The Long Line
http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html
This lecture focuses on classical music and developing an appreciation for it. Benjamin Zander talks about the misconception about the four groups of people. It is widely believed that the first category is composed of those who love classical music, the second doesn’t mind it, the third don’t care for it, and the fourth claims to be tone deaf. Zander starts to deconstruct this by saying that there is no such thing as being tone deaf. He claims that there is really only one category: those that love classical music. Most people just haven’t realized it yet. He helps the audience to better understand the music by drawing attention to the impulses placed upon the song by a beginning learner or an unskilled musician. He explains that the numbers of impulses are reduced with each year of piano study. He takes the audience through a Chopin piece, emphasizing the importance of playing a piece in one impulse, or as he says, “it’s about the long line.”
This video helped me to appreciate classical music more. As a person who has not had much exposure to classical music, I don’t often think about it. Benjamin Zander was able to make the topic interesting and to make me think about the qualities that make musical pieces enjoyable. The way that he talked about making classical music accessible was what had the greatest impression upon me. He asks, “who are we being as we go around in the world.”
This sentiment about making music accessible and spreading positivity is where I found the greatest connection to the field of education. He acknowledges that a large part of the conductor and musician is to make the music relevant to the audience. His questions apply equally to education. He asks, “who am I being if my audience’s eyes are not shining?” “Who am I being if my children’s eye’s are not shining?” It is the job of the teacher to make learning come alive for their students and to embrace the goal of facilitating learning in a way that makes the pupil’s eye’s shine.
I would highly recommend this TED Talk to any person, not just future teachers. It articulates a way to better understand classical music and the importance of having integrity and inspiration in our everyday lives. Not to mention, Benjamin Zander is a man with a great zest for life. He is an inspiration himself.