Music as a Language
Music as a Language is talk by musician Victor Wooten given at TEDxGabriolaIsland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zvjW9arAZ0
Victor Wooten shares how his experience of learning English and learning music are similar. In particular, you're not required to first learn an instrument or music theory before you can enjoy or explore music. This reminds me of Paul Lockhart's essay A Mathematician's Lament, in which Paul Lockhart actually uses music education as an analogy. 1
A few notable quotes: 1
- No one says, "I can't talk to you until-- you got to go over there. When you're older, then I can speak to you." That doesn't happen. No one tells you what you have to say. You're not made to sit in a corner and practice. You're never even corrected when you're wrong.
- It wasn't about learning the instrument first; who cares about the instrument you talk with? It's about what you have to say.
- A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. Give them the first lesson, the smile goes away. And, a lot of the times, you have to work your whole musical life to get that smile back. As teachers, we can keep that smile if we approach it the right way. And I say approach it like a language: Allow the student to keep the freedom.
- If I use my greatness in the right way, it can help others rise up quickly.