Yvonne Michelle Harris January 30 at 6:52pm
Carlene you are wonderful!!
Thank you responding and so quickly.
So in High School students are exposed to the Arts - dance, music etc. Oh yes I remember Festival - when the schools would perform against each other. It used to be so hot in the place while we waited our turn.
So music is taught to the entire class - not singing class but music class?? Thats good - so they get exposed to the musical instruments even though there is a shortage of the instruments. Dance is taught as well - thats excellent. Creative dance was just an example, but goodness knows that the children do not need to learn how to dance to reggae in school, they get that from TV and everywhere. Folk dance is very cultural.
So, there are Early Childhood Learning Centers, then Primary Schools, and then Secondary Schools. It is at the Secondary school level that the students are introduced to music and dance, as well as art and craft - where art is painting, sketching etc. Am I correct?
The reason I am asking is that some time ago there was a debate on FB regarding the fact that the students were not taught the Arts in the everyday curriculum of the schools. I interjected the opinion that if one was born with a musical talent for playing the piano for instance, yet not exposed to the piano, then how would he/she realize their aptitude and then factor that into their career choice at the appropriate time? In a perfect world, Primary school level or even at the Early Childhood Learning Centers, an exposure to the basic musical instruments, the basic types of dance, singing, arts and craft, (and I am racking my brain here) etc . etc. would allow each child to like or dislike the subject. Of course, this would mean that there would have to be a sufficient number of pianos, saxaphones, drums etc, so that each class could be divided into groups, and for a period of time each group worked with one particular set of instruments, and then rotated through to another set after the established period of time. However, it is obvious that a sufficient amount of instruments would need to be available in each of the primary schools and/or Early Childhood Learning Center. Obviously, teachers who know how to use these instruments would also be a necessity. It is good news to learn that there is some exposure made in the high schools.
I did form a group, and the primary goal of this group was to brainstorm, and then act upon the results of the brainstorming effort, and see how to get more exposure for the children. I really thought I had invited you to the group, but I may not have, as we may not have cybermet and cybertalked yet. I am going to send you an invitation, and you can see where the initial plans began. There was a nice turn out of 186 members, and apart from a suggestion of a holistic approach, and the announcement of an upcoming opening of an Arts Center in Trelawny, Yvonne made suggestions, appeals for suggestions, wrote a couple of blog entries, and asked people to blog, and then Yvonne felt so badly for Yvonne that she wrote some more ideas so that Yvonne could pick the best of Yvonne's ideas. You see where my sarcasm is going. Finally I thought that if I could get an idea of what if any of these types of classes were taught, and if so at what level, I would have a starting point. I should have just emailed you a long time ago.
:-) . If it is fine with you, I would like to post these messages between us to the wall of the group. There is one gentleman I spoke with yesterday who was very enthusiastic about the general concept, and his ideas were actually based on what one of the main problems that you point out, that being the shortage of musical instruments.
I know you already have an immense amount on your plate, but I am still going to shamelessly invite you to the group, and hope that you can help with some guidance as you have experience gained from your personal donations and efforts. Your almost immediate and informative response today is incredible, and refreshing. Clearly, the initial and primary objective of the group's focus should be adapted somewhat, as somehow through a breakdown in communication perhaps, the concern that the students were not being exposed to the Arts at all is not an accurate one. If the students were exposed at an earlier age that would be ideal, but I have yet to find Utopia. I believe that here in the US the students have to do at least one semester of "band" where they literally try out the instruments, and then make their choice and spend the rest of the semester learning to play the instrument. They are about 12 or 13 so that is around the same age. In some public schools, there has been more funding, or the school has been the recipient of large donations, and the children do start a little younger with their musical exposure.
Carlene, without putting you on the spot (gallantly said as I put you on the spot) what do you think is the biggest hurdle or problem right now in the public school systems in Jamaica, as far as the students being exposed to as much of the Arts as possible? I am asking this so that we can have another brainstorming session (smile) this time with at least two more attendees, as to what direction we could focus this group to benefit the children in the schools, perhaps with the priority of starting with the Easy Childhood Centers? I know that this group is ready to go, and will be chomping at the bit once we have a refocused direction, have a plan of action, and have specifically detailed directives that they can work at so that everyone can contribute to this effort. Otherwise, why would they have signed up? The wood just needs to be gathered as well as the decision to be made as to what type of fire we are having, and then once the fire is lit, and a specified call to action is made, the response and results are going to be magnificent.
What immediately comes to mind, and it does so because of your commitment, personal efforts, and personal donations that helped students from a particular school district get what they needed to attend school, is perhaps selecting one school or Early Childhood Center at a time, and doing whatever is necessary to attain the goals determined by our brainstorming session.
Carlene, again thank you so much for your help and information. I am hoping you will join the group, and by the same token, I know your resources of time and effort etc are already widely spread, so I am hoping that you will provide guidance and rein us in when we are galloping (smile) in the wrong direction.
God Bless you!
Warmest regards,
Yvonne Michelle Harris
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