Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, and Music Education

If I've learned anything from teaching hundreds of students each and every year for nearly thirty years, it's that no two children are alike. That sounds ridiculously obvious, but apparently it's not obvious to the lawmakers who are currently focused on education reform. Does education need reform? Yes. Absolutely. However, the focus on running schools as if they were factories to turn out consistent quality products is contrary to the direction education must go. In fact, never has it been more crucial to the future of our society that we go in a completely opposite direction.

Take music, for instance. One hundred fifty or so years ago when music was added to the curriculum in American public schools, it was done so because musicians were needed in community bands, orchestras, and in church choirs. This is how Americans listened to music, but then along came Thomas Edison with his crazy inventions and within a few years, recordings of music were within reach of most people. Music education's role shifted to include appreciation of music. In other words, we began to teach people how to listen to music as much or more than we taught how to make music. 

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, I think it's important. Not every musician is a performer. Some musicians are active listeners. Some others, however, are primarily composers and they have long been overlooked in music education.

Jump forward a hundred or so years and Steve Jobs comes along and changes the music industry again. Bon Jovi's pretty upset about that because the recording industry has suffered. The general public, however, has benefitted enormously. Not only is listening to music far more accessible, but creating and recording music is easy for anyone with a computer or an iPad.

How are the music teachers in your schools meeting the needs of students in this generation? Are they stuck in 1875 or are they exploring ways to use new technology to inspire and motivate the musicians of the future? How do we evaluate the arts teachers? What kind of achievement tests will lawmakers dream up to ensure that all teachers are "winning the education race" and turning out consistent quality students?

How should student achievement in the arts be measured? Can it be done by filling in bubbles on a Scantron form? I don't think so. Should all students reach the same level of achievement in the arts by the end of the year? By the end of twelve years?


Big questions.