Discussion Board Forum 8

The world is constantly changing and technology is leading most of those changes. For

many years we have heard, “the way it used to be” will not be the plan of the future. Nowhere

can this issue be more accurate than the instruction of music and music education.

In the past, music education was dependent on having enough instruments that were in

working order, having enough students to come together at the same time, and having an

instructor that was well versed in all forms of music. As budget cuts hit the schools, the

instruments went into disarray and were not maintained and new instruments were not

purchased. Many children were encouraged to participate in sports rather than music, as sports

can generate more revenue for the school.

Internet technology brought new ideas into the education setting. Students can bring their

instruments to school and the rest of the musicians can accompany and perform with CAI

software1 used by the instructor.

Further use of technology can actually replace the music instructor. Lessons can be

provided virtually and the classroom instructor can operate as a facilitator of learning in the

classroom2 and may not require any musical education background. On a personal note, I

inherited a violin from a deceased relative as they knew I played guitar. I had never held a violin

or understood how the instrument worked. I had an interest, but not a deep desire to play the

instrument. YouTube was able to show me how to hold the instrument, how to tune the violin,

1
Carlesta Elliott Spearman, How Will Societal and Technological Changes
Affect the Teaching of Music?National Association for Music Education,[2019]), https://nafme.org/wp-
content/files/2015/12/14-HowWillSocietalandTechChangesAffectTeachingofMusic-by-Carlesta-Elliott-
Spearman.pdf (accessed May 4, 2019).
2
Cornelia Yarbrough, What should be the Relationship between Schools and
Other Sources of Music Learning?Vision 2020,[2019]), https://nafme.org/wp-content/files/2015/12/16-
WhatShouldBetheRelationship-between-Schools-and-Other-Sources-of-Music-Learning.pdf (accessed May 4,
2019).
and how to find the notes to play a song. Therefore, within one week of receiving the instrument

I was able to play simple music, on my own, at my residence, without any interaction with a live

person.

As music educators, this should concern us. The death of Radio Shack, Blockbuster, and

Polaroid were due to the inability to keep up with what the customer desires. Vision 2020 seeks

to move music education ahead of the curve and provide the necessary music education with

technology and with an instructor well versed in music education. Without this foresight, music

educators will go the way of the dinosaurs and become legends or urban myths. We must

continue to move forward in our pedagogy.

The world is moving forward and technology is leading the advancement of instruction

and knowledge acquisition. Music education must keep pace and is urged to be ahead of the

knowledge curve in delivering the best instruction available. Future students will look for

accessibility, flexibility, and affordability. School districts will be looking for cost cutting

measures and explore ways to do more with less. Our vision must match the vision of future

learning. We need to push ourselves to the forefront. We need to survive.