Mayday Colloquium 20
August 22nd, 2008 by vincebates
It’s been an eventful summer with family trips to the desert, the beach, the mountains, and back to the beautiful (and I really mean it) rolling hills of Northwest Missouri. Towards the beginning of the summer I took a flight out to Boston for the twentieth Mayday Colloquium (my third). We had some great presentations and discussions. Thanks, Patrick Jones, for hosting us at Boston University. I did a presentation entitled, “What do the simple folk do? Sustainable music education for poor white rural students.” It seemed to be well-received. I shared a bit about my own family’s background and about how we all (all nine kids) played in school concert bands and are still involved in music, but not in concert bands or jazz bands. In fact, our musicing relates more to what we did at home growing up than it does to our public school experiences. I’m the only one of my brothers and sisters who still plays a “band instrument.” My question in the presentation (in a nutshell) regarding school band, “What was the point?” Not that concert band is a bad thing or not worth spending time and resources on. But, should it really be the focus of public school music (along with choir depending on the school) for so many kids who ultimately end up never playing again after they graduate? I guess I’m being kind of critical. But, then again, this IS a post about the Mayday Colloquium.
Vince,
I was so glad to find this blog! I wanted to let you know that your presentation at the Mayday Colloquium was life-changing for me. I didn’t understand all your questions at dinner the night before, but light bulbs went on all over the room when I heard what you had to say the next day, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
I came home from Boston and drastically changed the way I teach strings. I pretty much threw away the method book. Now I’m working on an application to Northwestern’s PhD program where I want to focus on changing the way instrumental music is taught in schools. I think instruments still have a place, just maybe not the same instruments and not the same model we’ve been plodding along with for far too long.
I wanted to tell you thank you for your moving story and your thought-provoking questions. And - if you wouldn’t mind, I would love a copy of your presentation!
Best,
Susan Haugland
Hi Vince,
I just came across this site again while looking for Mayday Group. Is there a new MD website? The one I’ve been going to does not look like it’s been updated in a while.
I really enjoy this site also!
Thanks .
Barb Hogan