Practicing music is very important for musical development and technical ability, but it is not the place where most students learn what music is about. One important aspect of music is missing from our practice room: people! All music needs people to fulfill its function in society. People fulfill the roles of bandmates, audience members, listeners, creators, friends, and family. Music is about bringing people together and having a shared experience.
My earliest memories of music are from my family gatherings, where members of my family would bring guitars, accordions, and other instruments. (See the photo attached where my dog Didi slept int he middle of the band at out family Kitchen party) The whole family would sing songs, dance, and just have a grad time being together! It was after one of these parties that I first asked my Dad if I could have a guitar. He took out the guitar he played at the party the very night before and said if I could learn to play a song, then I could have the guitar. He proceeded to teach me the melody of Amazing Grace, and I earned the guitar. I soon found myself in lessons and began to play with friends and family members.
As I reached my teenage years, I began to lose interest in music. I started hanging out with new friends in junior high, and they didn't play music. Reflecting on this time, I realized I didn't lose interest in music but lost my social circle of music players and lovers. Thankfully, in high school, I found a new social circle and music came back into my life. This time music took a strong hold and I decided I wanted to pursue my love of music professionally.
Now that I teach music, I often think about these social settings as I try to coach my students. We can jam a little in a music lesson, but is a formal setting and not the same as a group of friends or family socializing and playing together. So what can we do? I encourage students to play with friends and family. and take part in musical events as much as they can! Families can support their children and young students by singing songs with them or having a jam session if they also play an instrument. As students get older it may not be cool to play with family and hopefully, they find friends that share their love of music.
It is in these musical social settings that we learn the limits of our skills, and the areas we may need to do to improve. The music lesson is now a super effective tool and a place where students can ask questions and find ways to take their music to the next level. Of course, there are exceptions to this as well. Not all music is played in a group setting and not all people thrive in social settings. In today's society people are interacting less face to face and more through technology, now the social role music plays in society is more important than ever! Wanna jam?
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