Teaching Music Appreciation
By Bruce Clark
Music Appreciation and the younger generation of today
Young people today have very little exposure to good music, mechanical music, or good old tunes. They are constantly exposed via radio, tele- vision, and rock concerts to great gobs of noise which suddenly seem good, because that is all that is available for them. Is it any wonder that we have a class of young people out there who can not enjoy music unless it is a bunch of blasting amplified distorted noise with lyrics taken from a physicians eye chart?
Classical music concerts can be too stuffy for beginners. Most lack variety to capture a new listeners interests. Classical musicians seem to forget that some in their audience know nothing at all about music, and persist in droning on with stuffy string quartets guaranteed to frighten off anyone (man or beast) who might be testing out this field of music for the first time.
My foster mother was a fine organist and pianist who lived in Rochester, New York. She graduated from the Eastman School of Music in the days of the reproducing piano. She knew Eschaniz, Max Landow, Jose Iturbi and his sister Ampara, and a host of other fine musicians of that era. Several were not only on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music, but also made a few Ampico rolls!
Mother's gentle approach to introducing young persons to classical music was quite amazing and clever. First she would find out what favorite tune a young person liked. Then she would play it on the piano as a special treat for the child.
In the early 1940's one little fellow about 6 years old told Mother that "Pistol Packin' Mama" was his favorite song. She said "That is a fine song, and I will play it on the piano for you"
She did, and very well, I might add, considering she did not have the sheet music to read. When she had finished, his eyes were as big as saucers! She had captured his interest! From there, she told him of a tune that was popular in her day, and proceeded to play the "Charleston," and "Sweet Georgia Brown." He liked those also.
Then she said, "I have one that I think you will like and it is called 'Chopin's Polonaise' (Op. 53, A-flat)." She played it with gusto, and the little fellow stood transfixed in amazement. He liked that too. Every day after school, she would play his favorite "Pistol Packin' Mama" and would add a couple of different tunes that he had not heard before. In a short time, he began to request Chopin's Polonaise, and would sit quietly through the entire rendition. He was amazed at how her fingers would fly over the keys and never miss a note!
Next, she had a special treat for the lad. She took him to the Eastman Theater to hear Morton Gould play the piano on stage, accompanied by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. One memorable selection he played was Richard Addinsel's "Warsaw Concerto", played on a 9-foot Steinway. By now, his interest in music was growing rapidly.
Another special treat, that will never be forgotten, was a trip to George Eastman's house to hear the Aeolian Duo-Art player organ! The entire house seemed to thunder glorious music, which came forth from grill work on the second floor and echoed throughout the two-story marble-floored music room. He was fascinated.
Later she introduced him to the music of Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, and others, and took him to recitals and concerts. He developed a lasting love for various kids of good music, and she encouraged him to buy his first Ampico reproducing piano.
Do you know who that little boy was? It was me!
The lesson is: We can not suddenly remove what we consider is trashy music from today's young people who have become used to it, and tell them that they are wrong. We must carefully introduce a few new and slightly similar types of music to them. Then carefully add better music, even if they are old war horses, and let them warm up gradually. This allows them to develop an interest at their own pace. Not all will appreciate our efforts, but if you can stimulate the interest in better music in just _one_ young person, you have made a wonderful contribution to that persons musical enjoyment for life.
... Excuse me now, I have to play some Mozart on the Ampico!
Bruce Clark
[ Bruce, you're both a fine philosopher and a grand story-teller; you
[ have my nomination as the "Garrison Kieller" of MMD ! (While you're
[ at it will ya play "Pistol Packin' Mama" for us?) -- Robbie
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(Message sent Fri 7 Feb 1997, 17:01:14 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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