performance (which motivate music students to excel), rather than sitting watching a video, students love the challenges and attention that music performance offers. Imagine football players merely watching games rather than playing actively in a game... Thanks for your concern and visit a local school and visit a music class...could be eye opening!!

[@paulajackson2678]

The science is great, the effect on cognitive ability, the flow in effect it has. The effect on mental health is huge and that is something this society could really benefit from.

Listening to this as I am putting my 20 months and 4 years old babies to music school. I am proud to know this will be the nest gifts for their brains.

[@alexclarke404]

I think Music Education plays a great role in a child's life and should be available in all schools

[@Vaidoteful]

that is absolutely true. Some years ago I came from Europe to Costa Rica and started working in education... Right from the beginning I noticed how young people here struggle with math and English... it was something quite puzzling for me because these subjects have never caused major problems in my native country. Why would young people have such a hard time learning a foreign language??? This speech, by Anita Collins, opened my eyes. In Costa Rica music education before school is non-existent and there is very little of it in the primary school... High school has no music education at all... Whereas in my country most of kids (those that attend kindergartens) are exposed to enormous amount of music education right from the kindergarten - approx. age two and continue till graduation from high school.

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

What if I told you that the greatest impact on those children who are struggling with disadvantages if parents telling them bed time stories and take them out to museums, zoos, marine world picnics has been shown to make the biggest difference in chaging the outcome from being born to lose to succeed well in life as productive members of society ? Parental investment of TIME remains the most powerful driver in the lives of a child and most children are now growing up as latch key kids. Parents dont have time or they are wasting it on socal media chats. The world is upside down due to internet.

[@TRENTBLOVE30]

Have read The Music Advantage many times, only now for some reason am I watching this. Muchos Gracias

[@ALifeThatRocks]

Music for Young Children. It’s a brilliant program.

[@kennethwright512]

Certainly education is a tap root for cognitive redevelopment Exactly the right outlook on true events in some of us ? Very Good to have a monitoring background for those of us who For no other reason than a desire to learn !!!!!

[@Alabanza.Musicversity]

One of the most in-depth, relatable and thought provoking TEDx presentations ever! Thank you!

[@weldtjtorchartmetals]

I'm an art guy, but have always played music. It has been my experience (after 27 years of teaching) that Art thinking in general aids in developing out-of-the-box problem solving skills, "What-if" possibility thinking, and faith that everything will come out just fine. I'm with you, Anita!

[@MichaelLynMusic]

Wow....I'm not even 7 mins. in to your video and you have already said more than the last 6 videos I have seen on this topic!.......Thank you Anita and Keep up the Awesome work.

[@thegreatowl24]

This is really helpful for my senior project... I have always loved to sing and I've always studied better when I listen to music.

[@corvus2518]

same!!

[@SheSameWon]

Touching and agreeing with every word. Thank you for this necessary message.

[@jingsu1026]

When a child is young, he doesn’t know where his interests are. No child likes to learn. Parents need to guide them and they can continue to persevere if they find their real interests. Active learning becomes a hobby and profession. I tried many art majors when I was a child , Art and dance instrument, the teacher said that I have no talent, and my parents did not make me insist, so I have no artistic expertise, but I like stage performances and hosting, and later I became a host and drama teacher, and college painting and dancing Profession is also very good, so our life will have many periods, don’t give up yourself easily

[@andreiameleiro9084]

I studied in Austria for one year, and music is part of the national curriculum since primary school till the end of secondary school. It was amazing!

[@GoAndStay]

Wonderful talk. I did not do the research, but I believe it. All 3 my daughters did well with music, all playing at least two instruments and I see a lot of this in their lives. And do not allow them to give up. I agree.

[@davidbushnell7645]

Now I understand why, while in college, I was able to determine why I had a reading disability that I didn't have in the earliest years of my education. My father began to be a global salesman/engineer and would fly off to various part of the globe in search of the best place to establish a new building. My 10-year-old brain didn't understand why he put me in charge of my family (mom and two sisters). He didn't know the impact on me, and in my discomfort of that situation, I started having reading problems. Fast forward to college where I was accepted as a Performance Major in Piano (to attain a Bachelor of Music in piano). I had to read and re-read all of my studies, three and four times each night just to get by. I failed three classes and knew that something had to be done. It took me until my last year of college (I still made it through in four years) that I went to the library and sat to discover what I was doing or not doing. I was a brilliant pianist. At the entrance audition (which I didn't know I had to do), where I showed my "greatness." I opened my Mozart book to a page and decided that I would play that for my audition which was later that week. The result what that I was given an hour-study (rather than the half-hour that other piano majors where given) with the better instructor to move me through mounds of repertoire. I did my Junior recital in my Sophomore year, as an example. Just think of what I could have accomplished had I worked on an audition piece. Accompanying was my forte' and I played for many, many students for vocalists and instrumentalists--even for the final college recitals before graduating and receiving their degrees. I had a penchant for Early Music when there wasn't even a department for that at my private college. I learned to play recorder and harpsichord. My music education was in acceleration mode. I studied about early instruments and bought recorder music. The three scant piano majors in my class founded a Recorder Ensemble which after more than 50 years still exists at the college. Now let's return to my reading disability--which it was a disability. In the library I saw my classmates half-heartedly studying and yet, I knew them as being the ones would got the good grades. "What IS it that I didn't know??" So I sat, staring at the page of my Western Civilization book. The thought came to me in a flash. "Read EVERYTHING on the page, David." So with my index finger beneath each word, I began to read. I read and comprehended the words!! I knew the words and their meaning, but I had been doing something that I had never caught from age 10 to age 21--I hadn't been reading any word that began with a capital letter, nor did I read the numerals!! Instantly, I had discovered my problem. No longer would I have trivial information about events without knowing WHO was involved and WHEN it took place. It was nearly 50 years after graduating with my Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance that an English major said that I had had a different form of dyslexia. My persistence in problem-solving lead to my answer. Had I not been a fine musician, maybe I would have never figured it out. Incidentally, after being at the very bottom for grade average in my junior year, I made the President's List in my senior year. Thank you for inspiring me to involve children younger that seven--my lowest threshold for learning piano.

[@TotalVoiceStudio]

Great talk! We must be cautious when we use the term "Music Education." As an educator, who has spent a LOT of time in many different schools, both government and independent, I have been alarmed to see what goes on in some schools under the guise of music education. This is the fundamental problem of our profession - that educators don't agree on what music education actually is. Lots of time on Powerpoint, or designing a CD cover, playing with music technology, or talking about likes/dislikes is NOT music education. Real music education is founded on a belief that we are all musical and focuses on developing one's musicianship. It is about humans responding to music as composers, performers and listeners.

[@olenaprokhorets2035]

Great talk, I'm absolutely agree. I think Music is the best way to learn and to create really close contact between parents and kids, especially it's important in early period, when child are super very sensitive to all the sounds around. It will be cool to have some online platform to learn music online with kids, which will be for everybody, not only for those who have professional music education.

[@davidbazan9139]

Good idea

[@grenadiangyal2100]

I found this presentation to be very informative and, in many ways, I related to it very much. When I was younger, I also played the clarinet and piano and I found it to help me very much when it came to my studies. As I am a lot older now and doing assignments in school, I feel when I listen to music it allows me to focus on what I need to do and come up with creative ways to express myself throughout my work. As well, having a 10-year-old daughter who struggles with reading, when we use music, its seems to allow her creativity to shine more than without music. Amazing presentation, I enjoyed it very much.

[@EtienDanielFass]

Thanks Anita Collins! For this wonderful video and all the knowledge so important! We (you and me),think and work in the same way about it, the whole power and transformation of the music education, we are musical human beings, everyone!. I hope some day we can talk together! Greetings from Mexico!!

[@musiccg223]

This is so interesting and excellent!! I want to be a music teacher/therapist in my future because I've seen it help so many people!! I've seen music come into peoples lives when they were deeply depressed, on drugs, alcohol and has saved them. It has saved my life as well. I don't know where I would be without it and I owe it all to my music teachers!!! It's so important and is so upsetting that so many children can't have the same opportunities in music education as I do. I hope to help change this and to have a band program in every school!!

[@brianna094]

Good for you!! I hope you're doing well and are following your calling. You will do great things, keep up the positive attitude :)

[@musiccg223]

+bri Thank you very much that means a lot to me!!

[@carollg.9054]

great idea that would be better if the classes should be easier to have access and to pay to much to get it

[@zyxo1848]

I strongly disagree with her statement where the child asks to give up the instrument, and us as parents are supposed to say no. I had piano lessons as a child and I disliked it, my mother made the right decision to let me choose my own destiny when i asked to quit. Couple of years later I picked up playing the guitar, learned everything by ear. I now have 15 years of experience and I study music technology at university. Dont force kids into instruments if they don't like it.. You can't force someone to like something, they'll discover it themselves

[@justaguy2770]

In Massachusetts I'm not sure about other states in the U.S. music education is no longer provided, at least not in the schools that my children go to. When I was in school it was a extra class and it really inspired me to want to learn more and now I'm trying to teach my children but really wish it was ordered in school as well so all children can at least have a choice on how wonderful it is.

[@CrisPepin]

"really wish it was ordered in school as well so all children can at least have a choice on how wonderful it is. " I agree with you on this. I'm in California. When I was a kid (I'm 51 now), music was offered, but was optional - and at the time - my parents couldn't afford instrument rental so I didn't get to do music although I had wanted to. At some point, music education was cut from our schools. Fast forward to 15 years ago that a local family decided to bring back music education in our public schools, and began funding and supporting middle school instrumental band here. We are incredibly fortunate and thankful they did this. Band has become a thriving program here now, at both the middle school and high school level. Four years ago, when we asked some band students to write a brief Thank you note to the family who had funded the music program, one of the students wrote (I'm paraphrasing here): "I got placed into band accidentally, and I'm still in it 5 years later and loving every minute of it". I agree that: a) music education should be in ALL schools - it's just *that* good for brain activity, social-teamwork growth, creativity, etc. etc. b) If music education can involve ALL children (be a required class) (for at least a certain period of time), then many will see that they can do it and often end up loving it, and then they've gained not only increased brain capacities, but a "language" and a life-long skill and creative outlet.

[@DanielDeluxeMusic]

This music/language thing could explain why people in Sweden speak english with almost no accent. They have mandatory music education in Swedish schools.

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

I have seen a couple TV commercials from NAMM encouraging people to play musical instruments. I'm happy to know that I am not the only person in the world who has noticed that musical instruments and instrumental music are dying a miserable death. The sad fact is that these commercials will not make any difference. Music educators are the only people in a position to make a difference and prevent the extinction of musical instruments. Unfortunately music educators do not care if instrumental music dies 10 or 20 or 50 years from now. All they care about is what score their ensemble gets at the next festival.

[@quenapalomera4518]

The music is real life and touch my soul

[@SinghBrothersAC]

Music helps to grow internally as it is food for our soul.

[@caitlinbyrne9601]

I find your argument compelling. My best friend almost died in a car crash. She acquired a brain injury which resulted in a aphasic condition. She had to relearn English (her first language). During this process, she gave up her dream to become a professional horse back rider (dressage). She worked for community radio as a volunteer and has ever since involved herself in music in one way or another. I do believe this helped her enormously with language and literacy skills. What if music is able to allow a person to heal better than they would otherwise from a brain injury in general (not just aphasia - a condition related to language deficit). Take for example, the story of Melody Gardot. What would she say to you if you asked her about child access to music education?

[@cherubxingyu]

Yes! That's what music therapists do!

[@sparkofliving3608]

Wonderful Highlight to enter upon the 21st century education system

[@cycydx]

When Einsteins wasn't working on his formulas he was always found playing the violin ! :)

[@7thson341]

I thought it was only Sherlock Holmes. Haha

[@Jamiesonfrox]

Him too ;)

[@Illiteratechimp]

And it was so bad everyone politely suggested he go back to studying physics Which is how he became such a great physicist

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

Did physics bored him so much that he took refuge under a violin?

[@JulietteTsvigun]

My unborn children will have to thank you. No maths for them until the age of 7. Only music, languages and art.

[@kseniaova]

That's not what she suggests, I believe ;)

[@Azgal0r]

Music and math are deeply intertwined, why not learn both ?

[@thepianoplayer416]

The debate over whether music should be included in the school curriculum can become political. In many school districts in the US & Canada, local governments are constantly cutting budget to balance their books. Parents who have the financial resources to enrol their kids into a music program or private lessons recognize the benefits of music and willing to pay the costs of the instruments and lessons. The rest are lobbying local governments & school boards to put tax dollars back into music education. There was a movie "Music of the Heart" with Meryl Streep as the lead actor featured the real-life story of the violin teacher Roberta Guaspari fighting a local school board for funding cut to her violin program.

[@Lolcoca]

Nice perspective 🤍🥰

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

If our current music education system is so wonderful, why has instrumental music completely disappeared from our culture? Instrumental music in the United States really doesn't exist outside of government funded institutions, even though there are thousands and thousands of adults in this country who participated in instrumental music ensembles in school. Those adults have no respect or appreciation for instrumental music or the people who have dedicated their lives to composing it, performing it, and teaching it. Those adults think instrumental music is stupid and boring, just like adults who did not participate in instrumental music ensembles in school. Adults who think instrumental music is stupid and boring do not support music education. Music education is dying because even people who participated in music education do not care if it lives or dies.

[@kirumi4678]

Instrumental music is not the ONLY music education. Those people behind the hit tunes (singers or composers) went through music education whether it be formal or informal. Artists still have to have a basic understanding of music basics to make a song catchy and popular.

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

+kirumi4678 Instrumental music such as Jazz or Classical music is exponentially more melodically and harmonically complex than "hit tunes" heard on the radio. That is why it is taught in school. Comparing instrumental music to the music heard on the radio is like comparing War and Peace to Green Eggs and Ham. It's like comparing Chess to Tic Tac Toe. The average person who performs "hit tunes" has about as much musical talent as a 5th grade band student. "Artists" heard on the radio need to have very little musical talent because the average listener is musically speaking completely ignorant and stupid. Most people don't listen to instrumental music because they don't understand it. It would be like trying to read The Great Gatsby out loud to a 3 year old child.

[@kirumi4678]

+Modern Day Warrior they still have to have a basic understanding of it. And to have a basic understanding they need MUISC THEORY. If they didn't, we wouldn't be listening to them. I'm not saying classical and pop music are the same, but it's not disappearing. We don't have Pop music class in school, we have music theory. My music theory teacher relates classical to pop and vice versa. Music will always be ingrained into our culture. And your analogies are wrong. It would be like green eggs to blue eggs. It's all still music, not two extremely different things.

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

+kirumi4678 Only idiot would think that comparing "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors to "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin is comparing green eggs to blue eggs. Classical music IS disappearing. Instrumental music is disappearing. Musical instruments are disappearing. Most people today are dumb asses who think music only comes from DJs, computers, or pop stars who have shit for brains and very little musical talent.

[@kirumi4678]

+Modern Day Warrior so uh thanks for calling me an idiot. It's still music. Therefore it's still the same 'egg' but you can have different styles of music, or different styles of eggs. And divide it even more with different colors of eggs. Only an idiot wouldn't see that.

[@SwarGuru]

Music is very essential music for life

[@gafengla]

Interesting stuff!!!

[@zohara-rotem]

Bravo ! in full agreement !

[@Gichanasa]

Einstein's first choice career was to become a violinist... one activity which he would not ever reschedule was his rehearsals.

[@miriamjones6477]

My understanding is that most of the research that looks at the links between musical experience and cognitive enhancement/increased IQ has been done in the context of individual instrumental lessons over long periods of time (see for example Schellenberg, 2005). I wonder what a public music education would look like if it were to bring about the kind of benefits shown in these studies? What would effective universal music education look like? In a classroom, students don't have the benefit of individual attention from a responsive teacher. I think it is simplistic and optimistic to say that principals have the power to act upon the findings of brain science -- while principals do have more control over how school funding is spent, the bucket of money is small and decisions about how to spend it are tough. This especially in light of Gonski funding being under threat. I also think that music education should be fought for on the grounds of aesthetic pleasure, social cohesion and socio-emotional wellbeing, rather than just because it improves literacy and numeracy results.

[@nevbass]

well, it could be fought for on all of those grounds.

[@lachiepayne3546]

Can someone please reply, for school I’m doing questions about this talk. What is something that a famous musician might be hard to understand in this video

[@EriqKoontz]

Excellent!

[@josiahlibbey1]

I think part of the problem is that music has become an academic procedure meant to drag out into years of very boring note reading. Usually formal lessons don't start until well after a child is beyond the years where he could pick it up naturally ( from watching and listening to musicians in his home for instance.) Music is a language and it's one that we've basically given up as a spectator activity. Playing music and a lot of other skills have gone the way of the iron smith, only to be produced in mass by the pros and consumed by us. Meanwhile we've been contented to sit down and be entertained, instead of doing it ourselves.Instead of a family time , we watch reality shows, instead of playing football with the boys, we watch the NFL, instead of visiting relatives, Facebook . Its getting to where we really might as well be hooked up permanently to the internet and just sit back and absorb what has been created for us. I guess it's the ignorant , lazy cycle, right before we get enslaved to our superiors cycle.

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

I would be interested in the correlations between musicians and artists and the insights found therein

[@evaw4062]

all musicians or people who play an instrument are different from people whom never played. ALL of them.

[@Therealrealbenji]

I am in favor of replacing circumcisions with piano lessons. Let's go!

[@UberFitRecords]

I'd love to check the PHD out and see if you've looked at the Swedish education system. Considering the public system virtually forced kids to try it & they have the biggest selling hit song writers in the world ha!

[@nadavbenmordechay]

do not FORCE your childern lo learn to play . if they want to quit, let them . my mother let me quit with a bad teacher in the age of 8 ,and at the age of 12 a found a better teacher ...today at the age of allmost 45 i still play :)

[@imajazzlvr]

Excellent!!!

[@chelseawatson6063]

It's 2020 now and the world is more educated but yet they won't take enough action to incorporate music into our lives. Oh well, lets hope this realisation happens soon

[@petermompalaodepiro3393]

This is all backed up by Melody Gardot who had TBI and used music to improve her brain function

[@nicolejonsievers476]

Most Excellent! Thank you!

[@roseylittlejohns-hennessy3103]

Any chance of getting the names of the researchers for all the investigations mentioned?? particularly the babies one (need them for a uni interview essay)

[@Violetacobo]

Did you manage to get these names? I need them for university too :)

[@bransonguitar]

For all ages

[@ColorMusicTheory]

It is a fact that music education does dramatically affect the brain. However, this research is in direct conflict with the fact that the dropout rate within music education is enormous as stated by Norman Weinberger of the University of California Irvine who is a top researcher of music and the brain. The reason for the high dropout rates in music education is implicitly due to the abstract and unscientific Western music notation system and it’s associated abstract terminologies. Leading music education author Karen Berger in her blog ‘The Truth About Piano Lessons’ states that it will take the average student a minimum of 4 years to be able to play a song as relatively simple as Beethoven’s Fur Elise. Yet in this presentation, Anita Collins asks the question, “what if every child had real music education prior to the age of 7?” Her statements amount to a nice ‘feel good’ idea to present to the general public. However, given the abstract complexities of Western music notation, how would success be achieved? The real ‘what if’ question that should be asked is, “if a new music language was created that allowed children as young as 3 to immediately read any note in any key signature immediately and play the corresponding note on a keyboard instrument, would music educators accept it or reject it?” Furthermore, if reading music and playing an instrument is so critically important to brain development, then why would any music educator not embrace any new music tool which provided for the ability to actually read any note in any key signature by age 3? If music and the brain research is showing how critically important music education is, then music educators need to quit clinging to the Western music notation system as it currently exists and embrace new paradigms which actually can change the course of music education and provide universal access to all students. There is a reason why Cuneiform is no longer used as a language. It was abstract, complex, cumbersome, and not nearly as efficient as alphabetic languages. Western music notation is very similar to Cuneiform and like Cuneiform, is not the only or best possibility for a music language. Music educators need to realize that real change in music education will only occur with the next evolution of music language.

[@josiahlibbey1]

OK, good. do it. You have this vision of a better , more intuitive music alphabet, and I think you may be right. If you really think you know the problem be part of the solution. Get started.

[@cecedubois5147]

Since the 1950's there has been a system used in Nashville's professional music community that is much as you describe. It's called "The Nashville Number System." Nashville musicians use it exclusively. You will NEVER find traditionally scored music sheets left behind after a studio session; in fact, few if any musicians even read "traditional" scored music. What you WILL find are pages with scribbled numbers. And every session musician can glance at it and know exactly what it says. Belmont University now teaches a course in the Number System. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_number_system

[@jarjartimothyhughes1]

I don't believe you could be more incorrect. It takes many years to master your instrumemt, that's the problem with people... They think they'll be playing Chopin in a few years and it's not the case. Music indeed is a second language and it as complex it takes time and a lot of effort but once you put the work in you look back and realize it was worth it.

[@paulflieshman4430]

Nashville Number system is for chords only, contains no melody or complex rhythm - it's a useful tool but not in any way suitable to replace formal notation. Nashville sessioneers are playing within a framework and aren't playing every single note as prescribed by a score, unlike, say a violinist reading from a Bach score. Different strokes....

[@jibblegit]

+Color Wheel Music Theory I'm not too concerned by this, IMO too much weight has been put upon the issue of teaching notation. I agree that the abstract nature of notation has it's inefficiencies, but music education for young people can be so much more flexible pertaining to the teaching of musical sensibilities and passion than need be put upon the issue of representing music visually. IME notational literacy comes with 'mostly' with demand, insofar as kids are required to learn/perform new music from score and when they are inspired to explore new repertoire for themselves. I agree that a revolutionized notation system could be effective, but I don't think that the 'translation from ink to sound' is the ultimate next step in reducing dropout rates and creating more effective musicians from the get-go. I'd liken it to kids making physical constructions in preschool out of straws, cork, playdoe, lego etc. - playing with the materials themselves in a pedagogically-informed environment is more important at an early age than the kids knowing what they're going to build ahead of time, what shape it's going to be, how to recreate it etc; A La 'A score', if the analogy is effective.

[@FunkyDK]

an anyone put the references for the first articles she mentions up somewhere!? i’ve been looking for it all over, and i’m starting to believe they are not for real :(

[@nonenone845]

Search anita collins. The research are legit.

[@FunkyDK]

KU its not her research, i'm talking about - the article she mentions around 6.50, i cant seem to find it. Can you help me? :)

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

The only people who really care about music education are music educators. There are thousands and thousands of adults in this country who participated in school music ensembles when they were in school and few, if any, of them care if music education lives or dies. This is why music education is dying. Short-sighted and self-serving music educators don't want to waste precious rehearsal time teaching their students the significance of music education. Music educators don't receive plaques or trophies for teaching their students the importance of music education. Music "educators" also don't want to waste time teaching their students the significance of the people who have dedicated their lives to composing, performing, and teaching the music performed in school music ensembles, or even the significance of the music itself. This is why music education is dying.

[@caussin1]

Modern Day Warrior As a music "educator," I'm having trouble understanding the point you are trying to make. Then I read your other comments here and decided you must be a troll. Good try.

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

caussin1 If you are having trouble understanding my point, you must not understand English. Here it is again. Please pay attention this time. Maybe try reading it slowly. Music education is dying because music "educators" are not teaching their students to respect or appreciate instrumental music. When those students become adults, they do not support music education, and music education dies. Did you get my point this time?

[@_emanmodnar]

Interesting. Could you please elaborate the sentence: »music "educators" are not teaching their students to respect or appreciate instrumental music« - How/where do you see this tendency, and what do you suggest could be done to change it?

[@andjo2]

Great!!

[@AndreaThePiano1872]

Wonderful!

[@MarkMcDermottOtismojo]

Great words. You sigh a lot and you give the impression that you don't really believe in what you're saying - yet I know you do.

[@vaunieren]

It's nerves...I do the same!

[@darshan7771patil]

I live in India and in India music education is almost zero or negligible .

[@chetanyadav]

I had compulsory music in my curriculum till my middle school.

[@kirstenroutledge4276]

The sound of the videos is not good

[@อนุศาสน์ไขยศรี]

when you sing i will come back

[@jenniferlaynemusic]

What was up with the camera man's pan from the feet up the back side of her? That didn't feel right, bro.

[@iccy7394]

I guess he thirsty

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

During human evolution sound recognition which helped detect if there was a water stream in vicinity or big cat is on the prowl or snake is hissing nearby and might kill the infant humans mastered non verbal sound pattern recognition which is the essence of music so music has sizable brain representation. Phonemically coded language where specific phonemes carry a pre-determined conventional meaning is a recent invention and has very little brain representation. Interestingly nursery rhymes help learn language because of ease of association with the musical notes Pursuit of music is rewarding but also demanding at the same time. The data overload where facts are dominant is placing the music or non-verbal sound pattern recognition at a serious disadvantage. Lectures on music are still highly emotionally charged and empty in facts, data or science.

[@ckeds]

what if intelligent people are better at music than musicians being intelligent?

[@DanielWyrzykowski]

+ckeds what if the studies controlled for intelligence (and other background variables)?

[@vhermosilla6548]

Notice she said formal music education. Singing pop songs for our middle school choir show doesn't count for much lol

[@LightningForce4427]

Where I'm from, it was always optional, and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. I am terrible at music. I like songs and stuff, but no musical talent whatsoever right here. I can't read notes and other things, nor do I want to. Music just never interested me, nor many other kids in schools accost the country. Only a small percentage of kids like music, so it should be an optional on the side sort of thing.

[@andrewgrandahl]

Only a small percentage of kids like music?? Where are you drawing that conclusion from? In my experience almost all kids enjoy music of some kind, and many also enjoy singing and dancing. It is a natural part of human experience and expression which has evolved with us for many thousands of years.

[@ArmandDelisle]

We work with Pre-school age children and it is close to 100% of kids that are fascinated by and enjoy music. Just bring a guitar into a preschool or a keyboard or xylophone and watch. Research says that teaching music at the same time as colours and language results in the same level of understanding and enjoyment of music as colour and language, imagine a world where everyone reads music and can hear notes and sounds the way they see colours. Amazing!!

[@LightningForce4427]

Energybound No one I know is like that at all. I listen to music, but anything else is just not my thing. I'm more math and science rather than art and music, so art and music just annoy me more than anything really. I can enjoy the product of someone else, but not making I myself. Very few people actual do things like band or choir from where I'm from. Just a waste of time really.

[@mikepostdrums]

DevilDude4427 The only waste of time here, is you.

[@LightningForce4427]

***** No, it is a waste of time in most careers. I'd rather take pre-calculus principles of engineering that I would taking band or choir. It isn't what I want to do in life, so why should it be forces upon me. I'm not for it being removed, don't get me wrong, I just think it should always be optional.

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

Trouble is advocates of second language, of sports, of unstructured freeplay time in the wild all make the same claim or very similar claims. Where are the children parents and policy makers going to find the time in the 24 hrs and the resources required to do all these NICE seeming things when we are having hard time insuring that the children are not starving when they are supposed to be learning. Is this a nightmare or what ?

[@GuitarCenterFoundation]

❤❤❤

[@felixpark1952]

well, i guess its too late for me :'(

[@oliviafroggie]

never too late

[@felixpark1952]

hue im already 15 :P

[@thepianoplayer416]

I started taking up violin before going into high school and pick up piano play a few years after graduating from college and started working. You don't have to take up music as a career to enjoy playing regularly. I know someone in his 50s, never had any formal music training, doesn't read music recently got hold of an old piano. He has been playing it everyday since.

[@mandaJt]

seong min 15 is still very young. My friend started piano lessons when she was 16. She is now 24 and is a piano master. There are benefits to starting later (understanding more things about life, quicker to learn how to read music, for a couple of examples). If you want to learn, learn; don't make excuses to cop out.

[@thepianoplayer416]

manda jt The 3 fallacies worth exploring are: 1. Relying on classroom instructions alone. I've heard 2 polyglots discussing the issue that those who succeeded in picking up other languages spend a lot more effort outside the classroom. Like learning a language, playing music involve a lot of personal time outside class. 2. The age debate. Unless a person has a learning disability or dementia, age is just a reference #. 3. Learning without being enrolled in a music program. With social media widely accessible, some people claimed to be able to master playing an instrument by watching instructional videos. There are those who took traditional lessons and yet unable to play after a few years and those who learn by ear and are able to play 1 song after another effortlessly. last week a friend came for a visit. He is in his late 50s / early 60s and recently got hold of a 2nd hand piano and started learning "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy. He was exposed to piano playing early in life with several family members who were musicians but had not touched a piano in 50 years. Unable to read music he basically learned to imitate finger positions and sound pitches with videos. In less than 6 months he learned enough to give a convincing performance on my Yamaha keyboard including varying his finger touches for soft & loud sections and the control of the foot pedal.

[@7thson341]

The poorest schools lack music education while it prevails in most upper class schools. Thank former governor Swarzenneger for that. Dumbing the poor, your kids, is always a part of someone's masterplan to stay ahead. Listen to how similar pop music sounds globally, but just different languages. The world is becoming one big rave club. "I like all kinds of music except country". If you're the kind of person that says this, there's a chance that you're part of the problem. Hello digital, farewell analog; along with human-ness. Instruments will one day only be seen in a museum.

[@musk5delp]

Articulate position paper/talk for educators and the learned public at large.

[@zzp5578]

Not everyone has money

[@iranildodesouza4512]

Surpreendente

[@deanstevens8293]

💚

[@jonathanrichardson122]

what's with the economic side of this discussion? why cant we just appreciate the neurological and psychological benefits? we shouldn't have to condition ourselves to make more money, this is silly. This will lead only to sadness.

[@sleepsmartsmashstress8705]

What if every child had access to a high protien lunch box when attending elementay school?

[@moderndaywarrior5775]

I have been a professional musician for over 30 years. I have performed music in public, in the real world, outside of the artificial, pretend, make-believe, government-funded fantasy world of music education, thousands of times. It has been a miserable experience watching instrumental music disappear from our country over the last 30 years. It is fascinating how music educators continue along in blissful ignorance while there is a musical holocaust taking place in the real world, outside of their government-funded fantasy world. Music educators are uninterested in and/or unaware of the fact that their former students are contributing to this musical holocaust as much as any group of people. Music educators don't care that their former students are just as likely as anyone to think that instrumental music is stupid and boring and that the people who have dedicated their lives to composing, performing, and teaching instrumental music are a bunch of idiots. Music educators apparently think that music education will exist indefinitely in a country that thinks instrumental music is stupid and boring and a waste of time, money, and resources. Instrumental music is dead in this country, instrumental music education is dying, and music educators are doing nothing to stop it.

[@jimmyrotheram3703]

Are you based in the UK? I could tell and show you a lot to give you cheer. There are tons of music educators who are very much advocates and activists too. Not only are we mobilising but we are also having success in getting our proposals heard and supported.

[@mr.nobody68]

Now go and research what happens to kids who are forced to practice music

[@caoeason9102]

to learn how to play the piano is not enjoyable

[@elrodigero6785]

.

[@zzp5578]

Me no likey

[@PykaButPink]

hello white station

[@kevintang7930]

that won't happen, so whats the point

[@MrJoeManghan]

+Kevin Tang Why do you think that would never happen?

[@NewhamMatt]

There are now two schools I know of in Brisbane (Brisbane Grammar School and St Aidan's Girls College) where music is taught to students by specialists every day up to either grade 3 or grade 4 (can't remember which). Queensland spent the best part of 20 years during the 80s and 90s giving specialist music teachers intensive training to deliver the Queensland syllabus. Instrumental music programs are also a ubiquitous presence across the Queensland education systems (both public and private). If Queensland can take the time and money to make music education a reality for most (ideally all) students, why can't the rest of Australia do the same?

[@tess2626]

Wonderful!