I am so impressed with the level of 'hip' in our class. Several of our class scholars know so much about so many artists and songs, most of which I have never heard of. I enjoy learning about today's music scene. I might even listen to a few of today's music makers because of your enthusiasm.
But, if you take me back a few decades ... to the Golden Oldies...
My first memory of music was reading my sister's diary about the night Elvis appeared on Ed Sullivan. Then came rock-n-roll (as I know it), Motown, and the British Invasion. Great tunes to sing to and dance to. Just as I graduated from high school in 1971, music became a little heavier and a lot louder. The content, just like the world, was more serious . The Beatles no longer produced simple, fun music. They sang messages. Music was making a statement. About that same time my life became heavier and busier. When I look back I think that is when my music tastes stopped progressing with the times. Every once in a while I would enjoy a song that was THE big hit. And I still loved music but enjoyed a more mellow sound. I discovered the Big Band, Jazz and Easy Listening sounds. Today music is one of my greatest pleasures.
But this isn't my point. All this talk about music and bands and songs brings up something I have thought about for a long time.
I like solutions. The simpler the better. The sooner the better. I like solutions to my dilemmas, my kids dilemmas, work dilemmas and the world's dilemmas.
And music strikes me as one of the biggest, simplest solutions to the problems of the world. Now maybe this isn't news to anyone. Maybe it is just so obvious and right in front of my face that I never realized how important music is on a level so much more than just entertainment.
I first saw how music could make a difference the day my then 3 year old niece, Beth, arrived from Korea. My sister and brother-in-law had adopted her. She had been on several planes for over 24 hours traveling to her new home and family in Kansas. She was terrified. She didn't speak. She didn't move. She was scared of dogs. Beth's new family had 3 dogs, a couple of cats, some goats, birds, horses and 3 other children. My 3 year old son and I went to meet Beth. She said nothing and did nothing. At some point I suggested the children and I should play ring-around-the-rosy. That was all it took. She sang the words, fell down, laughed and got back up to sing it again and again. She came alive. Ring-around-the-rosy was universal.
Six months later, in December, we were together at a Christmas Tree Lighting in little DeSoto, Kansas. I was holding Beth and singing Christmas carols. As Silent Night began, Beth's little voice sang the words...in Korean. Universal.
And that is my point. Music is all-important to the world. Duh. So, if it is all-important, we must make sure that music is not cut from schools. That it is an opportunity for a better world. We should make sure everyone is exposed to and experiences all kinds of music. Everyone doesn't have to like hip hop or easy listening. But it may be the best form of communication to bring people together. The availability, variety and technical progress of music today may be the best hope for the world.