NAfME Philosophy SRIG – St Louis, March 28-31 2012

Join us for the NAfME Biennial in St. Louis for the SRIG Philosophy Session:

 

Date: Friday, March 30, 2012

Time: 9:45-11:45 a.m.

“Music Education in the Age of YouTube:  Media Immediacy and Philosophical Thinking”

During our session attendees will consider the import of teacher preparation, leadership, curriculum development, production and distribution of music and musicing in all forms during this time of digital instantaneity.  This session is specifically designed to emphasize audience discussion – as such, our four presenters will address philosophical and conceptual considerations, practical demands and the ethical dimensions of such immediacy.  The “murkiness as to what YouTube “is” … and its potential epistemological value for music learning” (Waldron) is the starting point for one such discussion.  We will also be asked to consider how “19th-century” manifestations of musicianship do not recognize how “technology and the Internet have changed the ways that people perform, compose, arrange, share, and listen to music” (Kratus), as well as realize that “future music educators need competency in recording media” and “develop sensitivity to the construction and transformation of musical spaces as artifacts of musical growth” (Rodriguez).  And finally, we will be reminded that “recapturing the performance era is not possible” and left contemplating how to move forward and “meaningfully teach music in a postperformance world” (Thibeault).

Our Presenters:

John Kratus: Michigan State University

Carlos Rodriguez: University of Michigan

Matthew Thibeault: University of Illinois

Janice Waldron: University of Windsor

A word concerning the session format:

The Philosophy SRIG exists to facilitate conversation that might not otherwise happen given the constraints of typical conference sessions.  The traditional framing of back-to-back papers within a short time frame has not left space for in-depth engagement with issues.  Indeed, such a time frame practically necessitates presentations to be watered down from their written versions rendering them less substantial, or often impenetrable due to the sophistication of the argument.  While it is valuable to hear how those in our field are framing issues, the creation of space for dialogue remains at the heart of philosophical pursuit.  The challenge, of course, at any conference is to develop a framework that allows and encourages such engagements.  Consequently, rather than a presentation of four individual papers the presentation format for the 2nd MENC Biennial Conference will be as follows:

Each presenter will develop two 5 minute presentations:  the first 5 minute presentation will be connected to questions, frameworks and understanding of the topic and the second 5 minutes will be directed toward a personalized vision in addressing ways to think the topic today.

Each individual presentation will be followed by two minutes of questions from the audience.  After the 4th person has presented there will be 15 minutes of group and audience discussion.  This will be followed by a second 5 minute presentation by each person, followed again by 2 minutes of questions with a final group discussion of 15 minutes.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all in St. Louis

Cathy Benedict – Current Chair

Roger Mantie – Chair Elect

Patrick Schmidt – Past Chair