Jame M. Hernane Jr.

July

15, 2016
MM
Ethnomusicology

Music Education and Ethnomusicology (Bruno Nettl)

In this book, I learned that ISME or the International Society for Music
Education recommended that each system of music education should include three
components. First is the study of the western classical music. Second is the study of
local music traditions. And lastly is to know the music of the rest of the world. These
three components are really important for the growth and development not only to
music students but also to each and every individual. Every person should be given
the opportunity to study and appreciate music and they must receive the proper
music education. And that is where we, music teachers, must do our jobs to raise
the music education in our own country.
Ethnomusicology is looking at the worlds music. Every human being is
distinct. Same as every country has its own diverse kind of music. The author said
that ethnomusicology is like a history with very interesting narrative. That is why
the world of music is very broad same as the minds of every person which is full of
endless imaginations. The issue now, in this wide coverage of music from different
tribes and races, is the authenticity and tradition. Because of the insufficient
technology before and also many years had passed, some of the music before is
hard to trace and to determine their authenticity. We may not know that it could be
from the other tribes passed down to neighbouring groups and made some
alterations. But even if authenticity is being questioned to some music, it is still a
given fact that music is ageless and shows no boundaries.
The big challenge now, and for next generations to come, is focused on the
music educators. I strongly believe that a teacher is accountable for every student
outcome. As they say, there is no bad student but only a bad teacher. It is our duty
to feed the minds of our students. It is also our responsibility to give life to our own
tribal music and make sure that it will live on not only for the next years to come
but also for the next generations. We must not only focus on western music but we
must also appreciate our own culture, our own music. Other countries have their
own music and it is also our job to make our students be aware of those different
kinds of music. But despite the differences of music from other countries, we must
put it in our minds and in our hearts that every music is equal.