Well I sit here waiting for pics to come in from the past recital, Kris, our photographer has me totally on edge right now, I am excited and can’t wait to see them!! To be fair, he has been working his full time job quite a bit lately, and I respect that – he has kept me up to date on the progress and said there are many awesome pictures of my amazing students! Our videographer, well I am waiting on that one, I really would like to put up our videos on YouTube soon. Advantage to my husband filming – videos right away. Advantage to a pro – better videos and less worry. Not sure yet which I like better though, patience is not always my thing.
So having said that, I do have a new cover photo for our Facebook page showing the talented, beautiful, and amazing Legacy sponsored students Kalinda and Ashley V presenting the cheque for our efforts to Alicia Diebert from the Legacy Children’s Foundation. She is in the middle, I am in the red Chinese dress, and Ronald is to the right and behind of me, my awesome student teacher Ronald who was there an hour before and stayed till an hour after helping and assisting. Hiding behind me, you can see Regie, who is also an outstanding student teacher!!! I am so lucky and fortunate to have such a wonderful team!
https://www.facebook.com/FlamingoMusic
So anyways, as I wait in suffering curiosity for the pictures and videos, I figured I should still update my followers, few yet awesome as they are, and keep my blog up to date. Sometimes it is easy to forget to do it, and I get a comment about how somebody loves it, but would love even more if I blogged more. So, in true Flamingo Music/Architect of Musical Revolution tradition, I shall probably open a can of worms with this but here goes.
Here in Canada, the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations are now open for registration for the Spring Session. These happen 3 times per year (Dec-Jan, May-June, and Aug) for all of Canada, and an April Practical -no Theory – only session in certain places). I always remember the deadlines because the Dec-Jan and May-June ones fall on, or within a day or two of, my birthday and my husband’s. How convenient. I have one girl doing Grade 4 Practical, and on girl doing Grade 1 Practical. Now most teachers only have a few students doing exams at any one session, however some years I don’t have any, and I have 70 or so students per year – not counting group classes! Why?
I do not feel examinations are always necessary. If you want the 3rd party progress evaluation then yes, if your child is homeschooled and needs the credit then yes, if they want music as a career then yes. If you want your child to just learn, grow and experience the joy, passion, and true pleasure of music to expand their horizons and enrich their life as a person, then TOTALLY UNNECESSARY!!!
Now before I get the hate mail about how I am wrong, let me explain. The most common story I hear from adults who “used to play” is that they were forced to do exam after exam and never got to experience the music they wanted. Everything was tied to exam, passing exam, performing for the examiner, and nothing was tied to “music for music sake”. Every single one is now a talented, fantastic pianist, not one of them plays. I have taken students to exams and heard and met amazingly talented and skilled students, and not one of them was happy, looked happy, or seemed to enjoy the incredible experience of music. I look at my students and see kids being kids, enjoying music in all forms without pressure, without judgement, and who want to show what they can do. I see kids who play a range of music, kids who play for school and church and in bands and love every second of it!!! Why would I take this from them by subjecting them to exams? Every one of my students who knows somebody who takes exams does not want to take exams and begs me never to make them. I have heard how their friends cry, stress out, and fear the exam. Now to be fair some kids do like it, and I have no problem with that – if the student wants it, let them, push them, encourage them, and let them have that experience. However, this blog post is meant to be my views.
Cost is also an issue. First lessons, then books since specific books are needed, then the exams fees which start at $100 and shoot up from there. Many clients of mine would not be able to cover those costs, and I would not push that on them. Does that make my students any less skilled, talented or disciplined than others? NO!!! They are just as skilled, talented, and in some ways more disciplined than others. My students love to learn, create, perform and explore, and I do not want to stand in the way of this. Examiners are sometimes not very good with handling certain temperaments, and spending a year or more focusing on passing a grade makes piano seem like school, not a life choice.
I also find the curricula lacking. Where is the true aural component? Identifying intervals, clapping back played rhythms, and simple melody lines by ear is good, but most kids respond better to figuring out their favourite songs and passages by ear. Harmonizing by ear is non existent, and improvising and applying the knowledge learned without pages of rules and notes does not happen. Originality and “composition” does not happen. It is my opinion that anybody can learn to play music a la RCM, ABRSM, Trinity, and other exam systems, but how many can play from lead sheet, improv with guitar chord names, or function in a band. These are what truly constitute playing an instrument, being able to sit down and make music without predefined “music” in front of you. Being able to pop out Christmas arrangements or Happy Birthday on the spot. Playing mood music for background serenades by knowing how to play styles rather than compositions. Composing and creating music, transposing and creating variations of music on the spot – this is true musicianship and the sign and skills of somebody truly able to play an instrument.
To those saying I am decrying composition playing and score playing and sight reading – I am not. These are skills that take time and effort to hone as well as good guidance from a good teacher. However, I am saying in the modern world of results, competition and one-up man-ship, we have left the true essence of music and being a musician behind. Old time musicians and early era musicians learned from their maestro by oral and aural tradition. They learned to make and care for their own instrument to the extent it was an extension of themselves and a reflection of their personality and musical spirit. They would compose, create and immortalize many epics, events and daily affairs in music from the beginning, and the musical traditions would be changed, modified, variegated, and enriched by each subsequent performer. Playing the music and the songs exactly as the master was not the norm, each put their own stamp of originality and interpretive touch and genius into the music, keeping it relevant and fresh for each new performance.
It is my belief that we have lost this as our society scoffs the arts, cuts funding, and shuns the cultural arts such as music for more materially enriching pursuits such as science and business. Arts must now be weighed, measured, judged, and quantified or qualified by the same standards as Academia to be considered worthwhile of pursuit. Set criteria, hurdles, and standards that are universal, and focus on attaining these milestones is more important now that the individuality, creativity and subjective nature of the creative arts which cannot be weighed, measured, judged and quantified against a balance sheet or scientific/mathematical formula. Some creative endeavors speak to many, others to a few. They may inspire legions, or offend multitudes. They may result in world changes, and world shakers, or pass by with little notice. They define generations, speak to their era, and represent the heart, soul, and humanness of our world despite all the craziness, anger and hate rampant in the world. They all impact in special, unique way, and each is important, so how can they all be held to the same standard? Music is really the ultimate emotional outreach, expression, and it does so in different ways through different media, and different souls who birth it, nurture it, shape it and help it take flight. How does one balance, measure, or quantify the incalculable? Only arrogance and the need to “be better than somebody else” would lead one to believe that this is the only way to prove importance or relevance.
I have seen music bring hope, healing, and improve quality of life for those pursuing music for music’s sake without the strictures of examinations and competitions. Music has brought me through some of my darkest hours with it soul speech that lends fortitude to mere human means. Music has euphorically soared with me to empathetic heights in the best times of my life, and has been my longest and truest companion. People have taken their shots at me, Life has tried to bring me down, and the World has tried to shatter me, but Music asks only for love, and passion, and it gives immeasurably without restriction or rule. Music has always been there, the solid rock and true life’s companion. It has followed me without judgement, and has propped up my spirit when all else fails. Music has led me and connected me with some of the truest, purest friends and kindred spirits I will ever have or meet, and when our music meshes together with ease, there is no feeling like it in the world, musical souls don’t always need words to cross into each others’ worlds, and somehow musical connection leads to a deeper understanding of one another. I hope to never be a music snob, or an elitist. I hope none of my students ever follow that path either. I hope to have m students recognize the music in the special souls of this world that will follow alongside them forever, and to have them recognize music in the most mundane of places – rain falling, wind sighing, snowstorms crying, heat vibrating, and to recognize, touch , and bring forth the music of their souls to share with the world and give in a way that is unique, special and musical to them.
As a note, check out “This Song Saved My Life” by Montreal band Simple Plan. It is simple, poignant, and has been constantly with me these past couple weeks which have been difficult and stressful for many reasons. Making Music Makes a Difference – Living Music changes Lives. Playing scores limits, and exercises can stifle. Change live, make a difference, and don’t just MAKE music – BE music! Music is life, and Life without music is mere existence.
Flamingo Music 