Okay, you might argue that such a blog entry on the very day that NAEP reading results are released offers quite a skewed measure. I beg to differ. Nevertheless, take a look at the top Google new links for education news, today, May 20, 2010.Will historians write that Americans had become obsessed with test scores leaving little time to consider anything else? New NAEP reading … [Read more...] about Test Obsession Anyone?
Education
The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eleven, Finis
Click here for Part Ten Why am I so intent upon the definitive performance? It should be clear by now that the whole point of the Very Young Composers is to take these works as seriously as we take Beethoven, Mahler, Bartók. Without question, I know that all who have been involved during these last two weeks, not only agree with that philosophy, but have bent over backwards … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eleven, Finis
The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Ten
Click here for Part Nine Five American Pieces At this midpoint of the program, we perform the pieces written by the 'Bridge' students of New York City for their Young Composing friends of Venezuela. Isaac Draper: From New York to Venezuela. Immediately apparent is the driving rhythmic theme, closely chromatic with intensive percussion, giving way to equally intensive, … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Ten
The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Nine
Click here for Part Eight We enter the children's world: Michelle Hernández: The youngest composer, at age eight, has written for her original "dream' assignment" a story so touching and symbolic of the whole, that we have her read it to the audience: Cuento Sobre la Música tells of the magic power of music to bring joy and to change lives. Dani helps Michelle read the … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Nine
The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition: Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eight
Click here for Part Seven Caracas, 17 de Abril As we gather the huge mound of music paper bequeathed to us by these children, I feel that we have been gifted with a beyond-precious trove of artistic diamonds, and that we have on our hands a task of near-impossible dimensions. The mood of celebration lasts long enough to see the children's bus off: Not only have they … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition: Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eight