The Pop/Contemporary Music Divide
May 15th, 2006 by jabramo
Greg Sandow, on his blog talks about the lack of talking at contemporary music concerts. Performers, composers and conductors very rarely connect to their audience. With the complexity often associated with contemporary music, many lay-listeners feel confused and alienated. He also has a link to a music festival that links pop music and new classical music. Composers like Frank Zappa and John Zorn bridge the classical/pop divide and it makes me question the often-times arbitrariness of genres. How do we, as educators, use the music they are familiar with to make connections to music that is “strange and unfamiliar?”
Kevin Gallagher, a noted classical guitarist who is equally amazing playing electric guitar, writes new music for rock instruments and performs his works with Electirc Kompany, a virtuosic group that has a good rapport with the audience at reasonably priced concerts. Check them out on May 21. http://www.guitar69.com/concerts.htm
Being a music teacher who adores contemporary classical music and pop music, I have considered your questions a great deal. Sometimes, though, in our take a great deal for granted. My high school is located in midtown Manhattan and houses students from all five boroughs. With that type of diversity represented, I find it is almost impossible to reach consensus on music they agree upon as familiar. However, when I present 20th Century, or rather 21st Century classical music, they are excited to have access to a new style of music. I have found that very few of them consider strange or beyond their reach.
Sorry, Joe, I realized I made a typo and I wasn’t allowed to edit. New to this whole posting thing:)
In the second sentence, I was attempting to say that when music teachers teach popular music, they make assumptions about student preferences that are naive or inaccurate. Thanks!