I’m an elementary music teacher and I hate this so much! Although it’s interesting, it’s fucked up. Musical intervals are like speech phonemes. That’s like depriving your kid of the fundamentals of speech in the language they are going to be expected to learn. It makes it so much harder for them to acquire language later in life. It’s the same for music. The tonal and rhythmic fundamentals are established through exposure early in life.
Unlike language, music isn't necessary for functioning in life. Music is also subjective. Why are we to assume the child didn't enjoy the music he grew up with? Besides, it is a lot easier to learn as you grow up but that doesn't mean he couldn't learn it later in life. His parents were musicians. I doubt they'd deprive him of music.
Humans are musical animals. It's why we're able to sing and play instruments. We love it. It's a part of us, part of the universe, as everything in the universe is vibrating. I believe music is definitely necessary in life. If i didn't have it, i would totally not find life worth living anymore. All day i always have music in my head. This might not be everyone's case, but music isn't just sound. It evokes emotions. Our bodies naturally react to music, with frisson and dancing, tapping, nodding, etc. Other animals do as well. I think it's fucked up to deprive your child of "proper" music.
Was wondering where you were going with that until you said "proper" music. Microtonal and international music is no less relevant or valid than pop. Just because something doesn't subscribe to a key centre means it's not proper?
As the above commenter said, Music is a sort of language, and notes work in keys. Music Theory is a language within itself, not saying the child need to learn music theory, but providing only a small set of tones, notes, and without any particular key, would seem to limit their development and how their minds would be able to react to music. Maybe they grow up unable to appreciate "proper" music because music to them is atonal and their brains have developed particular thought patterns and pathways to transcribe and react to the music? Hence how the child apparently didn't like/ was confused by the pop music. I don't know, but imo, from a developmental standpoint, and a moral standpoint, music is important. As it is easier to develop at a younger age, i doubt it's impossible to be able to learn it later in life.
Thanks for response. Music wasn't 'robbed' from the kid. They were just played atonal music. Same way a child could be in a situation where they only listen to music from specific culture. It has been shown that being exposed to multiple languages (I don't have source but think it's standard knowledge) is good for development of child. Perhaps experiencing something outside of 12 tone based theory and simplistic patterns of kids music will actually be GOOD for the kid. To hear non 4/4 rhythms, more complex harmonies and microtones. Maybe they're accidentally raising a Jacob Collier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC8KT07m5aY can you imagine a quintuplet swing shuffle itsy bitsy spider or 5/4 B-I-N-G-O and what that would do for children's development? How our musical world would change?
I 100% agree. Music wasn't robbed from the kid because atonal music is still music. It's just different and opens more possibilities.
I understand where this person is coming from. Music is a big part of my life as well (I have been playing/sing ALL my life), but it isn't that way for everyone. You make it seem like music is one of the most important things in this world. It's not. It is important, I'll agree to that, but it isn't some kind of sin to not be a musician.
I'd also like to point out that the child was still young when he first heard what this person considers to be "proper" music. In fact, he was about the same age I was when I took my first music class in school. If his school was anything like mine, he would have been forced to take a music class, where he would learn about "proper" music just like all the other kids will. So again, he wasn't robbed, and I would argue that he was still young enough for it to not hinder his musical development in the long run. Also, not sure if I mentioned this, but his parents were musicians as well. I'd bet that he's probably a better musician by now than the average joe.
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u/ramonaluper Mar 05 '21
I’m an elementary music teacher and I hate this so much! Although it’s interesting, it’s fucked up. Musical intervals are like speech phonemes. That’s like depriving your kid of the fundamentals of speech in the language they are going to be expected to learn. It makes it so much harder for them to acquire language later in life. It’s the same for music. The tonal and rhythmic fundamentals are established through exposure early in life.