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Schools of Rock From Guitar Hero to online classes and from apps to in-person jam sessions, musicians plug into curricula that get them amped up By Kendall Polidori
PHOTOGRAPH: REUTERS/KAI PFAFFENBACH
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rowing up in a musical family, Matrisha Armitage felt pressured to follow a traditional path in music education. The judgment of others led her to view music as a chore instead of her passion. Just the same, she and the young man who later became her husband started a high school band— something meant to be fun. Armitage wanted to create music freely and help others do the same. Nearly a decade later, she formed the nonprofit Music Education & Performing Arts Association, which uses group-led jam sessions to support people of all ages and abilities in performing music and arts in safe spaces, free of expectations. “How we’re teaching seems to work for everyone,” Armitage said. “Teaching is really just being super supportive of helping students know how to find these resources on their own. I think every music education moment needs to be structured for that student.” Music education is not one size fits all. With technological advances, the way musicians are teaching and learning the craft is dramatically changing musicians’ skills. From video games to online classes and from self-taught apps to traditional music schools, students tune in whatever way feels comfortable to find their groove.
A visitor plays Guitar Hero during the Gamescom fair in Cologne, Germany.
August 2022 | Luckbox
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