Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward Convergence Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture. Music Educators Journal, 99 (4), 29-36
I really liked this article. I think that it is always important to look at the way that the population is relating to and interacting with music, because then it’s easier to create meaningful music. I also think it is interesting to see how our society’s view of music is changing. I think that participatory culture is fascinating. For a long time, art was something that only the richest and most elite people could afford to indulge in. Now everyone can create and enjoy art, and that’s a very good thing! Art is a human reaction to life, and everyone should have a chance to experience it in different ways.
I also think that the points made in this article are important because for music to stay relevant to the world, we need to pay attention to how people are relating to music. If we want to get kids interested in learning music, we need to provide them with music they will care about. If we try to push our own expectations and interests onto other people, they won’t get interested in music for themselves. The world is changing quickly and being aware of the way the world is changing is important to stay relevant in it.
I also think it’s interesting to see how people are interacting with music, especially with the internet changing things. People have access to musical materials and programs and tools that have never been available before, and it’s fascinating to see how people are using them to make their own art. Mash-ups, covers and other forms of art made in this participatory culture are fascinating, because it’s a form of media that is new. We have never seen people take and use other people’s work in such a unique way before. Arguably, this participatory culture is closer to Shakespearian era culture around art; That was a time before copyright, and people could create what they wanted without worrying about legal issues. I’m excited about what this culture surrounding art will let us experience.
This article is especially important for people working with children, because they are the next generation. They are one of the first generations to have grown up with the internet as a constant thing, and so their views on art and music will be shaped by the internet culture. As teachers, we need to be aware of how our students see and experience the world and understanding participatory culture in the way that this article does is important to be able to connect with them, and to help them achieve what they want to achieve.
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