Student Focus Group #5
Takeaways
In vocal music at least, performing in languages you don't know reflects a cultural identity that is not your own. That includes any time you sing a German or French or Italian piece -- singers do this all the time and it shouldn't be scary! Just do the right amount of preparatory work and perform when you feel educated enough.
That said, such preparation should not be restricted to vocal music. Instrumentalists in the group talked about the different stylistic choices they need to make when performing music from different backgrounds -- everyone can benefit from learning more about performance practice and the history behind their musical selections.
Students are able to influence school policy more significantly than they may expect. One student created an entirely new unit within their diction class because they wanted an unrepresented language to be included. The professor didn't know anything about the language, so the student did a lot of research, created the educational materials, and now the class will be taught with that language's diction rules as a full unit. Conductors will often program specific composers or genres of music if students ask.
Of course, students need to feel comfortable asking too. Ideally, professors don't have to be asked to do such things -- they create a space where such conversations are comfortable and normal. Just because students CAN effect change, they shouldn't bear the weight of all of it.
Music by Composers of Color