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Post by Evvy McCullough on Dec 15, 2017 2:31:53 GMT
Its a very warm hearted idea and makes a good attempt at bringing at positive mode to otherwise harsh , sad places . El Sistema is something i never really formally heard of but i have heard snippets about its attempts. It seems like it gives a hopeful bright view to people who may have trouble seeing the bright side in places where life is difficult . Giving young people hope for the future is always a good thing, and seeing that it has had a positive impact on people psychologically and sociologically, It definitely doesn't seem like you can find a downside to it . Programs like these and others that help bring hope to developing countries shows that there are attempts being made to help our fellow man . Responding to Autumns questions I can personally say music affects my daily life, I wake up and i have a set playlist that wakes me up and tries to pull me into a good mood , and tries to also pump me full of energy. Whenever I need to concentrate on academics , when i need to right a paper, or need to focus i put on some soft instrumentals. Its definitely got its benefits and responding to the psychological affects it most definitely can assist people through the day when they need it to plop in their favorite song. Its a sweet article shows alot of good things, and hopefully helps create stronger communities . In response to bringing articles like these , ill call them 'feel good articles' ... does the spread of articles like this make people want to help or give more to those less fortunate?
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Post by Erin Reimers on Dec 15, 2017 4:05:10 GMT
Music is more powerful than one can think. It can be a unifying force for people all across the globe. It is a topic most everyone can relate to. It helps people relax, have fun, and take part in activities. Music is something most everyone should have in their lives. The El Sistama program is helping the children in more ways than one. With including these youths in their program, they offer a route away from the street life and it gives them a positive activity to look forward to. These programs help the children and enrich their lives. As mentioned in the article, “Our students in Kawangware tell us what happens after school without our program and it’s frightening and sad — with our program they keep off the streets and learn new skills that give them hope.” The program of El Sistama, or as it would rather be called an idea, has been around for a couple years and since has spread across the globe and affected many children’s lives. The achievements of this program should stand for how it will be around for years to come. With providing enrichment for the kids of a region it will help in bettering their lives and give them help in changing their negative situations. Even though the changes that occur through this program cannot be seen in the form of statistics or data, it should still go without saying that it helps in bettering these kids’ lives. It also helps in teaching the kids multiple cultures so they can be more open-minded towards other parts of the world. If the program continues on successfully as it has been and more people get acquainted with the program and decide to join, it will surely spread onto other areas of East Africa.
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Post by DEREK VANDYKE on Dec 15, 2017 16:35:21 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? I think they need to advertise the program a little better if they want it to go anywhere.  |
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Post by DEREK VANDYKE on Dec 15, 2017 16:39:04 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? The leaders of this movement need to have statistical proof of this leading to progress. I fell that it will lead to better progress in the classroom but to sway people to donate there needs to be more proof. |
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Post by Wolinski on Dec 17, 2017 1:32:50 GMT
@derek I believe the organization in charge of this program will need to reach out to people with wealth, power or both. If they were to get a someone like Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos even slightly on board, they could do so much more.
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Post by Wolinski on Dec 17, 2017 1:38:41 GMT
@rod you make a good point with it needing just a little bit to really take off. As far as I can see, it is still a relatively unknown program at the moment. With one athlete or celebrity going over and helping out, the program could gather the attention it deserves and start to accomplish the mission to it's full potential.
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Post by Sarah Shumaker on Dec 17, 2017 17:14:58 GMT
@derek I think your response is great. As for the question, I think this program is highly susceptible to big corporations to try and make profit as it is working for a great cause. The founders of this program will probably decline though, because it is not about the money to them.
@chase I agree that music became a huge part of me in 5th and 6th grade as well, so I totally understand where you're coming from. To stick to African culture, I believe they should teach the kids instruments that natives use in order for them to be more relatable.
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