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Q: Please describe some examples (things you have personally witnessed) that show how music can contribute to civic engagement among young people. For instance, how through music do young people become more involved in improving their community, or more socially engaged and politically active, or concerned about global challenges?

Music can provide various avenues for the exploration of social and political issues. Thoroughly listening to the lyrics of a song that discusses socio-economic issues might prompt the young listener to think about their own circumstances and what could be the possible avenues of how they themselves could help to “make the world a better place”. When it comes to classical music there is a positive tendency amongst young conservatory students showing interest in growing their repertoire by choosing to program music written by composers from historically underrepresented communities, thus little by little expanding the horizon of what their audiences might consider to be “classical music”.

Q: Please describe examples from conversations among young people (things you have personally observed) that show some of the different ways they discuss music.

The ability to describe music partially depends on age, social situation and the language tools young people have. In a classroom setting, when asked to describe an instrumental piece of music, students might use technical terms such as describing the register, dynamics, instruments and so forth, all being tools taught by teachers. But the most beautiful observations are prompted by first-hand emotional reactions, such as using adjectives to describe a scene from a movie that a particular piece of music reminds them of. Hearing such observations can really open up the minds of music instructors as well and inspire reconsideration of the ways some of their curriculum is presented.

Q: Based on what you have seen, how do such conversations change as young people mature (for instance, ages 15-17; 18-20; 21-25)?

Over time the language used to talk about music tends to get more sophisticated as young people develop a richer pool of cultural references.

Q: Based on your experience, have discussions of music and society among young people generally changed across years due to different historical conditions? If so, how and why?

With each consecutive year, people become more and more open about discussing their views publicly. The rise of social media has also provided a platform for sharing one’s thoughts and views with an audience that spans beyond their direct family and friends. In today’s age when everyone’s lives are becoming more and more public, it is also easier to hold public figures accountable for their words and actions, which in return, spans more activity amongst young people discussing matters that they might find problematic, such as inconsiderate comments from popular musicians, controversial social causes that a musician might be supporting and so forth.

Q: Do you sense that a shared knowledge of traditional (folk) songs and dances is changing among young people, and if so, how and why?

The beauty of folk songs and oral history in general is that it lives through time, being reborn in a different light with each generation passing it down. There is always a challenge of making that transition smooth and the social settings also might differ – some families/ schools/ afterschool programs are more active in implementing this kind of material than others. Traditions always pose challenges in teaching, but when paired with effective story-telling, folk songs can prove to be a valuable resource in assisting with the exploration of one’s identity. Connecting with one’s roots, learning more about one’s origins and having access to folk songs that are performed by contemporary artists might serve as a valuable tool for that exploration of one’s ever evolving self.

Q: In what ways do you see social media impacting how young people use and communicate about music?

Social media provides a platform to communicate with like-minded people across the world. Through viral content of song sketches, dances and other means, young people can gain a sense of belonging to a community through appreciating similar content.

Q: What kind of new methods in work with young people would be helpful in your work? What should be the purpose of these methods?

The more collaboration and creative application of skill, the better! Some music theory concepts might be hard to grasp, the hardship that might feel like a healthy challenge to some, might feel like a discouraging obstacle to others. Through active application of those newly learned concepts via song-writing, beat creating, and so forth, young people might feel like they have more agency with their newly acquired skill!

July 2021