The Day the Music Died

Thursday, August 23rd, 2018     by Debra DuPree Williams     Start the Conversation
by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

If you are of a certain age, you will likely remember this song sung by Don McLean in 1971. Its actual title was American Pie. It refers to the day that rock musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed in a plane crash. After the song came out, that day was referred to as the day the music died.

My husband recently shared an article with me written by Jon Henschen. It appeared in Intellectual Takeout, an online app to which my husband subscribes. The title of the article is The Tragic Decline of Music Literacy (and Quality).

Heartbreaking

If you’ve known me for a while or you’ve been following my blog, you know that I have a couple of degrees in music. One of our sons has his Masters degree in instrumental conducting. Three of our four sons play bassoon, our eldest plays drums and guitar, and they all have beautiful voices. For me, reading this article was heartbreaking.

According to Mr. Henschen, the day the music dies may not be far away. In a recent poll, it was discovered that only about eleven percent of the population says they feel comfortable reading music. When and how did this happen?

Music Education

I’m from the generation in which high school chorus and band were a big deal. You generally did one or the other, and some did both. I chose the choral department because I had been singing all of my life. You’ve read my account of singing with my sister since the age of three.

The little town in which I grew up, Andalusia, Alabama, had outstanding band and choral directors. My brother-in-law was a member of the drumline when Lacey Powell was the band director. I was a member of many choruses and ensembles under the expert direction of Marilyn Jones and later, Charles Hinson. My music education was completed by private piano lessons with Ann Martin and private voice lessons with Sheila Hunt. Then I went away to Birmingham-Southern College where I had the privilege of being a member of Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Hugh Thomas. It was here that I earned my two music degrees.

Reasons for the Decline

So, what is the reason for such a decline in the quality and quantity of musicianship? Well, they are many and varied. Public school music programs have been the recipient of the axe. School officials like to cite budget cuts. Parents seem to prefer that their children participate in sports to the detriment of music. I don’t think any of us are surprised by this. Also, families aren’t purchasing pianos at the same rate as in the early 1900s. Fewer and fewer parents are requiring their children to take music lessons.

While musical literacy is declining, so is the quality of the music being produced these days. All one needs to do is to tune to your local stations. Studies have been done which indicate that tone quality, chord progressions, and even the volume of the music isn’t as pleasing to the ear as in the past. In other words, it’s the same-old stuff. One, four, five, one chord progressions. Of course, without a musical background in which you know what to listen for, you won’t even notice how boring the music is these days. Many of you are probably asking what I mean above by one, four, five, one progressions.

What About the Lyrics?

It isn’t only musical notation that has declined, but the quality of the lyrics currently being produced has dropped dramatically. Thoughts and words are getting shorter with many more repeats. I grew up with the Beatles. Compare the quality of their chord progressions and the instrumental arrangements to what we hear today. Think about their lyrics. It’s like the proverbial apples and oranges. There simply is no comparison.  Being able to use electronics to alter the sound just isn’t the same as being able to produce that same sound through the use of proper musical notation and lyrics that actually say something.

Mr. Henschen says “Today’s music is designed to sell, not inspire.” I think I could agree with that. Very little of what my ears hear in popular culture is inspirational in the least.

Another cause of schools cutting music electives is that we are now spending much more time in preparing for standardized tests. There simply is no time left for music. I have to ask, why? Studies have proven that playing an instrument enhances brain function. So why cut the one class that could help with those standardized tests? Remember the Mozart CDs that were so popular a few years ago? Have your baby listen to Mozart and he/she will be more intelligent.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of something very important. Without a proper music education, where will our next Mozart, John Coltrane, Lennon and McCartney come from? Perhaps our lack of foresight will give new meaning to  Silent Spring.

Did you take music lessons? Did it make your life better? Share your thoughts with us.

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