Classical Music, or just Music Literacy, Elitist? Is being educated elitist?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/04/an_education_in_classical_musi.html


Creating a Musical Culture: Educated people would read vocal music in the Renaisannce. They were usually the aristocratic or monied merchant people. Later in history, enlightened leaders sought to educate the masses. Classical music was important to the history of nation-building and the new conscienceness of national identity. And vocal music reading was considered important to universal citizenship.

Is this reaction against music notation and Europe's cultural history, "Classical" music, etc. a phase we must pass through?

Simple Music is best.

The two note minor third melodies are the best place to start teaching toddlers. Simply play the recording, and show the two hand signs, for one minute. It is best if the mother or father do this, but the preschool teacher can do it as well.

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/track3Teach.html

Later, the same two hand signs can show that the minor third is 'movable', that is, transposable, by a perfect fourth. You don't explain it, you just play the recording and show it, just now and then, not for more than a few minutes at a time.

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/kindergartner.html

Then you do some silly fun stuff (Major Triad three-note melodies that prepare them for reading music in first grade):

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/kindergartenlessons.html

Why Da-di songs will teach music better........

http://www.geocities.com/scottmccln/LearningSequence1.html

What I am Trying to do:

I am trying to get funding to publish and record music education materials to be used from birth:

http://www.geocities.com/scottmccln/

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/what_I_am_trying_to_do.html

sample audio clips with sheet music on these sites:

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/track1Teach.html

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/track3Teach.html

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/track27Teach.html


Here are some of the projects I hope to get funded and tested in the field:

http://www.angelfire.com/mac/mcclain/