> >>>+++Dianne Clark writes :Well, some of us are out there in the
trenches teaching a whole new generation of students to love
classical music. We may never reach the masses --<<<<<
>>>>Yes. You are taught to love it. Ususally from the earliest years
of your life you begin to form ideas of likes and dislikes from music
your parents listen to. ..... You listen and form opinions..... She
and my other girls did not start off liking classical music. They
learned to love it.
.....
> I, and others who believe in classical forms of music, are striving
to introduce children to beautiful classical music. Four of my
girls, who only want to sing classical forms of music, all listen to
pop but they don't want to sing it. That says something to me.
>
> Dr Dean<<<<<
I am in total agreeance with Dianne and Dr Dean here, especially
seeing as how I have had very similar experiences. I, as were my
siblings, was exposed to a very broad range of music from birth
thanks to my father and to a lesser extent my mother. I was
passionate about ballet music before I could walk (I knocked out my
first incisor the day it fully came through to the Nutcracker suite!
LOL). My older brother mind you, wasn't quite so open minded, he gave
me HELL over my singing lessons and taste in music and mocked, teased
and derided me endlessly. By the time he was 23 (he's 47 now) he had
given up all his heavy metal records and refused to listen to
anything but the ABC classics FM, a national radio station here which
Reg would probably know well also.
As a teacher I attempt to expose my students, of all ages, to as many
styles of music possible and I don't just stick to the vocal music,
especially with the youngsters. It is particularly exciting when they
come back asking for more suggestions or telling me "Mum bought me
that CD today!"
It's an uphill battle in Australia as boys are often derided for
being, or are seen as, less than masculine for expressing any
interest in the arts. "Commercial" exposure doesn't even extend to
Bugs Bunny anymore. (So many of my friends ONLY exposure to classical
music was Bugs Bunny for heaven's sake!)
So no, I don't think it's dead and buried, I don't even think
classical singing is dead and buried. While we still have brains to
think with,intellect to develop, education to have, and a natural
healthy curiosity for life, then hope springs eternal.
In my own quiet and quite small way I am keeping the flame burning
for all that we cherish and far from seeing it dying I see more and
more people curious about "our world".
Michelle
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