Learning something more than Music

Knowing some of the compositions by Murray Schafer, I am excited to read this article to know
more about other peoples opinion towards his new style of composition and education. His
pedagogy for music education is related to most of the readings, about teaching music nowadays, I
did before. Like his compositions, the aim for him to teach music is to raise peoples social and
environmental awareness.

Replying to the question Is Murray Schafers Creative Music Education Relevant in the 21st
Century?, Rutherford points out that Murray Schafers teaching methods were considered
revolutionary in the 1960s, yet many of his approaches are now components of 21st century
education strategies that are based on contemporary research into human learning and music
education. (P.5) Related to many readings about changes and elements of contemporary aim and of
music education, Schafers music education paradigm are to encourage students creativity and
heighten their listening skills. (P.2) Similar ideas are introduced in music education nowadays, like
teaching creativity in a creative way and informal learning. These all implies Schafers idea of
mutual learning.

Life-long learning is required in music education, in both roles of being teachers and students.
Students are learning from teachers and teachers are learning from their students at the same time,
in an interactive classroom environment. Teachers can learn from students by their unique thoughts.
As students are unique individuals, they have their own thoughts through learning and personal
developments. Students have their own thoughts and ideas and sometimes these ideas are not as the
teacher had thought of. Therefore, teachers can learn from students when they guiding students to
be more critical in thinking and organising their thoughts.

In the article, Rutherford mentioned Schafer fostered critical thinking and problem solving in
learners. And Schafers way of teaching music rises students attention to environmental and social
issues, leading to an increase in their social awareness.(P.2) That indicates music education is not
only a study of how to play an instrument or to read the notations correctly, teachers are given an
opportunity to demonstrate something more the world around students. Some may question how
would drawing students attention to their surrounding is related to music education. The answer is
that music is surround us and music can illustrate the environment around us as well. Therefore, I
do agree with Rutherford that Schafers creative music is relevant to 21st century because the
elements in his pedagogy have become significant elements in contemporary music education and it
is an effective way to promote life-long learning in music because people tend to know more about
themselves and society more.

Citation: Rutherford, S. (2014). Is Murray Schafer's creative music education relevant in the 21st
century? Canadian Music Educator / Musicien Educateur Au Canada,, 55(3), 16-20. Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1549546339?accountid=15115