More Thoughts on--“Is All Music Created Equal?”—part 4

More Thoughts on--“Is All Music Created Equal?”—part 4

Music educators should be reminded that based on the fact that they are teaching music in a Western culture, and because the study of Western music’s core values is one of the primary aims of music education in this culture, they are obligated to present the best of Western music as the core of their music praxis.  I believe that behind the philosophy that ‘all music gets the same trophy’ is the belief that it is impossible to come to any knowledge of “truth” concerning core values in Western music.

 Elizabeth Ermarth explained that there are two assumptions that are the basis of post-modernism philosophy.  The first assumption concerns the establishment of core values of music. “First, the assumption that there is no common denominator—in ‘nature’ or ‘truth’ or ‘God’ or ‘the future’…”  Hodges quoting Elizabeth Ermarth in A Concise Survey of Music Philosophy by Donald Hodges, p. 226.  It appears that the one thing that post-moderns know is that it is impossible to know.  So, some music educators have capitulated their responsibility that we have to make wise choices concerning the music they teach in their music classes and performing music organizations.  Some have thrown in the towel under the false notion that our students will not accept, understand, tolerate, enjoy any genres of music except pop and commercialized music.

Scripture for the Day

Proverbs 4:13, “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”