Apparently, it is quite popular these days for the Elementary Schools to have a "Christmas Sing" presentation for the last day of school before the Holidays. I have been to three such "concerts" this year and have come away with quite the validation of what I have always held dear. LET THE CHILDREN SING BY THEMSELVES! If I wanted to listen to pop Christmas artists on a recording, I would have turned on the radio in my car, thank you very much. For goodness sake! I drove an hour one way to hear my grandchild sing, and was disappointed that I only heard the professional BARITONE pop vocal artist and his backup band. (I didn't see one of those 8 year olds who looked like his voice had changed!)
I get it that the teachers per grade level were in charge of choosing the songs for their classes to sing. I understand that they probably don't have the musical expertise to play the accompaniment or even look for suitable music, but come on! We parents, grandparents, and interested others deserve to hear the kids do their own work, don't you think?
In comparison, the few grade levels' performances where the teachers had the children singing by themselves (whether to a prerecorded accompaniment or just the piano) were so much more enjoyable than the ones where the kids were drowned out by the over produced pop artist recordings. And instead of just yelling to try to be heard, they were actually matching pitches and making music.
Once again, the case is made that the young students in the Elementary Schools really need and deserve music education and vocal training by trained music educators. I saw a meme being circulated recently that said something to the effect that:
When we want to make an event more exciting, we add music.
When we want to get people moving, we add music.
When we want to heighten the suspense of a movie we add music.
BUT, when we want our children to do better academically, we take away
music.
It doesn't make sense!
Music actually helps students develop their brain power and cultural refinement in so many ways. Don't they know that it is always the band, orchestra and choral kids who pull up the academic statistics of the entire school?
Just think about it...
I get it that the teachers per grade level were in charge of choosing the songs for their classes to sing. I understand that they probably don't have the musical expertise to play the accompaniment or even look for suitable music, but come on! We parents, grandparents, and interested others deserve to hear the kids do their own work, don't you think?
In comparison, the few grade levels' performances where the teachers had the children singing by themselves (whether to a prerecorded accompaniment or just the piano) were so much more enjoyable than the ones where the kids were drowned out by the over produced pop artist recordings. And instead of just yelling to try to be heard, they were actually matching pitches and making music.
Once again, the case is made that the young students in the Elementary Schools really need and deserve music education and vocal training by trained music educators. I saw a meme being circulated recently that said something to the effect that:
When we want to make an event more exciting, we add music.
When we want to get people moving, we add music.
When we want to heighten the suspense of a movie we add music.
BUT, when we want our children to do better academically, we take away
music.
It doesn't make sense!
Music actually helps students develop their brain power and cultural refinement in so many ways. Don't they know that it is always the band, orchestra and choral kids who pull up the academic statistics of the entire school?
Just think about it...
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