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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2017 11:46:59 GMT
Autumn is the admin this week  Original Posts by Thursday at 11:59 pm Two peer posts by the start of class on Monday |
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Post by Autumn Painter on Dec 10, 2017 14:35:44 GMT
El Sistema Kenya music program (: El Sistema is a music program created to give hope to children in the public Kenyan education system. The program is said to play a role in psychological development, academic performance, and social development. It is a nonprofit organization which is hoping to expand in the near future. Money and instruments can be donated, there is a need for music teachers willing to teach in Kenya as well. Current News Article: www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/arts/music/music-el-sistema-kenya.html Contextualization Articles: El Sistema Official Page: www.elsistemakenya.org/About El Sistema Kenya: History of El Sistema Venezuela: www.elsistemacolorado.org/our-program/el-sistema-history/Discussion Questions: 1. Predict: Will these music programs expand and spread to different areas in East Africa? 2. Does music impact your academic performance? 3. Do you think music education plays a role in psychological development? explain. 4. In your opinion, does this program effectively create social change through music? If so, how? 5. Does El Sistema create progress, stability, or even help avoid turmoil in Kenya? 6. Does the relationship between Kenya and the volunteers create a lasting impact socially, economically, or politically on a larger scale? |
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Post by Alex Aspinall on Dec 13, 2017 13:17:22 GMT
Hopefully these music programs do spread across East Africa, as well as more volunteer and charity programs. I think its safe to say that music has a recorded impact on academics, as well as evidence supporting that learning how to play an instrument is often healthy for a child. I do think that music plays a role in a child's psychological development, studies have shown children who are more musically inclined often do better in school. Well due to reading the article I'd say it is causing a social change, at least in this small community, as the parents and teachers who thought it was pointless now think its great. I don't know about creating stability in the nation of Kenya, but I'd say its a great start for a beneficial cultural exchange. I do believe the volunteers are creating a lasting impact, they're showing Kenyans that westerners care and will try to help.
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Post by DEREK VANDYKE on Dec 13, 2017 16:49:57 GMT
El Sistema seems like a brilliant idea for all countries and not just poor areas. I think this could become a world wide move for all students. There are just some complications that have to be solved first. As said in the New York Times article coming up with the instruments is a challenge because not just everyone has a violin laying around. Also El Sistema is not a company so there is no funds for this program taking place. If this was more of a real company and advertised I could see this really taking off and helping lots of kids in many ways like finding a new hobby or just keeping them out of trouble. As this movement grows they should work on more of a variety of instruments but this poses another problem. The next problem is who is going to teach them there would have to be payed teachers brought in to teach the students how to play because some instruments are quite complicated to play. I also thought it was cool how some of these communities were skeptical on this because they never have heard or seen a violin played before. It just shows how cultures differ. I feel that after time this movement will spread through beyond Kenya and the communities will learn to enjoy new sounds and instruments. Also the psychological aspect of this I do not know if it is true but it cant hurt anyone to play the violin and also I have heard that learning to play an instrument can increase your math abilities. I am not sure about all educational topics but math scores are typically higher for regular instrument players. I do feel this movement will take off in the near future. Do you think there will be a company, organization, nonprofit, etc.... to take this as a business opportunity and take initiative of this movement and make this program better?  |
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Post by Autumn Painter on Dec 13, 2017 20:24:09 GMT
In the article, it mentions how El Sistema Kenya got its name from the El Sistema music program in Venezuela. This brings hope for expansion of the program to different areas. It is stated that the program in Venezuela developed into a social program that helps disadvantaged children and has also inspired music educators globally. I would like to hope that music educators take that inspiration and harness it, to expand programs such as this to East Africa and many places all around the world. As a future music educator (hopefully), I strongly believe music not only improves academic performance, but plays a role in social environments as well. Music provides hope, which can lead to stability in social environments and on a larger level as well. The students at Kawangware live in slums, as described in the article. This program is keeping them off the streets. Asha Ibrahim is amazed by the changes which have resulted from this program. She is surprised how something so positive can happen in a place so ordinary. Sure, El Sistema has created stability on a lower level in a small area, but if hope to keep pushing through isn't present, how can people find the motivation to come together to create stability on a larger level? Karis Crawford said her main inspiration and motivation came from seeing how the Kenyan education did not give much hope to children for their future. If this program results in progress within the classroom, can progress in the classroom lead to progress on a larger level?
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Post by Autumn Painter on Dec 13, 2017 20:43:56 GMT
@derek
Nice response Derek. I totally agree, its crazy how much our cultures differ and how many more opportunities we have and don't even realize. To answer your question, unfortunately, I don't think an organization or business of some sort will take initiative to make this program better. However, I do think if it was made known, someone would definitely help support the program. It seems as if news is only focused on negative topics rather than bringing the slightest hope to the world with an inspiring story. It seems like businesses only care about raking in the dough. I don't think they would want to genuinely help if there wasn't something in it for themselves. Not all businesses are selfish, but a majority are. I think this program could really sprout if an inspired individual took initiative to really help out.
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Post by Autumn Painter on Dec 13, 2017 20:54:09 GMT
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Post by Sarah Shumaker on Dec 14, 2017 6:51:16 GMT
Based on the fact that this program originally started in Venezuela, I would say that its fairly reasonable to assume this program will spread to other parts of Eastern Africa. Music is a great way for people to express themselves, and for these children, it is really all they have as their home lives are horrible. I'm not sure if music has a direct impact on education because everyone is different and not everyone that plays music does well in school, just like everyone that doesn't play music does not do bad in school. At a young age, exposure to music can definitely increase psychological development as it jump starts learning and opens new windows. I think music is a strong tool in bringing people together and creating happiness no matter the situation. The volunteers are taking time out of their days to help spread the joy of music to underprivileged kids, which says a lot about the music community in general. This program definitely creates progress in trying to better the lives of the community. The impact this program will leave on the kids will change them and their families forever. In the first article a student mentioned that before they joined the program, their parents did not understand the point. Now that their child is a student in the program, they fully understand and like the idea of music being taught to the children of East Africa.
Should more programs like this be available around the world in places like Haiti, where they are underprivileged, or should funding go towards fixing other things first?
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Post by Nick Newman on Dec 14, 2017 8:25:24 GMT
To start, i have never heard of El Sistema. After reading the articles, various opinions can be made about how effective this music program can really be. Personally, I think the program will have some success in getting teachers in Kenya, but not as successful as when the program was in Venezuela. There is usually a negative stereotype associated with Africa. People are scared of disease, lawlessness, and maybe just a place away from home. However, I do believe this is a great program for kids without stability in their home. Getting the necessary materials to East Africa may be a challenge. El Sistema is a non-profit organization, meaning they rely heavily on donations. I can see the organization having a rough time getting violins because although a popular instrument, how many people have a spare violin laying around. Also, funding may be a problem. To find a teacher, fly them over, and make sure they are taken care of sounds like a pretty hefty task. Personally, I do believe music helps me academically. When doing homework, listening to music really helps me get focused and tune out everything else. I never thought music help psychological development until reading about El Sistema. The article talked about the success it had in Venezuela. The installation of 7 region centers lead to 2 million people getting educated in El Sistema. It had a direct correlation with increased school attendance and less juvenile delinquency. This program has a good chance of creating stability in Kenya if the community can get behind it. If the kids really embrace it, it will be a huge positive. Not only will they be learning music, but they will be showing it off to the community. If the community really enjoys it, they will be more willing to participate if they were on the fence before. The community can look forward to the concerts, which would be a huge positive.
What would happen to the program if a volunteer got caught up in tribe warfare and ended up dying?
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Post by Nick Newman on Dec 14, 2017 8:29:50 GMT
@derek
Derek, great response. I do feel like eventually this non profit will fall under the radar of a big corporation who is willing to donate some money to help their cause
@sarah
Sarah, super response. You pose a great question. I think it all depends on who takes action first. The viewpoints of the organization that wants to make a change will help how they see fit.
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Post by Alex Aspinall on Dec 14, 2017 15:58:32 GMT
@nick, good point. i hadn't thought about the potential drop in juvenile delinquency. if any program would straighten them out in a non violent way its this one.
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Post by Mr. Williams on Dec 14, 2017 17:20:08 GMT
El sistema sounds like a very fun, interesting, and beneficial program for all the kids down in Africa. It says in the article The Sound of Music Through El Sistema Kenya That some parents in the area thought it was a stupid idea but after a while it started to affect their children dramatically causing the children to look forward to this program 3 times a week for 2 hours each session. This program is changing the attitudes of the children which will give the children faith and keep them always happy that’s why they are expanding to Juja which is about 18 from Nairobi where they originally started so they can help other children around. This program looks it is really benefiting the children and they should try to expand their program all over the world because they can help a lot more people and they could possibly make some money out of it. Also it may persuade other music tutors to join and help people all around instead of them having to travel far away from their families to do a good deed even though it maybe worth it. This program seems like it helps the student academic performance because students are excited to learn about the instrument at every session making it fun for them to learn and causing them to want to learn more. In the article The Sound of Music Through El Sistema Kenya it says that “Their energy, their commitment, interest and growth are what keep me going” meaning that this program is influencing the children and the children influence the tutor. To every good thing there is always a few problems and that leads to money because this is a donation program which draws people away because the people in today’s world are greedy and only want money. So this program may expand and help a lot of people but they need to go out and find sponsors and etc to help them fund this cause. So all it takes is a few people to commit and their program may take off.
If this program gets a lot of sponsors do you think people will help make it take of or still sit back and watch as a few people influence the lives of others?
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Post by Mr. Williams on Dec 14, 2017 17:26:15 GMT
@derek Good question but I think people will start to realize the effect they are doing to these children and people will start sponsoring them and etc to make this program take off. @nick Great question I really don't know what would happen I think they would move to a new location or stay and think it was just one small mistake and blow it off. |
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Post by Wolinski on Dec 15, 2017 0:09:06 GMT
Music for me is a big part of my life. While I don't play an instrument now, I did in 5th and 6th grade. It is a wonderful thing for everyone to be able to learn and experience making music themselves. For children in underprivileged areas such as Kenya and Venezuela, it can be a way to teach patience, discipline, and responsibility. I'd imagine a lot of these kids don't have a phone to listen to music with so playing it may be the only way they can hear it. It can bring together communities and evolve their culture beyond what they're used to. In my opinion, it's not a matter of if it will spread, it's just how quickly. The program has incredibly good intentions and can do a lot for communities it is involved in but there is only a select group of people who one teach a variety of instruments and two are willing to leave their lives in their home country to travel to Africa. The most imperative part of all this is getting these countries to become self sufficient with the program. It follows the idea of "give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime". If the teachers go there just to teach the children, they aren't helping a whole lot. If they go and teach the parents and teachers as well, it will have a much greater impact.
What is the best way to get this idea to stick into African culture?
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Post by Alex Aspinall on Dec 15, 2017 0:58:10 GMT
@wolinski
I agree that these children learning how to play and make music is a good thing, in fact I think this program and others like it could serve to make a more developed culture in Kenya, thus helping Kenya become a better country.
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