New approach

As a young teacher I was taught that the pedagogy of any instrument is in the study of the classics.  While that statement is true as far as it goes, I've come to realize that it's not "only" in the study of the classics.

A few years ago I was in a studio recording some Beatles music for a client.  As I was preparing to leave I commented that I had spent my entire adult life learning and playing classical music and yet here I was recording pop music.  Studio owner, producer, and long-time friend John Campbell immediately said, "It's ALL music!"

According to a recent article, Harvard is changing the way it teaches music.  Instead of the very narrow, "classical music only" approach, they are now expanding and welcoming many other styles.  Classical music will still have it's place, and may continue to rule the roost, but Mozart may have to share space with Ornette Coleman and Schubert lieder with songs by Lennon and McCartney.  This new approach to music education is not without its critics, but the music department at Harvard is going to give it a fair shot.

Actually this approach is only new to academia.  It's been going on at private music studios and music stores forever.  The old model has forced a gap between popular music and classical music.  In reality, Bach and Mozart and those guys didn't know they were writing "classical" music.  It was ALL music.

These continuing developments have forced me to reassess my art and the way I teach it. Change is seldom comfortable, especially for a "senior citizen", but I cannot help but be optimistic too. The "gap" should start to close and perhaps new musical creations will enthrall us.

Nearly 50 years ago rock musicians dallied with classical music and even created some interesting hybrids.  The album became a compositional form like a sonata or a suite.  The new classical composer may well attempt something similar but with a different perspective.

Although there will always be commercial musical entertainment, I believe there may be a new "thing" on the horizon.  Historically whenever big money dominates art the young turks come up with something new.  This has been true in pop, rock, jazz, and classical music and I'm sure the worlds of literature and art have multiple examples too.

The seeds will be planted by the teachers.  And then, if we're smart, we will get out of the way and let our students show us the new.  Us "old-timers" may be enthralled, or critical, or uncomfortable, but we will take some comfort in knowing that it's ALL music.