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A recent poll was taken to determine the role of music in the lives of our teenager population. The survey of the listening habits of 60,000 teens as published May 5, 2002 by USA Weekend Magazine showed the following results:
Do you listen to music while you are...?
| Doing chores | 79% |
| On the Computer | 73% |
| Doing homework | 72% |
| Eating meals at home | 33% |
| In the classroom | 18% |
If you had to choose just one type of music to listen to exclusively, which would it be?
| Hip-hop/rap | 23% |
| Pop | 23% |
| Rock/punk | 17% |
| Alternative | 7% |
| Christian/gospel | 6% |
| R&B | 6% |
| Country | 5% |
| Techno/house | 4% |
| Jazz | 1% |
| Other | 4% |
Which of the following most influences what you listen to?
| Radio | 43% |
| Friends | 30% |
| TV | 16% |
| Parents | 7% |
| Concerts | 3% |
| Magazines | 1% |
The results are shocking and they certainly reflect a serious decline in our culture. During this past year the local classical music station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida went off the air. I'm sure that it wasn't the only station that did so. As the poll indicates, the radio plays the largest influence in the listening habits. With fewer and fewer classical music stations, most teens don't even have a chance to listen to classical music. It's a sad commentary on our society when the majority of teens graduate from high school and have never been to a symphony concert. When the listening preferences of teens are Pop and Rock and the recordings of great classical artists are ignored, the music educators of this nation need to find to raise the standards and tastes of our teens.
How can this be done? I feel that one of the best ways is through teaching the classics to our piano students. The younger the age that children hear classical music, the more chance that they will develop a lasting hunger for listening to music of substance. Music appreciation should be a required course in every grade. A part of each school day should be devoted to listening to and making music through singing in a choir, chorus, ensemble or playing in the school band. Encourage young parents to have their children take piano lessons. The composer Amy Beach stated, "The monuments of a nation mark the progress of its civilization, but its intelligence and education are qualified by its music. Let us then realize the magnitude of our responsibility in accepting the education of our young people, in the perfecting of their judgment, and in ripening their powers of instruction for the unknown genius and talent of the future."
Remember, music provides the critical primary training of the character of the soul. Music guides the accomplishment of the good life. Music trains the soul. Take advantage of summer concert events that may occur in your cities. Call the Cultural Affairs Department today and ask for the schedule of classical concerts. Express your interest and see if one person can't make a difference in the musical taste in your town.
Fort Lauderdale will have a "Beethoven by the Beach" Festival from June 25th - July 13th. During the celebration there will be lectures on the life and music of Beethoven, his piano works will be performed by great artists, and his symphonies will be performed. The beautiful, historic city of Charleston, South Carolina will have the Spoleto Festival from May 26th - June 9th. It is an international festival of classical music, ballet, musical productions, chamber music and much more.
What role does music play in your life?
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