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early childhood education

agents in post-Civil-War United States is undeniable.

Current Efforts – Getting it Right

As we attend workshops by Soojin Kim Ritterling, Beatrice Aguilar or Alena Holmes demonstrating musical traditions from South Korea, Mexico or Russia, we are witnessing individuals sharing more than their music. They are sharing them- selves. On the surface they demonstrate a broad range of less familiar, but valuable, meters and tonalities, styles, games and dances and instruments. We are enriched because, ultimately, experiencing the mu- sic of other cultures helps us to understand our own music and culture even better.

More importantly, though, we can demon- strate to our students how to truly value differences. As important as Russian, Korean and Hispanic music might be, the musical traditions provide even more important information about the people themselves. When we witness a cultural musical presentation, we want to be sure to take home the techniques, songs, dances and instrumental traditions. But most importantly, note the expressions on the faces of the presenters as they share with us. Take home the heart.

But there is another side to the equation.

One Final Question

Our children can connect with other important musical cultures within their own families. Grandparents and great grandparents possess a rich heritage, and are often thrilled to be asked to share. Witness the delight on elderly faces as their children’s children’s children ask them about, or try to recreate, the songs, chants, games and musical events of years long passed.

Family and community heritage impacts every child in the most personal ways, helping children to know both who they are, and why. When music helps children to understand their own hearts, they be- come better equipped to assimilate the richer truths about others.

Wisconsin School Musician

19

It is sometimes easier to try to understand those living a half-world away than to try to understand those living a half-block away. Ultimately, it is not only music’s purpose to help us learn about who we, and others, are. Even more importantly, it is music’s great purpose to help us under- stand, “Who we are becoming?”

And that is the greatest question of all.

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