I initially avoided this blog subject because I couldn't think of very many home experiences that relate to my subject. My Mom was a single parent and had to work a lot of the time, so we didn't go to operas or concerts or plays (#pityparty). As I read over the assignment again, however, I realized that I was exposed to intricate, memorable music almost every day when I lived at home. The source of this music was so atypical that I didn't even think of how it relates to my subject. I'm talking about video games!
There is a certain negative stigma attached to gaming, and I understand that. But looking back, I realize that playing video games may have been one of the largest contributors to my current involvement in, and passion for, music. Video game soundtracks are not unlike movie soundtracks. They reflect the mood of what is happening on the screen. I can't imagine how boring a video game would be without heroic musical themes for main characters and intense boss battle themes. Most games include multicultural music as well, changing instrumentation and flavor as characters travel from place to place. Listening to so much music as I played games definitely changed the way I think about music. I'm certainly convinced that music can have a powerful influence on how you feel, and I'm sure so much exposure to video game music shaped that belief.
Of course, I don't expect that the majority of my students will play video games, but I think that keeping my mind open to less traditional forms of music will benefit my ensembles. Why not do video game music in choir? Why not do movie music, popular music, and multicultural music? A few years ago I sang in the Video Games Live concert at Abravanel Hall. The music was quite complex and extraordinary, and though many of the choir members didn't like video games at all, they loved the music. The audience was the most excited and receptive crowd I've ever performed for! Given these experiences with nontraditional genres, I don't believe that music education should be limited to western classical music (although it certainly has it's place). This approach would certainly fulfill the state standard of performing varied repertoire (Standard 1, objective F). We could also use movie and video game music to explore and assess how music effects people's moods (Standard 4, objective A: examine how music relates to personal development and enjoyment of life).
In my defense, I did things other than video games in my childhood. I also read books and talked to people and stuff. Just so you all know.
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you are accepting and encouraging of different types of music. I personally LOVE movie soundtracks, although I don't listen to much classical music. I wonder at times if the popularity and ubiquity of current composers, like John Williams, would have been comparable to the popularity of some composers in previous generations. If one goal of teaching is to connect with students' home cultures as much as possible, then I think allowing video game soundtracks or movie soundtracks is a great way to do that, because many students these days are part of "video game cultures."
Thanks for your posting!
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to find a connection to music in your homelife. I didn't expect it to be video games (it's just something I wouldn't have thought of myself), but it reminds me of my dad (he was a music major) explaining how boring a movie would be without music. He's right, it would be so lifeless. Music is so powerful, I think we can all find connections to it. It's amazing how one song can bring you back to another time or experience in your life so quickly. I think music is highly connected to our memories.