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Stormzy should replace Mozart in UK music classrooms, study says

MaschineMind

MaschineMind

Pro Crastinator
Came across this story: https://news.sky.com/story/stormzy-should-replace-mozart-in-uk-music-classrooms-study-says-11725859

National charity Youth Music has suggested that Stormzy should replace Mozart in modern curriculums, as well as introducing other types of modern music (Grime & Rap from the sounds of it).

I personally think that modernisation would be good, but Grime, Rap, Trap, Techno, House, etc aren't the answer. Students need something rich in theory to dig into, such as Film Music or Jazz.

What do you think?
Click to read more...
 
KallumS said:
Came across this story: https://news.sky.com/story/stormzy-should-replace-mozart-in-uk-music-classrooms-study-says-11725859

National charity Youth Music has suggested that Stormzy should replace Mozart in modern curriculums, as well as introducing other types of modern music (Grime & Rap from the sounds of it).

I personally think that modernisation would be good, but Grime, Rap, Trap, Techno, House, etc aren't the answer. Students need something rich in theory to dig into, such as Film Music or Jazz.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

They already cover those styles (albeit superficially). The drive here is to appeal to kids who have switched off from learning.

Unfortunately, education is in a poor state in the UK with schools excluding kids with problems just so they can drive up their performance targets and the thirst for arts dangerously drying up. Encouraging kids to express themselves via their favourite style of music is a really good idea on many levels.
 
Gerbil said:
They already cover those styles (albeit superficially). The drive here is to appeal to kids who have switched off from learning.

Unfortunately, education is in a poor state in the UK with schools excluding kids with problems just so they can drive up their performance targets and the thirst for arts dangerously drying up. Encouraging kids to express themselves via their favourite style of music is a really good idea on many levels.
Click to expand...

But what about the kids that aren't switched off from learning, could this potentially switch them off?

I agree about kids expressing themselves via their favourite style of music, but Rap/ Grime is not everyone's favourite style of music. What if a kid likes Mozart? Or Metal?

I just don't see what can be taught with a Stormzy song. Rhythm, I guess, and lyrics, but certainly not orchestration, counterpoint, harmony, etc.
 
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This made my morning. Idiotic.

But whatever, that's the state of...uh, music today.

Instead of replacing Mozart, how about simply starting a class for (forgot his name already...if it's a he).

Or...I dunno, I throw my hands up.
 
Don't mind me, I can't name a single song by Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Half Cent, Dippy, Usher...don't want to. Same old stuff with a younger face and apropos fashion sense/video.
 
poetd said:
There's some good in there Parsifal666. It's not all terrible.

However, moving classes to Stormzy over Mozart though is more about moving from studying Music to studying Modern Culture - which aren't the same things.

Both should be taught imo, but I realise most kids today will never play an instrument nor have any interest in one unless it's connected to a PS4 and has buttons instead of strings.
So I get the idea to move to Culture over Music, but then the problem is - name me one school that is up to date with Modern Culture more than any normal child who's been raised by Google and Facebook inc.
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Yeah, exactly. These attempts to be more in line with contemporary and youngster culture, and attract the youth with phony and shallow affirmations of their current interests are always so ridiculous. It reminds me of those pathetic church and religious type's campaigns to show kids that God is cool too.

Music is music. Whether a (post)millenial idiot is interested in it or not. You can't chase/stay on top of youth culture. It changes every 2 months. You go out there thiking you're cool because you're able to pronounce "Skrillex" right and they laugh at you like you're the biggest moron ever and "so 2014".

There's a reason why some things are unfading and have stood the test of time. Education and culture should focus on that.
 
I don't think they're advocating removing musical styles will be excluded but rather making sure that the net is cast wider. Like I said, education is in a bad place here and anything that can keep pupils in school and engaged is worth pursuing.

I'm no fan or rap or grime but I've got to say that some of you guys come across as philistines.
 
Jimmy Hellfire said:
Yeah, exactly. These attempts to be more in line with contemporary and youngster culture, and attract the youth with phony and shallow affirmations of their current interests are always so ridiculous. It reminds me of those pathetic church and religious type's campaigns to show kids that God is cool too.

Music is music. Whether a (post)millenial idiot is interested in it or not. You can't chase/stay on top of youth culture. It changes every 2 months. You go out there thiking you're cool because you're able to pronounce "Skrillex" right and they laugh at you like you're the biggest moron ever and "so 2014".

There's a reason why some things are unfading and have stood the test of time. Education and culture should focus on that.
Click to expand...

This is partly about helping troubled inner-city teenagers, frequently from broken homes, many of whom seem to get sucked up into county lines drug rings and what not (you'll need to do a bit of research on that).
 
Gerbil said:
This is partly about helping troubled inner-city teenagers, frequently from broken homes, many of whom seem to get sucked up into county lines drug rings and what not (you'll need to do a bit of research on that).
Click to expand...

Well whatever. It's not relevant to the discussion. Programs for troubled youth are one thing, musical education another. Rap still sucks and faking acknowledgement of youth culture is still a fool's errand.
 
Gerbil said:
some of you guys come across as philistines.
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Cracking up. You come across like Warner Bros. cartoon. No offense, it's just the way you worded it.

Most of the music I hear today sounds like it was made by Philistines, so I guess we fit right in.
 
Music is organized sound, calling a genre you might not like non music is a contradiction in terms.
I see no need to exclude anything.
Imagine the challenge of scoring those Zippered Hit hats and Deep Bass Glides.

FWIW I’m classically trained, but jazz and all other genres I choose to learn because it wasn’t available.
I could teach a class myself saving people days and weeks of time.
How to use half speed apps for transcribing solos, etc.

Call it Woodshedding # 101.
 
it is true that music simply needs to move people, but the topic is music education. And removing Mozart, or any of the classics would be a mistake.

Turning students off from music? Are they kidding? When I was a student the primary focus in music class was the classics, with some attention paid to jazz, big band, and (dare I say it?) even a moment or two on pop.

That didn't turn us off. We still started bands in garages, and we still enjoyed music classes.

When we hit junior high they even introduced guitar classes - these were only once a week, while regular music class was three times a week. Still, pretty progressive<G>!

In high school things really went crazy - we had a jazz band for which one could audition. We had an orchestra, we had a concert band, a marching band, and even pit bands. We also had a concert choir and an elite choir. Maybe competition wasn'f fierce, but it was there<G>!

I have no problem with presenting more styles, including RAP, Techno, whatever, I do have a big problem with getting rid of Mozart.
 
I heard this on Classic FM this morning, so you can imagine their feeling.

I mentioned classical music at work, it was met with groans and "here he is, dusty old instrument farty pants"
I left it an hour... played Game of Thrones, the HZ "Time" on the laptop. Not one moan.

Schools need to change their approach, not our musical geniuses.
 
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