Music Education In The Political Arena, Andrew Lesser

Music Education In The Political Arena

Andrew Lesser Burlington City Public Schools Rowan College at Burlington County andrew.lesser@yahoo.com

Usually, my articles revolve around pedagogical techniques or effective strategies aimed at furthering the literature regarding practices in music education. This time, however, I feel the need to discuss something beyond my typical submissions. Hours before I began writing this article, I received an e-mail from NJEA officials urging me to sign a petition against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos, who, at the time of this writing, is the nominee for Secretary of Education under the incoming Trump administration.

To place this in a temporal context, I had composed this article in early January 2017, approximately two weeks before the Presidential Inauguration. Since I am aware that this will not become available until March, I can only predict that Donald Trump is now the President of the United States and the decision to confirm Ms. DeVos as Secretary of Education has already been determined.

The petition that I and other members of NJEA had been requested to sign contained a pre-written letter that would be sent to New Jersey senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez. The letter had spoken out against Ms. DeVos’s lack of experience in the educational field, specifically her political record against public school education and inability to relate to working class families due to her wealthy upbringing.

Prior to this, I had not been particularly active in political matters, but as I have witnessed the polarization of the perspectives surrounding the events leading up to the establishment of our new President, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my views and thoughts regarding how we as local music educators should proceed in our daily teaching practices. Please note that any political opinions are my own and do not reflect the views of this publication or the NJMEA.

The last eighteen months leading up to the Presidential election have been difficult to withstand. The negative atmosphere, including accusations of corruption, intolerance, inappropriate behavior, and even illegal activity have left melancholy, even morbid feelings among Americans. Oftentimes during the campaign I had been asked by my students about my opinions regarding each candidate, to which I replied that they are my own and prefer to keep them private. Discussing politics in the music classroom is generally an inappropriate topic and is ordinarily discouraged by most administrations.

Still, as an educator I felt obligated to answer in some way to counteract the rhetoric that I personally felt to be repugnant and damaging. After all, if the behavior of our prospective leaders could be considered as not befitting proper role models for our youth, then it would become even more imperative for teachers to fill that role in the classroom. Since speaking about the state of politics was not an option, I felt that the best way to counteract this corrosive environment was to enhance my practices to exemplify through music ,positive character traits such as tolerance, acceptance, and respect. Below are the overarching themes that I have focused on during my regular general music classes.

1. Incorporate diversity into each lesson

Music and the arts, more than any other discipline, have the potential to teach about diversity in all its facets through creative output. Artists, performers, composers, and philosophers of every race, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identification have generated works of significance that transcend the boundaries of time or political affiliation. The story of music is the story of personal identity, from the haunting jubilations of the African-American spiritual to the anger and nostalgia of Corigliano’s Symphony No. 1, inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Teaching our students that music is created and enjoyed by all people may serve as a strategy to combat intolerance, racism, and hatred.

2. Teach teamwork through group assignments

The ability to work with others is essential to achieve success in any industry. Performing in an ensemble such as a choir, orchestra, band, or other group is an excellent opportunity to emphasize how each member is not only important in their own right, but also how they fit together as part of something greater. In non-performing ensemble classes, such as a music appreciation or general music course, having students work in pairs or groups on a common assignment may create the opportunity for teaching moments beyond music content knowledge. When conflicts arise, as they are sure to do during these situations, be sure to take the time to discuss with students how to peacefully resolve arguments with patience and compromise. While teaching musical concepts and skills are important, taking advantage of these occasions may assist in helping students learn the benefits of positive interactions.

3. Use music to teach students how to think independently

It is extremely easy to become overwhelmed by the partisan rhetoric sweeping through our nation, as members of contrasting political affiliations relentlessly attack each other’s views and guiding principles in the attempt to persuade and convert others to one side. The omnipresent multimedia surrounding these controversies can easily influence the behavior and thinking process of impression-

able students. One of the primary themes during the election was the plethora of misinformation, dubbed “fake news”, which swayed many voters based on what was currently trending. As educators, our jobs are not to teach students what to think, but to think for themselves. Independent thinkers can make more sophisticated and educated decisions about important issues, and music is an excellent medium to do this. Encouraging projects where there are no right or wrong answers will help students to think in more complex ways. Writing a musical composition, critiquing a musical work, or finding new methods of performing existing pieces may provide students with the freedom to express themselves without fear of judgment or failure.

4. Practice what we preach

This may seem like an obvious point, but there are always moments that exasperate and frustrate us, whether we are dealing with unruly students, irrational parents, or uncooperative administrators. This is a part of any educator’s career, and although at times we may feel that our efforts aren’t appreciated as much as they should be, we must stay the course and show the qualities in ourselves that we wish to impart upon our students. I always tell my students that we have no control over others; all we can do is control ourselves and act according to our own consciences. Music is replete with examples of messages about the power of our own hearts, and how a positive act can influence others to do the same. Celebrating these qualities can serve to eliminate words and actions that insult, demean, or exclude any individual or group of individuals.

Most of these suggestions are aspects of teaching that we as music educators accomplish on a daily basis. Even so, it is sometimes difficult not to become disheartened and pessimistic when we turn on the news or access social media and see examples of vicious debates that negatively affect our nation. While it seems that there may be relatively little that we can do to rectify this situation, it is important to focus on the individual students we serve and guide them to work for something better through their own beliefs. It may sound hypocritical to ask students with differing opinions to work together to solve their differences when our own government is incapable of such progress, but it is necessary if we want to help them create a society of respect, tolerance, and equality. As music teachers, we have the ability to accomplish this using a unique and vibrant medium, proven to have been a significant factor in fulfilling the promise to create a more perfect union for all.

I appreciate your comments and would enjoy hearing your thoughts and suggestions. Please contact me at andrew.lesser@yahoo.com or visit my website at www.andrewlessermusic.com, and thank you for reading.