Comments on: Can Anyone Be ‘Made’ To Learn Anything?

By: Ally brown

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:04:53 +0000

Some of us are lucky enough to have amazing learning experiences that can have life changing impact. This seems
To be the case with Ms Benedetti and her experience of music. The effect can be so exciting and motivating that it is natural to want everyone to have the same experience but this cannot be forced or imposed upon another person. Because the way Ms Benedetti has been taught music has worked for her, does not mean it is the right approach for everyone, and it is wrong for her to assume so. Moreover, to insist that everyone is forced into having the same experience has potential
to do more harm than good. Engage students at their personal point of impact and then who knows the experiences they may have!

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By: Kevin Murphy

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:14:29 +0000

I wonder what this says too about the other end of the classical music education spectrum – i.e. The music conservatoire which I presume Nicola had some interaction with? It is positive that talented musicians are passionate about their field but this kind of unhelpful dogma should surely be debunked by the leaders of these establishments – what possible long term benefit can it be bringing to classical music? I do agree that long term sustained involvement that enables you to delve into a subject in depth is vital – but as you point out unless learners are engaged and motivated by their own interest this is unlikely to happen. The same would be true if Nicola decided to explore jazz or pop music – the superficial attraction would never grow into genuine interest unless Nicola truly desired it – no amount of forced exposure would help.

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By: David

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 09:54:33 +0000

Never fear, Adam. So long as people keep reading and replying, I’ll keep blogging!

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By: adsnads1976

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 09:11:18 +0000

It’s also caused a bit of a ripple on Facebook, with a number of people leaving comments in the thread created after sharing this. I look forward to reading the book – but please keep up the blogging, you pose many of the best questions that are necessary in keeping education moving in a positive and progressive direction. Something that our current Education Secretary seems entirely incapable of doing…

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By: Ivor Tymchak

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:13:21 +0000

Your Prince Charles and polo analogy is spot-on David, it’s the classic ‘it worked for me so it will work for everybody’ mentality. Aside from the horribly distorted bias in the media which chose to report this ‘story’ (again, another symptom of ‘it’s good enough for us so it’s good enough for everyone’) it serves to illustrate the one-size-fits-all approach of so many aspects of our society. You provide an invaluable public service by ridiculing it.

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