Malaysian Music Educator Leaves Iowa
...l aspirations, ideologies and philosophies of a country. The goals and objectives of music education on Malaysia are today in an embryonic stage. The goals are based on what the democratically elected government, in consultation with Malaysian educationists, envisage as necessary for the people. The principal present needs pertain to instilling a sense and awareness of patriotism, national unity, the rule of law, moral behavior and preservation of the cultural heritage. These needs must be addressed in music classes as in other areas of education. Ancillary desired outcomes are wise use of leisure time and enjoyment of music. Music study also is expected to enhance students’ academic performance. Of late, concerns of the Islamic population, mainly moral concerns, have been strongly expressed. Music in Malaysian schools is mainly vocal music. “Rote before note” remains the teaching method, although some effort is made to introduce music notation. There is some use of the recorder and percussion instruments. School music instruction leads to performances in annual inter-school competitions as district and state levels and school events such as the annual sports meets. Owing to gross shortage of music teachers, general classroom teachers do most of the music teaching, using “canned music”- cassette tapes of selected songs with accompanying tests prepared and distributed by the Ministry of Education. Apart from some in-service holiday courses, most classroom teachers have little musical experience or expertise. Most (through no fault of their own) function most effectively in switching the cassette player off and on! There are specially trained music educators, however. Two categories exist. First, we have those who, after graduating from high school, take a 3-year teaching training program in music education. A second group of music “specialists” consists of certified teachers with a minimum of five years’ teaching experience in non-music areas who possess some level of musicality and who express an interest in teaching music. If selected, these teachers may take a one-year specialist course in music education. They are then classified as music specialists. To teach classroom music, these teachers are trained in solfege and notation, and learn to play simple chordal accompaniments on the guitar. Probable none of them encounter the names of Kodaly, Orff, or Dalcroze in their courses. However, the Suzuki approach is rapidly gaining recognition among the middle and upper social classes, more as a result of commercial firms marketing Japanese products than of any significant effort of music educators. Teachers learn to teach “actions” songs, simple rounds and canons. They learn to use either the “patterning method” or the “whole method”. In the patterning method, the teacher models each phrase of the song, the children imitating until the teacher deems the phrase sung satisfactorily. In the whole method, the teacher sings (with piano or guitar accompaniment) the song again and again while the children sing along with increasing familiarity (and volume) until the song is learnt. Then, the “action” begins. Actions and games are taught to accompany songs; a typical lesson ends with the students singing songs they request. Clapping, walking, running, skipping, or playing games which bring out the pulse or rhythm of the song are popular “actions”. The success of a lesson is rated by the degree of enjoyment exhibited by the children. Cognitive and aesthetic aspects are neglected. Music instruction is not geared toward cognitive learning; musical literacy is not a major goal. However, the government, envisaging shortcomings in the present music education program, has started sending music educators to Britain and the United States for tertiary music education and exposure to western music programs, It is up to these teachers to bring back ideas for improvement. Generally speaking, government and top educational administrators are quite receptive to criticism if that criticism comes from music educators with tertiary qualifications. This attitude augurs well for the future of music education in Malaysia. At present, much depends on the leadership of foreign-trained music educators and their ability to adapt what they have learned to Malaysian conditions. We cannot be overtly enthusiastic; we cannot exceed the financial constraints or expectations of the Malaysia society. The “moral factor” is a deeply engrained national concern in Malaysia; any efforts to improve music education must take this into account. Adapting the “American Rationale” A principal aim of American general music education is the development of musical literacy and appreciation through a sequential program beginning in early childhood. To impress upon the Malaysian populace the benefits of such a program will take the concerted effort of the government, music educators, and mass media. Malaysians have depended upon the oral traditions for transmitting their folk and popular music for too long. The benefits of learning to read music, to know much music of many cultures and to understand it must be consciously and schematically designed. “Propaganda” is necessary. And it must begin with the music educators. The recent introduction of music education in all the public schools, along with the realization of societal goals – economic stability, peace and cultural identity as a nation – will make knowing about the arts a necessity. What are the messages which I wish to take to Malaysian music educators? Let me present them to you. 1. Malaysian music education must concern itself with the transmission and preservation of the Malaysian cultural heritage. Many young Malaysians seem to be ignoring and/or forgetting their own rich and diverse heritage. This concern is already apparent. For example, the government has begun to sponsor a Pesta Lagu Kanak (Children’s Songs Festival) competition on a national level. Many music educators, however, seem oblivious to the vast repertory of traditional song already “out there”. There is a need for a concerted effort to collect Malaysia...