On Sunday, I went to a music festival at the elementary school to which my girlfriend’s daughter goes. Since Mimata (the daughter in question) is only 7, I wasn’t expecting much, having made similar “performances” myself as that age. I have to say I was mightily impressed. Thirty seven-year olds played an amazing piece of music on their pianicas (kind of a keyboard instrument that you blow into). I mean, the piece of music may have been basic, but they were note-perfect, and all in time with each other.
Now, I have no musically ability whatsoever and never have done. Schools in England seem to treat music as completely unimportant, and the idea that kids can play music instead of just generally making a racket seems overlooked. Yes, practice takes time, and the Japanese may be a bit masochistic when it comes to practicing, but it really pays off. Japanese kids are taught how to read music from age six, are required to have a pianica for school music lessons, and have a school performance each year. Someone like me, for whom written music is just a collection of dots and squiggles, is an anathema to any Japanese ten-year old. Everyone, whether gifted or not, played along with the rest of their class. No-one made any big mistakes, no one refused to play.
The Japanese try to build the group ethic up from very young. If you make mistakes or don’t try then you are not simply letting yourself down, but also your group (or class, or family etc), so these kids practice like crazy, not just for their own benefit, but also to avoid the shame of letting down their classmates. Though the group mentality has its downside (which we will surely merits its own post sometime), it is mightily impressive to hear the sixth grade (twelve year olds) play the Marsellaise with the all the pomp and vigour that would make them right at home at the Last Night of the Proms, without missing one note or beat.
The British school system could learn a lot.
Posted by mostlyrawfish 