Why I Opposed Classical Music
"Many great men have put their beautiful thoughts, not into books, or pictures, or in buildings, but into musical score, to be sung with the voice or played on instruments."
~Charlotte Mason
I know. This title is shocking, right?! I bet I could sum up the reaction of most people reading this post in one question: How could ANYONE oppose something as beautiful as classical music?! Well, that “anyone” was me and let me explain why.
In a former post Growing up Invisible, I had already expressed some feelings of disappointment in what appeared to be a lack of multicultural representation within a Charlotte Mason (CM) education. When I started learning about composer study, it was a similar process.
It wasn’t that I disliked classical musical. How can I deny the beauty and peace that I experience when listening to Vivaldi or Mozart? My problem was with how it’s esteemed as the most beautiful music, almost representative of superiority.
Listen, I’m American, raised in a Christian home in the Bronx with Puerto Rican parents and have been walking this Earth for over 4 decades. Do you know how eclectic and versatile my music is?! What’s more, each genre of music represents a part of who I am and reflects my story.
Yet, I remember countless times these very same genres have been put down, demeaned, regarded as inferior. No beauty was found within the music that reflected me.
Just recently, I sat and listened as a mom shared a time her son heard the booming beats of hip hop bellowing from a nearby car, and though he’s been surrounded by classical music all his life, he turned to her and said how much he liked it. She held her composure with him, but to us, she expressed her displeasure. As she spoke, I could see the disdain she had towards the music her son was drawn towards, and made it clear, not so much in words but in attitude, that there was no beauty in that, at least not in comparison with classical music. This kind of attitude is the one I’m used to experiencing in reference to classical music.
My dear friend, Celeste, has such a beautiful way of expressing her thoughts, especially those in regards to culture, Christianity, and social justice, that often gives voice to my own. Her blog Not Your Average Chrisitan is proof of that. When I asked for her opinion on classical music, this is what she said:
“Classical music has its place and shouldn’t be revered as the pinnacle or above other types of music.” -Celeste Wallace
As she often does, Celeste hit the nail right on the head for me. She continued to explain how just as there’s beauty in a symphony played by an orchestra, there is also beauty in the tribal drum beats that were used as a form of communication or celebration.
Music was created by God and His Word tells us countless times to praise Him with song and instruments. One example is in 1 Chronicles 13:8 which says:
“David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs, and with lyres, harps, tambourines*, cymbals, and with trumpets.”
*The modern tambourine resembles the timbel, which is often mentioned in the Bible, and was the principal percussion instrument of the ancient Israelites.
Percussion, cymbals, trumpets? That sounds like jazz, salsa, and even hip hop to me. Whether or not you’re a fan of these genres, there’s no refuting the fact that music, regardless of genre, moves the soul and body in a way only music can. That is how certain songs can cause nostalgia, bring joy to the heart, rejuvenate the soul, cause eyes to well up in tears, instill pride and countless other emotions. Who’s to say one is better than the other when God created it all?
Do you see my dilemma here? I believe there’s beauty in all genres but in a CM education, the focus of composer study is on the very genre many people view as superior. So now what?
After months of an internal battle of whether I should have my daughter study classical composers, I relented and decided to give it a try. However, it didn’t sit well in my spirit. But I’ll never grow tired of saying that God is so faithful and He’s invested in every area of our lives, no matter how big or small.
This past summer, I attended the Charlotte Mason Educational Center (CMEC) Retreat for the first time. It was really a wonderful experience with a focus on Character Formation, which is EXACTLY what I needed (but those details are for a future post).
I do have to admit that when I arrived, I had to get over the initial shock of how I was one of the very few women of color in a room of about a hundred moms. I mean, that’s happened often in the past for me in different areas of my life. I guess I wasn’t expecting it among CM homeschooling moms. (Just being transparent about my reality.)
Throughout the next two days, I got to meet many amazing moms but my highlight of the weekend was meeting Jane. Jane is a military wife out in Washington D.C. who’s been homeschooling for over 6 years, using Miss Mason’s methods from the beginning. She’s also a woman of color so you better believe I had a ton of questions for her. LOL
We talked over dinner about an array of topics, including classical music. I expressed my feelings on it and asked for her thoughts. Jane started to explain to me how her children listen to Christian music daily because it’s what she listens to all the time. They also listen to diverse, secular music because of their dad. But the one genre they don’t listen to is classical music so teaching Composer Study is her way of exposing her children to a style of music they would never listen to otherwise.
See, Jane made total sense to me! Now, it made sense to teach my daughter about classical music, not because it is “superior” to the rest or the “most beautiful”, but because my girl would not be exposed to it any other way. Jane’s purpose behind Composer Study gave me the rationale I needed to wholeheartedly teach it with peace of mind.
When it comes to Composer Study, Miss Mason says:
“Let the young people hear good music as often as possible, and that under instruction. It is a pity we like our music, as our pictures and our poetry, mixed, so that there are few opportunities of going through, as a listener, a course of the works of a single composer. But this is to be aimed at for the young people; let them study occasionally the works of a single great master until they have received some of his teaching, and know his style.”
So we began our first Composer Study in September of 2019. As Miss Mason instructs, we focused on one composer. We chose Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. We learned a bit about Mozart, listened to his music, and discussed what images and/or descriptive words came to mind as the music played. It really was a lovely time together.
As I plan for future terms, I’m doing my research and finding less known composers who were women as well as men of color. Our composer studies will also not be limited to classical. They will be inclusive, including composers of other genres. This process has become even more exciting for me!
Though I began with opposition towards classical music, I’m so grateful to the Lord for broadening my perspective. I never want to put Him or any of His creation, including music and my daughter, into a box.
And you know what happened not long after we started Composer Study? I overheard my daughter, who like me, loves a variety of music, asking Alexa to play Mozart while doing schoolwork! It was something small. Yet, it brought me joy to know my girl listens to a plethora of music, which now includes classical.
Thanks for sharing. Helped finalize me finalize some of my thoughts. Please share if you research other music options. There is such a variety and I am so not musical…
You got it Veronica!! 😉
This was super dope (that means super awesome). The worldwide musical narrative has only been whitewashed because of who’s been writing the books and blogs (lol).
Very much like with history, those who write control the narrative. It’s imperative for us to shake our own trees so the delicious fruit we produce will fall down to those who refuse to climb the tree.
Love this! #controlthenarrative
So keep on truckin!!
I just love the tree analogy! Thanks for the encouragement! #ControlTheNarrative
Kids should be exposed to a variety of music. I look forward to providing a diversified feast of music to my children. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Agreed! I’m just always cautious of the rationale behind all we do and protective of the messages being sent to my daughter. But God is so faithful leading me in His direction! Thank you for your support Ana!
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I appreciate this. I’ve recently begun to find myself trapped in a superiority mindset, which is definitely not my desire! Not only is it not Christ-like, but it also can suck the joy out of enjoying the wide-array of beauty throughout the world. Whether in music, art or literature. Thanks for reminding me to broaden my perspective as I get ready to start year 1 of homeschooling.
Thank you for sharing this Amanda! It’s so easy to get caught up in that kind of mindset in whatever scenario. My hubby is usually the one who snaps me out of it. LOL.
I love how you delve on this. Though wanting to educate using CM’s philosophy, you reach into these subjects and really make it make sense to us/me. I have never thought of this topic this way, but as I read this post I related so much! A big memory of playing my pandero at church came alive 🙂 Thank you again Erika! My girls have been listening to the more popular composers since birth(I never gave it a thought), now I will be researching more composers too!
Yes!! The pandero! That’s it right there! (I’m not sure if it’s the same as the pandereta but that’s how I know it…lol). Please share whatever resources you find! 😉
Hi, I just recently found your blog and am excited to explore it. Are you familiar with EnrichmentStudies.com? I have found several multicultural resources there, specifically in regards to music/composer study and artists/picture study.
Hey! No, I hadn’t heard of them but I just looked them up and saw what treasures they have! Thank you so much for sharing here!!!
Yes and I’m always surprised how the music inspires my kids – dance – art- creates a calm atmosphere. We cover Bach in kindergarten. He signed most of his work with the initials SDG soli deo Gloria – but I also include Living Artists in our studies and Trombone Shorty is one of those !
That’s awesome Cindy! You’re an amazing teacher!
Wow. Wow wow wow. This was so good! You tell Jane I said thank you! lol. As black woman, former CM school teacher and new CM homeschool mom, this illuminated the main theme of my reservations around picture and composer studies when I was in a school setting. Now that I have the reigns at home, I’m tempted to sing to the other side of the pendulum and forget Eurocentric art. But this was very good food for thought. Thanks.
Amen. Thank you Leah! Miss Mason was all about giving the full feast so studying diverse artists and composers, including those from Europe, sounds like a nice balance to me. Praying you have an amazing year implementing her methods in the way that suits your unique family!
I have a neighbor that describes a classic book as one that you can learn from again and again as you re-read it. I think music is the same way, there is so much beauty to be found in all types of musical genres. Our first composer study was on Scott Joplin because I had realized my children hadn’t been exposed to ragtime music and I knew they would love it.
What a great analogy Clare! I love it. Thank you for sharing!
I know its been a bit since you wrote this, but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your balanced approach. I know a (white) CM Mama who “threw the baby out with the bathwater” so to speak and refused to include classical music at all. I appreciate your thoughts and how well you expressed and implemented them.
Hi Christie! So sorry I missed this and it’s taken me so long to respond. But thank you for your encouragement! It means a lot to me. And yes to the balanced approach! We know Miss Mason was all about balance!!
I am thankful for the resources that you have here! 🙂
I too don’t feel particularly connected in terms of cultural heritage to many of the classical musicians and artists as most of my background is Ukrainian. My husband is half Vietnamese and half Scottish. I want to include the diverse musical resources (and other arts) of all of these beautiful cultures for my children.
I realize I need to do the searching and gathering of sources and there isn’t going to be a cookie cutter curriculum that perfectly fits my family. But that is the beauty of CM educational philosophy. These are principals that I can use to find resources that fit our needs.
I also appreciate the point that has been made here that I don’t want to exclude something just because it doesn’t reflect my family’s particular combination of cultural heritages. I think the pendulum can swing too far the other way and we can forget our common humanity and that an achievement by a fellow human being (regardless of where they are from or what they look like) is something that everyone can celebrate as we are all children of God. Mason herself has made this point, for example, when she discusses an “intellectual commerce of ideas whereby the dead yet speak their living thoughts in the work they have left us, and by which as by links of an endless chain all men are bound to each and all influence each”. And again she speaks of the solidarity of humanity: “our sense of the oneness of humanity reaches into the remotest past, making us regard with tender reverence every relic of the antiquity of our own people or of any other”.
I am concerned with the neo-marxist trends that seem to be seeping in to educational discussions lately — even beyond the leftist dominated public educational sphere. Marx pitted different classes against each other and the neo-marxists are pitting different identity groups against each other. It seems like our society is becoming more divisive and segregating instead of less so.
Yes!! So beautifully expressed Lara! I love when you wrote “that an achievement by a fellow human being (regardless of where they are from or what they look like) is something that everyone can celebrate as we are all children of God.” That’s it right there! We should be intentional as we balance out the feast for our children. Thank you so much for sharing.