Sociomusicology

Research Methods in Music

2012-01-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

An academic conference on research methods in music is now being planned for June 18-21, 2012, in Bergen, Norway. It will be hosted by Bergen University College on behalf of the Grieg Research School in Interdisciplinary Music Studies, and keynote speakers will include music psychologist David Hargreaves and music education historian Marie McCarthy. There will also be plenary sessions by music learning technology specialist Alex Ruthmann, and various members of the interdisciplinary research group NNIMIPA (Nordic Network for the Integration of Music Informatics, Performance and Aesthetics), and I have been asked to discuss methodological issues for international-comparative research in music.

Although the main purpose of the conference is to provide guidance for Norwegian doctoral students in music, a limited number of international participants will also be admitted. A coordination meeting of NNIMIPA will also be held on the day following this conference (June 22).

More information will be posted shortly.

War on Civil Liberties: Implications for Global Freedom of Knowledge

2012-01-18T05:21:00.000-08:00

The message posted below is currently displayed on Wikipedia, which is blacked out for the first time in its history. This message describes the potentially devastating effects of a bill now being championed in the USA by Rupert Murdoch (of Fox News) and his allies. If turned into law (which is a very real possibility), not only will civil liberties be even further limited in the USA than has already been seen across recent years in the name of the "war on terror," but people all around the world will find their access to free information hindered. This is clearly a case of corporate interests versus human rights in the fields of internet technology and freedom of information, and its implications are important for anyone in the fields of music and education . . . .

Why is Wikipedia blacked-out?
Wikipedia is protesting against SOPA and PIPA by blacking out the English Wikipedia for 24 hours, beginning at midnight January 18, Eastern Time. Readers who come to English Wikipedia during the blackout will not be able to read the encyclopedia. Instead, you will see messages intended to raise awareness about SOPA and PIPA, encouraging you to share your views with your representatives, and with each other on social media.

What are SOPA and PIPA?
SOPA and PIPA represent two bills in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate respectively. SOPA is short for the "Stop Online Piracy Act," and PIPA is an acronym for the "Protect IP Act." ("IP" stands for "intellectual property.") In short, these bills are efforts to stop copyright infringement committed by foreign web sites, but, in our opinion, they do so in a way that actually infringes free expression while harming the Internet. Detailed information about these bills can be found in the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act articles on Wikipedia, which are available during the blackout. GovTrack lets you follow both bills through the legislative process: SOPA on this page, and PIPA on this one. The EFF has summarized why these bills are simply unacceptable in a world that values an open, secure, and free Internet.

Why is the blackout happening?
Wikipedians have chosen to black out the English Wikipedia for the first time ever, because we are concerned that SOPA and PIPA will severely inhibit people's access to online information. This is not a problem that will solely affect people in the United States: it will affect everyone around the world.
Why? SOPA and PIPA are badly drafted legislation that won't be effective at their stated goal (to stop copyright infringement), and will cause serious damage to the free and open Internet. They put the burden on website owners to police user-contributed material and call for the unnecessary blocking of entire sites. Small sites won't have sufficient resources to defend themselves. Big media companies may seek to cut off funding sources for their foreign competitors, even if copyright isn't being infringed. Foreign sites will be blacklisted, which means they won't show up in major search engines. And, SOPA and PIPA build a framework for future restrictions and suppression.

Does this mean that Wikipedia itself is violating copyright laws, or hosting pirated content?
No, not at all. Some supporters of SOPA and PIPA characterize everyone who opposes them as cavalier about copyright, but that is not accurate. Wikipedians are knowledgeable about copyright and vigilant in protecting against violations: Wikipedians spend thousands of hours every week reviewing and removing infringing content. We are careful about it because our mission is to share knowledge freely. To that end, all Wikipedians release their contributions under a free license, and all the material we offer is freely licensed. Free licenses are incompatible with copyright infringement, and so infringement is not tolerated.
Isn't SOPA dead? Wasn't the bill shelved, and didn't the White House declare that it won't sign anything that resembles the current bill?

No, neither SOPA nor PIPA is dead. On January 17th, SOPA's sponsor said the bill will be discussed in early February. There are signs PIPA may be debated on the Senate floor next week. Moreover, SOPA and PIPA are just indicators of a much broader problem. In many jurisdictions around the world, we're seeing the development of legislation that prioritizes overly-broad copyright enforcement laws, laws promoted by power players, over the preservation of individual civil liberties.

How could SOPA and PIPA hurt Wikipedia?
SOPA and PIPA are a threat to Wikipedia in many ways. For example, in its current form, SOPA would require Wikipedia to actively monitor every site we link to, to ensure it doesn't host infringing content. Any link to an infringing site could put us in jeopardy of being forced offline.
I live in the United States. What's the best way for me to help?
The most effective action you can take is to call your representatives and tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. Type your zipcode in the locator box to find your representatives' contact information. Text-based communication is okay, but phone calls have the most impact.

I don't live in the United States. How can I help?
Contact your local State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or similar branch of government. Tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. SOPA and PIPA will affect sites outside of the United States, and actions to sites inside the United States (like Wikipedia) will also affect non-American readers -- like you. Calling your own government will also let them know you don't want them to create their own bad anti-Internet legislation.

Is it still possible to access Wikipedia in any way?
Yes. During the blackout, Wikipedia is accessible on mobile devices and smart phones. You can also view Wikipedia normally by disabling JavaScript in your browser, as explained on this Technical FAQ page. Our purpose here isn't to make it completely impossible for people to read Wikipedia, and it's okay for you to circumvent the blackout. We just want to make sure you see our message.

I keep hearing that this is a fight between Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Is that true?
No. Some people are characterizing it that way, probably in an effort to imply all the participants are motivated by commercial self-interest. But it's obviously not that simple. The proof of that is Wikipedia's involvement. Wikipedia has no financial self-interest at play here: we do not benefit from copyright infringement, nor are we trying to monetize traffic or sell ads. We are protesting to raise awareness about SOPA and PIPA solely because we think they will hurt the Internet, and your ability to access information online. We are doing this for you, because we're on your side.

In carrying out this protest, is Wikipedia abandoning neutrality?
We hope you continue to trust Wikipedia to be a neutral information source. We are staging this blackout because (as Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustee Kat Walsh said recently), although Wikipedia’s articles are neutral, its existence is not. For over a decade, Wikipedians have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Wikipedia is a tremendously useful resource, and its existence depends upon a free, open and uncensored Internet. SOPA and PIPA (and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United States) will hurt you, because they will make it impossible for sites you enjoy, and benefit from, to continue to exist. That's why we're doing this.

What can I read to get more information?
Try these links:
Wikipedia's articles on SOPA and PIPA
Statement from Wikipedia editors announcing decision to black out
Wikimedia Foundation press release
Blog post from Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Sue Gardner
Electronic Frontier Foundation blog post on the problems with SOPA/PIPA
As of midnight PT, January 18, Google has 3,740 articles about the blackout. Here are a few:
Why is Wikipedia staging a blackout and what is SOPA?, from the National Post
Wikipedia joins blackout protest at US anti-piracy moves, from the British Broadcasting Corporation
Wikipedia blackout over US anti-piracy bills and FEATURE: Websites blackout over 'SOPA censorship', from Al Jazeera
Wikipedia, Craigslist, other sites go black in SOPA protest, from the Los Angeles Times
Google Rallies Opposition to Murdoch-Backed Anti-Piracy Bill, from BusinessWeek
SOPA protest: The Net strikes back, from Politico
Wikipedia goes dark on piracy bill protest day, from MSNBC
Wikipedia blackout a 'gimmick', MPAA boss claims, from the Guardian
Wikipedia 24-hour blackout: a reader and Why we're taking Wikipedia down for a day, from the New Statesman
Wikipedia, other websites go dark in anti-piracy bill protest, from CNN
Internet-wide protests against SOPA/PIPA are kicking up a storm, by the Hindustan Times
SOPA, PIPA: What you need to know, from CBS News

Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools

2011-12-31T06:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a product flyer for my book on instrumental music education in Japan:

http://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/productFlyer/productFlyer_978-94-007-2177-7.pdf?SGWID=0-0-1297-174132910-0

Christmas Music in Bergen

2011-12-28T02:28:00.001-08:00

This year – 2011 – was my first Christmas in Bergen, Norway, which I have found to be remarkably active with music performances surrounding the holiday period. I enjoyed the opportunity to perform with several music ensembles.

During this Christmastime, I performed jazz trumpet at Fana Kulturhus with jazz composer and vocalist Oded Ben-Horin as well as some of Oded’s fine jazz students along with a band organized by pianist Øystein Kvinge and saxophonist/flutist Pia-Camilla Tømmernes, electric bassist Peter Harald Sæverud, and others.

I also performed a few times as a vocalist (low bass) along with three inspiring women in a very nice a cappella quartet: Silje Valde Onsrud (soprano), Anne Kristine Wallace Turøy (alto), and Tine Grieg Viig (contralto). We sang several Christmas carols, including a published arrangement by Catharina Chistophersen. Anne Kristine and Tine and I also played carols in a small brass group.

Additionally, I sang and played trumpet with the Bergen Anglican choir, led by Roger Martin, which included a performance in the old Korskirken cathedral (a major Bergen landmark that had already been established by 1185!).

I enjoyed rehearsing with a fine jazz choir called Stemmebruket, but due to some unexpected problems with airplanes (during my return from serving on a doctoral tribunal in Spain), it was not possible to perform with them this time – I look forward to other concerts soon in 2012!

I also attended an enjoyable performance of Christmas music by the “Jambonans Musik Corps” brass band, an intergenerational community ensemble with a fine tradition.

Community music activities are certainly lively during the holidays in Bergen – a joy to observe and experience.

Music Conferences in November 2011

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

November is such a busy month for music-related conferences! Here are links to information regarding my participation in conferences either recently attended or that I plan to attend soon:

-- Commentator, Panelist and Session Chair, Nordic Network for Music Education seminar: “Challenges and possibilities of plurality and change in music education,” Ørebro University, [Sweden] (November 7-11, 2011).

-- Chair, Historical SIG meeting, Annual conference of the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM), Philadelphia [USA] (Nov. 17-20, 2011).

-- Senior Researcher presentation, "Patriotic Sound and Sentiment: Defining Nations through Music Performance in Schools" for Grieg Research School international seminar: Performing Sound and Sentiment, Self and Society, Bergen [Norway] (Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2011). Link to presentation abstracts: http://www.uib.no/filearchive/book-of-abstracts-performing-sound-and-sentiment-self-and-society_1.pdf

Musical Fingerprints

2011-11-02T03:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a video of a very interesting lecture by Professor David Hargreaves entitled “Musical Fingerprints”:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/knowledge/themes/04/davidhargreaves/

Here is how the Warwick Knowledge Centre describes this lecture: “Do you have a song that can lift your mood? Or a song that reminds you of a certain event? Music has always been known for its power to alter our emotions and impact our memories, but why is this? Professor David Hargreaves, psychologist and keen musician, explains in his TEDxWarwick talk that developments in music psychology have begun to unlock the reasons and patterns behind our particular music tastes.”

. . .

“Music psychology is moving towards the idea of ‘musical fingerprints’. There are three kinds of associations:

1. Musical networks – we perceive the world of music in different ways according to our particular interests and preferred genres.

2. Cultural networks – the way we react to music will depend on the situation we are in. The ‘musical fit’ concept shows that certain music fits certain situations. Music played during an aerobics class will be very different from that played in an antique furniture store. Rather than Britney Spears or Lady Gaga, the store owner will play Vivaldi or Bach.

3. Personal musical network – we all have a personal inner music library (PIML) which develops throughout our lifetime. We recognise new pieces of music according to our PIMLs.”

Creativity in Education

2011-10-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hooray for John Drummond! Here is some great Kiwi wisdom regarding the central role creativity should play in educational practices. Professor Drummond's 15-minute lecture briefly yet very effectively demonstrates some important educational problems and solutions relevant to teachers of all subjects:

Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools

2011-10-30T04:23:00.000-07:00

I very recently heard from the publisher that my book on music in Japan is now printed and being sent to book retailers and distributors.

Here is more information regarding this book:

“This well researched volume tells the story of music education in Japan and of the wind band contest organized by the All-Japan Band Association. Identified here for the first time as the world’s largest musical competition, it attracts 14,000 bands and well over 500,000 competitors. The book’s insightful contribution to our understanding of both music and education chronicles music learning in Japanese schools and communities. It examines the contest from a range of perspectives, including those of policy makers, adjudicators, conductors and young musicians. The book is an illuminating window on the world of Japanese wind bands, a unique hybrid tradition that comingles contemporary western idioms with traditional Japanese influences. In addition to its social history of Japanese school music programs, it shows how participation in Japanese school bands contributes to students’ sense of identity, and sheds new light on the process of learning to play European orchestral instruments.”

Here are links with information on how to obtain a copy:

http://www.springer.com/education+%26+language/book/978-94-007-2177-7

http://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Identity-Japanese-Schools-Landscapes/dp/9400721773

RIME 9

2011-10-23T10:20:00.001-07:00

Research and Issues in Music Education has recently released its 2011 issue (volume 9), edited by Prof. Bruce Gleason at University of St. Thomas (USA). RIME is an open-access refereed journal, and this issue contains a diverse selection of original research studies with the following titles:

“The Effects of Orchestration on Musicians’ and Nonmusicians’ Perception of Musical Tension”

“Identity Negotiation: An Intergenerational Examination of Lesbian and Gay Band Directors”

“Achievement Motivation and the Adolescent Musician: A Synthesis of the Literature”

“Backgrounds, Teaching Responsibilities, and Motivations of Music Education Candidates Enrolled in Alternative Certification Music Education Programs”

“The Identification of Conductor-Distinguished Functions of Conducting”

Here is a link to the main page of RIME 9:

http://www.stthomas.edu/rimeonline/vol9/index.htm

International Week in Bergen

2011-10-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

International Week is very soon in Bergen, Norway (October 21-31).
It features music and films from many parts of the world, including several free events to celebrate multicultural Bergen, especially for international students and families. Here is how the event is described by its organizers:

Welcome to International Week
Focusing on the work of the United Nations in general, and especially the UN Millennium Development Goals, International Week is being arranged for the 8th time in Bergen. We invite you to participate in the many activities during the week: Debates, seminars, lectures, concerts, films and exhibitions.

Here are some highlights from the program:

-Official opening - Concert at Musikkpaviljongen on Friday, October 21st 16.00.

-Bergen International Culture Center (BIKS) presents Bergen International Music Festival. The music presented at the festival shows how Norwegian culture is enriched by immigration. The concerts take place at BIKS/Fensal, Kvarteret and Verftet.

-International Student Day- Friday, October 28th
Bergen is an international student town. The students are involved in international affairs both in their studies and through work in different student organisations. International Student Day is a meeting-place for foreign and Norwegian students. Welcome to International Student Day!

-A celebration of International Week at Torgallmenningen Saturday 29th of October. Come and meet different organizations in Bergen.

Links to more information:

http://www.internasjonaluke.org/

http://www.internasjonaluke.org/assets/ProgramIU2011.pdf

http://www.biks-bergen.no/

http://www.moussadiallo.com/

2011 British Ethnomusicology Conference

2011-10-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a very recent article on the 2011 British Forum for Ethnomusicology conference that I co-authored with Jonathan McCollum of Washington College, USA:

http://www.bfeconference.org.uk/3.html

Jonathan wrote most of the above article, which describes our experience of participating in the conference as representatives of the Historical Ethnomusicology special interest group of the Society for Ethnomusicology.

Musicianship, Musical Interpretation & Cultural Identity

2011-10-08T23:54:00.001-07:00

A Lecture for “Topics in the Aesthetics of Music and Sound” Series. Philosophy Department, University of Southern Denmark. Series information: http://soundmusicresearch.org

Musicianship, Musical Interpretation, and Cultural Identity: Challenges for Philosophy and the Social Sciences

David G. Hebert, PhD, Professor of Music, Grieg Academy
Faculty of Education, Bergen University College

Abstract:

The notion of musicianship – or artistry in the field of music – is a phenomenon that raises an array of philosophical questions intricately tied to problems of interpretation, particularly when music is considered cross-culturally as a profoundly meaningful global practice. In this talk, I will explore the implications of how cultural differences affect our understandings of various forms of music, as well as how relationships between musical practices and cultural identities are rapidly transforming as a consequence of both globalization and the popularization of new media technologies. I will also explore the implications of recent empirical research in relation to these themes and attempt to distill a reasonable projection of possible paths that musicianship and music research may take in the future.

SEMINAR: OCTOBER 13, 2011

2:15-4 p.m. ROOM U73

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK

CAMPUSVEJ 55, 5230 ODENSE

Link for poster:

http://soundmusicresearch.org/Poster_DavidHebert_131011.pdf

Cole Porter Tunes in Bergen

2011-10-01T00:55:00.000-07:00

Jazz songs by Cole Porter are popular in Norway, like many other parts of the world. I am performing with a small jazz group today (at 2pm) – singing and playing trumpet – at the Fana Kulturhus in Bergen, Norway, with pianist Øystein Kvinge’s band. The program will feature several famous tunes by American songwriter Cole Porter (1891-1964).

Links:

http://computermusic.edublogs.org/tag/%C3%B8ystein-kvinge/

https://www.bergen.kommune.no/fanakulturhus

http://zurhaarrubb.no/prosjekter/prosjekter/kulturhus.php

Performing Sound and Sentiment, Self and Society

2011-09-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

The Grieg Research School has announced its next seminar.

Subject/Focus: Interdisciplinary Music Studies – The study of musical performance

Title: Performing sound and sentiment, self and society

Place: University of Bergen

Dates: November 28 –December 2, 2011

Click HERE to access the program website.

Grieg Research School in Interdisciplinary Music Studies is a network–based research school set up by Musicnet West institutions in Western Norway and co-ordinated by the University of Bergen.

The seminar is designed for 15-20 candidates, of which 10 will be candidates with a paper.

The research seminar invites candidates to present PhD work-in-progress from the fields of music education, music therapy, musicology, and music performance. The course is also open for candidates attending The National Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowships Programme. Additionally, the course is open for higher music education staff on research qualification programmes. Senior researchers and supervisors are particularly welcome and may present papers if there is space in the program.

30,000 Page Views

2011-09-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

The following chart indicates the national origin of readers of this blog since its inception (2007):

United States

....14,346

United Kingdom

....1,173

Germany

....938

Canada

....886

Australia

....825

Netherlands....

702

Russia

....543

France

....377

Japan

....316

Italy

....201

The following chart indicates the national origin of readers across the past one month:

United States

....692

France

....65

Australia

....47

United Kingdom

....44

Canada

....40

Germany

....30

India

....28

Norway

....28

Brazil

....27

Spain

....22

Please note that these charts give only the ten highest totals, and that other nations with a substantial number of readers are not listed.

Research on Rhythmic Music and Education in the Nordic Region

2011-09-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, September 29 will be a symposium in Bergen, Norway on popular music and education (often called "Rhythmic Music" in Nordic schools). Special guests will be in attendance who do innovative research related to this topic. The symposium is hosted by the Centre for Arts, Culture and Communication (Bergen University College - linked below), and coordinated by Dr. Catharina Christophersen. Several experts from outside Northern Europe have suggested that Nordic schools and higher education institutions may currently be the most advanced in the specialized field of popular music education, with especially effective pedagogical approaches, so it will be interesting to see what insights emerge from this symposium.

Please visit the links below for more information:

http://www.box.net/shared/hfjzs5qush1z37nc9kqx

http://www.hib.no/senter/sekkk/prosjekt/default.asp

Understanding Talent

2011-08-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

The concepts of talent, ability, and giftedness have long been of interest to teachers and society at large, particularly in such fields as the arts and athletics. Despite much interest in this topic, there is still a great need for additional research to develop new knowledge to inform the practices of teachers, coaches, and others responsible for nurturing the next generation of high achievers in various fields.

See the link below for a research project that seeks to uncover new insights into the nature of talent and effective practices for ensuring that talents are fully developed:

http://www.hib.no/senter/suf/forskningsprogram/understanding-talent.asp

Music of Independence in South Sudan

2011-07-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the musicians of the newly independent nation South Sudan.

Links:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fg-sudan-aftermath-20110711,0,5146345.story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_sudan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Sudan

NNIMIPA in London

2011-06-26T14:56:00.001-07:00

The Nordic Network for the Integration of Music Informatics, Performance and Aesthetics (NNIMIPA) is joining the inaugural conference of the Royal Musical Association’s Music and Philosophy Study Group at King’s College, London, and is offering an additional session on Sunday July 3, with the program linked below:

http://www.nnimipa.org/july3abstracts.html

Music in Aarhus

2011-06-26T07:33:00.001-07:00

Aarhus, Denmark is a beautiful place. I am out here for a few days to design an online assessment system and music entrepreneurship course for the Royal Academy of Music. Tonight I will have dinner by the beach and perform some jazz with musicians from the academy.

http://www.musikkons.dk/index.php?id=13

http://www.visitaarhus.com

Research Cooperation in Nordic Countries

2011-06-26T05:13:00.001-07:00

Nordforsk has recently released a report entitled “International Research Cooperation in the Nordic Countries” [click HERE to access]. It indicates that the global impact of Nordic researchers is already quite prominent and continues to increase. Another important finding is that “scientific articles with international co-authorship yield more citations than articles authored exclusively by researchers from one nation.” Unfortunately, the report does not address social sciences and humanities, but these too are academic domains in which Nordic research is rapidly gaining global visibility.

War on Whistleblowers Escalates: Implications for Educators

2011-06-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

Public access to accurate information is prerequisite for a functional democracy, since accurate information enables a constructive debate of issues to be based on verifiable facts rather than mere assumptions and propaganda-tainted accounts. There may be valid arguments behind both conservative and liberal political views (and any variation thereof), but no perspective is valid if reliant on putative "facts" that turn out to be simply untrue. This is exactly why protection of whistleblowers is extremely important in any society that claims to be "free and democratic," for without whistleblowers many vitally important facts can never be uncovered and the decisions of voters are largely based on misinformation.

Unfortunately, truth is increasingly hard to find nowadays, and many employees associated with PR firms and "Psy Ops" units are charged with ensuring that sensitive information is not released to the public while a facade of legitimacy is maintained; in other words, such professionals are paid to to ensure distractions are in place so the whole truth is not exposed. Although news media have a public duty to thoroughly investigate and offer unbiased and accurate accounts of current events (thereby keeping voters informed), the mainstream news media in the USA is increasingly controlled by the agenda of corporate sponsors and compromised by the threat of legal action against whistleblowers, and is consequently passive, superficial, and complicit in the widespread dissemination of misinformation. This kind of misinformation ensures that the poor keep voting for politicians determined to maintain tax structures that make them only poorer, while soldiers continue to kill and die in wars that serve little purpose and offer no substantial benefits, all while sex scandals among politicians continue to attract more attention than the misuse and even disappearance of billions of tax dollars. [Note: Here is what 9 billion dollars looks like according to the standard format for indicating dollar amounts in the USA: $9,000,000,000.00 - It is surely among the largest sums of "misplaced" money in all of human history.]

Naturally, this kind of situation is frustrating for any thinking person who is genuinely concerned about the present and future state of the world, but it has traditionally still been possible for at least a small minority to stay fairly well informed by actively seeking out information that is less tainted by nationalistic and corporate bias. Propaganda on Fox News can be carefully compared with reports by expert researchers in the UK or Canada, for instance, to discern a more reliable account and understand how public perception of current events is manipulated. We may regret that so many allow themselves to be deceived (for they are well-intentioned but simply don’t know any better in most cases), but at least those with access to research by experts can be fairly confident in their understandings of what is actually going on.

However, recent developments raise some unprecedented concerns: if whistleblowing of any kind is to no longer be protected but instead aggressively prosecuted, if journalists even in other nations are hunted down as "technological terrorists" merely for daring to share truthful information about current events, the result of such a culture of fear will be that it is no longer possible for anyone – even professors and diplomats - to have substantial access to accurate information. What too few educators seem to fully understand is that the ongoing War on Whistleblowers in the USA is likely to have devastating effects on all who value truth, for it will surely impact both academic research and educational curriculum. If taken to its natural conclusion, the result will be that we are all kept ignorant - not just those who have neither time nor interest to devote the effort necessary to learn the truth about current events (and instead rely on Fox News and its ilk) – but absolutely everyone who is not directly working for military intelligence.

The current War on Whistleblowers is not something to be taken lightly, not a minor concern only relevant to the most radical of extremists or anarchists. Rather, the current crisis actually constitutes a very important moment in history, for all who value intellectual freedom and freedom of information, both of which are fundamental to the cause of education. Misinformation and unnecessary secrecy are a grave threat to democracy, for they prevent meaningful debate and informed decision-making among the citizenry. It is irrefutable that non-transparency is an enemy of democracy, yet the anti-transparency movement is very cleverly lobbied by powerful interest groups who claim that anyone who disagrees with their views is a threat to national security. Civil liberty is now on trial, and the effects of decisions regarding the legality of whistleblowing will be substantial and long-lasting for researchers and educators in the USA and its remaining allies.

Here is a link to James Risen’s recent affidavit, part of a monumental story that is receiving very little attention in American corporate news media:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/sterling/062111-risen115.pdf

Music and Philosophy Study Group

2011-06-23T10:02:00.001-07:00

The Music and Philosophy Study Group of the Royal Musical Association will hold its inaugural annual conference at King’s College London on 1-2 July 2011. I will be chairing a session with other specialists in music of East Asia.

Here is a link for more details on the conference:

http://www.musicandphilosophy.ac.uk/conference-2011/

We will also have a planning meeting of NNIMIPA on July 3 to negotiate some research collaboration with the Royal Musical Association:

http://www.nnimipa.org/

Allen in Psychology of Music

2011-06-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Robert Allen, whose doctoral dissertation I supervised at Boston University (entitled FREE IMPROVISATION AND PERFORMANCE ANXIETY AMONG PIANO STUDENTS), has just had the study accepted for publication in the world's leading research journal for music psychology, Psychology of Music. We just got the news today, which is quite exciting. Hooray for Bob!

Online Music Education in Africa

2011-04-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

A quite innovative international music conference is currently happening in Africa at the University of Ghana-Legon, with several outstanding speakers and participants from across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, as well as a few Americans.

Below are links to the key documents for “Intercultural Approaches in Higher Music Education and Distance Learning,” in Accra, Ghana (April 10-13, 2011):

http://www.box.net/shared/crooa37pp3

http://www.box.net/shared/mxcs7dhriv

20,000 Views

2011-04-07T02:22:00.000-07:00

What began as merely a plan to post a CV online and occasional announcements of my activities and thoughts on music and current affairs seems to have matured by reaching a significant milestone today: 20,000 page views.

The following chart indicates the national origin of the most active readers of this blog:

United States....

9,920

United Kingdom....

776

Germany....

735

Netherlands....

699

Canada....

640

Australia....

541

Japan....

332

Russia....

261

Italy....

185

Ukraine....

178

About half the readers are from the USA, and half from other nations. Although they did not quite manage to make this list, there are many readers from Nordic nations, New Zealand, and China as well, and some very new readers from Africa and Latin America.

It may be worthwhile to spend some energy on reformatting and offer more frequent posts to this rather simple-looking blog, but for now I really must focus on finishing writing for a book that is under contract and has been delayed for too long. I will plan to write more for Sociomusicology in the summertime, when the other projects are complete.

Today I am in London, where I gave a lecture at University of London Institute of Education, and tonight I am off to the British Forum for Ethnomusicology conference to chair a symposium on historical research methods, and then to Africa (Accra, Ghana) from Saturday onward to give a presentation for a conference on online music learning and to evaluate an international music camp project. Then, finally back to Mississippi to do nothing but write a book for two solid months before moving to Norway to work with outstanding new colleagues there.

Song for Japanese Following the Tsunami

2011-03-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

American music educator Sean Ichiro Manes - a friend of mine - recently made the following video of his school students singing a song in Japanese, dedicated to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami:

Dissertation on Integration of Words and Music

2011-03-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

Today, Dr. Michael Simmons successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Boston University, a multi-faceted clinical study:

SONG RECOGNITION AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN: THE INTEGRATION OF WORDS AND MUSIC

Here is the abstract:

The purpose of this study was to examine how music aptitude, music training, and age affect the integration of words and music in memory, and how this process may, in turn, influence the recognition of familiar and novel songs among elementary school students. Two-hundred and twelve students ages 6 through 11 participated in the study. A song recognition test (Morrongiello & Roes, 1990a; Serafine, Crowder, & Repp, 1984) and two music aptitude tests - Primary Measures of Music Audiation and Intermediate Measure of Music Audiation (Gordon, 1986) - served as the principal data collection instruments.

To assess the main effects on the proportion of correct responses on the familiar and novel song recognition tests, a 4 X 3 X 2 Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was performed. The results showed age as the one independent variable to have a significant effect on familiar song recognition, F(3, 188) = 14.145, p = .000, while both music aptitude (composite) F(2, 186) = 4.173, p = .017 and age F(3, 186) = 3.017, p = .031 revealed a significant effect on novel song recognition. No significant two-way or three-way interactions were identified. In addition, the results show that music aptitude and training had no bearing on the integration of words and music in memory, and although it appears that age slightly minimizes its influence on song recall tasks, a significant asymmetry favoring text was sustained.

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Simmons!

Dr. Michael Simmons is an accomplished professional guitarist and music educator who has taught extensively for various schools and colleges in the Philadelphia area. His dissertation study sheds new light on how songs are memorized by children, and the role of words in relation to music in the learning of songs. With replication, research of this kind will likely lead to improved understandings of the effectiveness of various approaches to the teaching of song repertoire to young children.

It was a pleasure to serve as supervisory professor for this doctoral dissertation. Dr. Diana Dansereau (of Boston University) also offered stringent critique and invaluable advice that was of great help in guiding the application of statistical procedures and analysis in the study, and Dr. Jay Dorfman (Boston University) chaired our defense hearing and provided several helpful comments on the write-up of the study, particularly regarding its concluding narrative and some additional revisions.

A Time to Write

2010-12-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

It is definitely a time to write (at least for me). Editors and presses are waiting, so for the next several months I will mostly be offline, focused entirely on writing everyday so I can finally fulfill my obligations before moving to the next step in life.

I am thrilled to have accepted a permanent job as full Professor in Norway, and eagerly look forward to moving there to begin work in the summer of 2011.

.....................................................................................................

My writings appear in the following publications:

BOOK CHAPTERS, etc.:

Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools: An Ethnography and Social History (forthcoming monograph, Springer press), Patriotism and Nationalism in Music Education (forthcoming co-edited book, Ashgate press), Cultural Translation: Research on Japanese Literature in Northern Europe (2011 symposium proceedings), Oxford Handbook of Music Education (G. McPherson & G. Welch, Eds., in press), Multicultural Perspectives in Music Education, Vol. 1, Multicultural Perspectives in Music Education, Vol. 2, Sociology and Music Education, Making Music (minor contributions to bestselling textbook series, Silver Burdett), Music Education in the Asia Pacific Region, Orally Transmitted Music and Intercultural Education, De-Canonizing Music History, Music Education for Changing Times: Guiding Visions for Practice, Music of Japan Today, Alta Musica, Music Competition, Cooperation, and Community: An Ethnography of a Japanese School Band.

JOURNALS:

1. Journal of Music and Meaning (review essay)

2. International Journal of Community Music

3. Visions of Research in Music Education

4. Parlando (in Hungarian translation; English version online)

5. Research and Issues in Music Education (article and rejoinder)

6. Research in New Zealand Performing Arts (article and review)

7. International Journal of Education and the Arts (review 1 / review 2)

8. International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music

9. Asia-Pacific Journal of Arts Education

10. Journal of Research in Music Education

11. Finnish Journal of Music Education (2 articles)

12. Japanese Journal of Research in Music Education (brief conference summary, in Japanese translation)

13. Japanese Band Directors Association Journal (2 research articles in Japanese translation)

14. Journal of the Indian Musicological Society (reprinted in book)

15. Contributions to Music Education

16. Journal of Band Research

17. Yamanashi Journal of General Education

18. International Journal of Music Education

19. NBA Journal

In review:

20. Music Education Research International

21. Southern Journal of Music Education

Cultural Translation and Music in Japan

2010-12-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

I eagerly look forward to participating as an invited speaker for the interdisciplinary symposium “Cultural Translations: Research on Japanese Literature in Northern Europe” on the 25th and 26th of February 2011, at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (国際日本文化研究センター), a division of the National Institutes for the Humanities, in Kyoto, Japan.

This symposium is organized by Dr. Nanyan Guo (郭南燕), a prolific writer and Professor of Japanese and Chinese literature, and extends further on a very successful related symposium offered by Professor Noriko Thunman at University of Gothenburg, Sweden in August of 2010.

Eventually, more details will be posted on the Nichibunken website, linked below:

http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/welcome_e.htm

Here is a link to my paper from this conference:
Cultural Translation: Research on Japanese Literature in Northern Europe (2011 symposium proceedings).

Another related link:

http://imerc.blogspot.com/2011/02/lecture-cultural-translation-and-music.html

Replacing Market Fundamentalism

2010-12-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

According to renowned American economist and Nobel prizewinner Joseph Stiglitz, recent nondemocratic actions by the American government in response to the global economic crisis clearly indicate that “Market fundamentalism is dead.” Nevertheless, such a demise is hardly worth mourning, and indeed this may be an appropriate time to more carefully consider what can be learned from the economic models of other nations that enjoy a much higher quality of life, superior education, and increasing prosperity (regardless of whether the conditions of America’s wealthiest 5% are included in such comparisons). Nowadays, with repeated rejections of any new taxation - often due to understandable voter frustration regarding government corruption - many state governments in the USA are becoming bankrupt and increasingly incapable of effectively supporting arts programs, public schools and higher education. Meanwhile, international-comparative tests continue to demonstrate that assessable student knowledge in the USA has plummeted to academic levels inferior to most industrialized nations, jeopardizing the intellect of future generations, all while unnecessary wars are projected to cost 3 trillion dollars as well as an incalculable price in terms of damaged international relations. Rampant market fundamentalism has ensured that financial services, insurance providers, and military contractors attain unprecedented profits from exploitation of the most ignorant and vulnerable people, while media corporations (like Fox Broadcasting) offer "news" formats that promote distracting myths attuned to the agenda of corporate sponsors and serve to perpetuate market fundamentalist ideology, causing widespread frustration only to be combined with misinformation regarding the true source of these problems. Moreover, those who dare expose the truth are branded "unpatriotic liberals" or even "terrorists".

Even Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve (and a clarinetist), was eventually forced to admit that free market ideology is fundamentally flawed. Still, this ideology continues to be promoted by poorly educated politicians and entertainers such as Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, who enjoy remarkable popularity in the United States.

These are very complicated times in the United States, and it will be especially interesting to see over time how the challenges of this ethos are reflected in the music of such a turbulent era. Will the Britney Spears model survive, or will there be more interest in musical and lyrical substance? What effects will recent economic shifts have on the production, marketing, and distribution of music recordings? What forms of music will survive in American public schools? As market fundamentalism dies, we must envision what can arise from its corporate ashes, how this will affect other nations in the world and America's role among them, and whether - despite the pervasive meddling of anonymous campaign financiers - a transparent and egalitarian democracy might manage to prevail over exploitative globalization and predatory free market capitalism. With the demise of market fundamentalism, the feeble foundations of utilitarian educational policies are increasingly exposed, which surely leads to wider recognition that new approaches are needed, engendering new possibilities for the musical future of the United States.

Historical Ethnomusicology

2010-12-19T19:51:00.001-08:00

The Historical Ethnomusicology special interest group is launching a new website:

http://historicalethnomusicology.blogspot.com/

Historical ethnomusicology is a field of study concerned with the history of music in diverse sociocultural contexts around the world.

End of Institutionalized Prejudice in Military Bands

2010-12-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

For decades, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and preceding policies have reportedly been a difficult challenge for many American musicians serving in military bands and studying music in military academies. While there has often been a gap between official policies and actual practices, these anti-gay policies have surely promoted bullying and discouraged some highly talented wind and percussion musicians from studying and teaching in military academies across a period of many years. Now military policies will be modified according to changing views regarding sexuality, social justice, and human rights.

Today the American government voted to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, one consequence being that military musicians will no longer be automatically discharged simply due to their sexual orientation.

The article linked below offers details on this story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121801729.html

Wikileaks Access: The Erosion of Freedom and Suppression of Truth

2010-12-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Although this website has generally maintained a focus on issues in music and society, across recent weeks it has become necessary to expand the scope to consideration of a topic that has enormous implications for educational practices in terms of access to accurate information and knowledge: the largest release of confidential information in human history. Although this topic may at first seem to have no direct relationship to music, it is likely to have important implications for the freedom to write about music (or any other topic) in the future, to share information across national boundaries, and to teach the truth about society and international affairs, of which musical practices are a meaningful component.

Glenn Greenwald’s blog with Salon has consistently produced some of the most illuminating insights regarding American media spin in the Wikileaks story. Greenwald is a constitutional lawyer, bestselling author, and multiple award-winning investigative journalist:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html

http://firedoglake.com/key-wikileaks-manning-articles/

http://firedoglake.com/merged-manning-lamo-chat-logs/

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/01/10/fear

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/28/cnnn/index.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-manning-20110110,0,3558552.story

Visit this website for more information on Glenn Greenwald, one of the few high-profile journalists who actually does his research and writes with both bravery and integrity:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10302009/profile3.html

Sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, PhD (author of the blog Technosociology) has also offered new insights in The Atlantic:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/wikileaks-exposes-internets-dissent-tax-not-nerd-supremacy/68397/

Investigative journalist Ben Barber shares a particularly illuminating analysis in the Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-diplomacy-20101228,0,6104149.story

Here is a very important article by Geoffrey Stone, professor of law at the University of Chicago and the chairman of the board of the American Constitution Society:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/opinion/04stone.html

According to Stephen Lendman, “No one since WikiLeaks began publishing was harmed. In contrast, Washington's imperial wars harmed millions at home and abroad with no accountability or acknowledgement by America's dominant media, portraying lawless conflicts as liberating ones. As a result, "truth emergency" conditions demand that whistleblowers and independent writers do what corporate-paid ones don't - their job.”

"Shield Act Targets First Amendment Freedoms" - by Stephen Lendman

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/01/09/18668644.php

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/01/cablegate-disclosures-have-furthered-investigative

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/blogs/the_angle/2011/01/by_alan_berger_1.html

Indeed, the extremely biased coverage of Wikileaks now seen in the American corporate news media merely repeats the widespread pattern of nationalistic narrative forced by media executives (at such places as Fox) from the earliest stages of the Iraq War:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2008/05/29/yellin/print.html

http://www.alternet.org/story/149369/8_smears_and_misconceptions_about_wikileaks_spread_by_the_media/

Rather than reporting on the implications of extensive deception and corruption exposed by Wikileaks, American voters are intentionally misled by their own news media with the distracting claim that Wikileaks is a “terrorist organization” determined to attack the USA. This represents a classic public relations control tactic designed to distract and thereby limit the kind of genuine critical debate that would promote authentic democracy. It is useful to openly acknowledge that this is exactly the form of media control strategy that is typically propagated by "Psych Ops" branches of military that are charged with manipulating public opinion during wartime with the intent of inspiring support among civilians for ongoing military efforts (many of which are problematized by Wikileaks-related revelations). In other words, if you are an American and you believe - like the majority of Americans do nowadays - that Wikileaks is a terrorist organization engaged in espionage and other forms of subversive and illegal activity, it is because that is exactly what you are encouraged to believe.

For an alternative perspective, consider examining international news media and organizations led by experts in such topics as media and law. Please see the Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and International Federation of Journalists websites for further information regarding recent developments in the suppression of Wikileaks, as well as the proclamation by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Each of these major international organizations has expressed concern regarding the threat to free speech and human rights represented by the extremist nationalist position taken by some American politicians, as reported in the American media, some of whom have openly declared that leaders of Wikileaks are "terrorists" who should be "hunted down":

http://www.cidh.oas.org/relatoria/showarticle.asp?artID=829&lID=1

http://en.rsf.org/wikileaks-hounded-04-12-2010,38958.html

http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/12/wikileaks-internet-censorship-united-states/

http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-condemns-united-states-desperate-and-dangerous-backlash-over-wikileaks

http://www.ifex.org/international/2010/12/01/wikileaks_cablegate/

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/14/q-human-rights-and-wikileaks-cable-release

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/wikileaks-and-freedom-expression-2010-12-09

Reporters Without Borders writes the following regarding this matter:

"This is the first time we have seen an attempt at the international community level to censor a website dedicated to the principle of transparency. We are shocked to find countries such as France and the United States suddenly bringing their policies on freedom of expression into line with those of China. We point out that in France and the United States, it is up to the courts, not politicians, to decide whether or not a website should be closed."

"Reporters Without Borders can only condemn this determination to hound Assange and reiterates its conviction that WikiLeaks has a right under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment to publish these documents and is even playing a useful role by making them available to journalists and the greater public. We stress that any restriction on the freedom to disseminate this body of documents will affect the entire press, which has given detailed coverage to the information made available by WikiLeaks, with five leading international newspapers actively cooperating in preparing it for publication. Reporters Without Borders would also like to stress that it has always defended online freedom and the principle of “Net neutrality,” according to which Internet Service Providers and hosting companies should play no role in choosing the content that is placed online"

Prosecution of Wikileaks could lead to changes in the law which would make it more difficult for anyone to ever report on government or corporate secrets (including corruption or scandals that affect us all), severely impeding access to accurate, truthful information:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/11/30/wikileaks_espionage_act

Some internet-related companies are making it difficult to access Wikileaks, to offer support, or even allegedly to objectively monitor public interest in its work.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20024973-503543.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20024978-503543.html

The Columbia University School of Journalism has issued the following statement: “while we hold varying opinions of Wikileaks’ methods and decisions, we all believe that in publishing diplomatic cables Wikileaks is engaging in journalistic activity protected by the First Amendment” . . . “as a historical matter, government overreaction to publication of leaked material in the press has always been more damaging to American democracy than the leaks themselves.”

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/110885/columbia-j-school-staff-wikileaks-prosecution-sets-dangerous-precedent/

One conscientious statesman, John Conyers has also dared to remind American politicians of their responsibilities to uphold basic human rights despite pressure to the contrary, with the assertion that “being unpopular is not a crime”: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/16/conyers_on_wikileaks/

According to Professor Gary Sick (Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs), “If anyone is a master’s student in international relations and they haven’t heard of WikiLeaks and gone looking for the documents that relate to their area of study, then they don’t deserve to be a graduate student in international relations.”

Interestingly, the opinions of experts differ strikingly from that of politicians such as Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee who claim that the leaders of WikiLeaks are “terrorists,” with Huckabee even calling for executions. See the articles linked below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121102602.html

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/columbia-wikileaks-policy/

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/30/mike-huckabee-execute-wikileaks-cable-source/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8171269/Sarah-Palin-hunt-WikiLeaks-founder-like-al-Qaeda-and-Taliban-leaders.html

http://www.acslaw.org/acsblog/node/17772?gclid=COS5qMGs2qUCFa5k7Aod3U7VnA

http://www.acslaw.org/node/17666

http://www.lasisblog.com/2010/11/12/wikileaks-has-committed-no-crime/

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mediadiary/index.php/australianmedia/comments/julian1/

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/08/131884250/nyt-reporter-defends-publishing-wikileaks-cables

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120804038.html

Here is a link to an informative video entitled "Why the World Needs Wikileaks":

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/UGQs2WEYs98/

Here is a link to an article in which the Prime Minister of Australia correctly acknowledges that Wikileaks is not at fault:

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Australian-FM-Blames-US-Not-Assange-for-WikiLeaks-111514949.html

Other experts agree that there is no convincing legal basis for attacks against Wikileaks, and that calls to assassinate its leaders, on the other hand, are definitely illegal.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s3089025.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11966193

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11952817

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/whos-googling-wikileaks-t_n_795099.html

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/04/why-journalists-aren-t-defending-julian-assange.html

Here is a link to OpenLeaks, another anonymous whistleblower website:

http://openleaks.org/

According to Birgitta Jonsdottir (Minister of Parliament, Iceland), "The U.S. government is trying to criminalize whistleblowing and publication of whistleblowing material."

Twitter is being compelled to provide private information regarding its Wikileaks-related customers, but has admirably resisted covert data collection by insisting on public disclosure of inappropriate government demands:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1716100/why-twitter-was-the-only-company-to-challenge-the-secret-wikileaks-subpoena

http://gigaom.com/2011/01/08/twitter-doj-wikileaks/

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/shanerichmond/100006140/wikileaks-twitter-deserves-credit-for-defending-its-users-rights/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/world/09wiki.html

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/most-back-wikileaks-and-oppose-prosecution-20110105-19gb1.html

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=40764&ew_0_a_id=372293

Wikileaks in Hattiesburg, Mississippi:

http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/2010/08/20/wikileaks-lawyer-says-pentagon-has-been-given-codes-granting-access-to-unpublished-secret-documents.html

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_16762048

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-blocks-access-federal

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/211958/china_blocks_access_to_wikileaks.html

Here is a link to an article by the chief editor of Wired magazine, entitled "Why Wikileaks is Good for America":

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/wikileaks-editorial/

According to the above article, "Instead of encouraging online service providers to blacklist sites and writing new espionage laws that would further criminalize the publication of government secrets, we should regard WikiLeaks as subject to the same first amendment rights that protect The New York Times. And as a society, we should embrace the site as an expression of the fundamental freedom that is at the core of our Bill of Rights, not react like Chinese corporations that are happy to censor information on behalf of their government to curry favor."

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=228900072&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All

A Norwegian newspaper allegedly already has all unreleased Wikileaks cables:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wikileaks-leak-norwegian-paper-claims-access-entire-cache/story?id=12459571

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

In the interests of democracy and freedom of information, below is a list of alternative "mirror sites" at which Wikileaks may be accessed, so citizens can decide for themselves. The website is currently being attacked by corporations determined to shut it down and restrict all access. Although some of the recent disclosures of Wikileaks seem ill-advised, all efforts to secretly attack and eliminate a website on political grounds (particularly one that merely provides free access to information) should be vigorously resisted as a matter of principle.

It should be clear that censorship, death threats and cyber-attacks are not appropriate responses to the exposure of secret activities due to security failures. Rather, the only appropriate solutions would be 1) to minimize inappropriate actions (e.g. oppressive and deceptive behaviors) among corporations and governments so public exposure is not such an issue, and 2) to fix security procedures in cases where some privacy is essential to the success of an organization. Attacking the media with death threats for merely sharing accurate information voluntarily provided to them, whether mainstream or in internet form is unhelpful. The publishing of truthful information that is freely given to a media outlet has nothing whatsoever to do with espionage or terrorism. Rather, in a functional democracy, news media have an obligation to keep voters informed regarding the actions of their government. Condemning media for manipulating public opinion through lies and "spin" however, is appropriate, but that accusation has not been made of Wikileaks. That kind of problem is more characteristic of popular entertainment corporations such as Fox News.

The following statements regarding organizational secrecy are attributed to Assange from his blog on the final day of 2006:

“The more secretive or unjust an organization is, the more leaks induce fear and paranoia in its leadership and planning coterie. This must result in minimization of efficient internal communications mechanisms (an increase in cognitive "secrecy tax") and consequent system-wide cognitive decline resulting in decreased ability to hold onto power as the environment demands adaption. Hence in a world where leaking is easy, secretive or unjust systems are nonlinearly hit relative to open, just systems. Since unjust systems, by their nature induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of governance. Only revealed injustice can be answered; for man to do anything intelligent he has to know what's actually going on.”

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

Above is a link to the Iraq Body Count project, mentioned by Assange in his discussion with Larry King. Iraq Body Count project is a massive research inquiry founded by leading music psychologists such as John Sloboda, Eric Clarke, and Scott Lipscomb.

Here is content from the Wikileaks website that describes the objectives and legal basis for its activities:

“WikiLeaks has sustained and triumphed against legal and political attacks designed to silence our publishing organisation, our journalists and our anonymous sources. The broader principles on which our work is based are the defence of freedom of speech and media publishing, the improvement of our common historical record and the support of the rights of all people to create new history. We derive these principles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In particular, Article 19 inspires the work of our journalists and other volunteers. It states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. We agree, and we seek to uphold this and the other Articles of the Declaration.”

“WikiLeaks is the winner of:

the 2008 Economist Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression award
the 2009 Amnesty International human rights reporting award (New Media)

WikiLeaks has a history breaking major stories in major media outlets and robustly protecting sources and press freedoms. We have never revealed a source. We do not censor material. Since formation in 2007, WikiLeaks has been victorious over every legal (and illegal) attack, including those from the Pentagon, the Chinese Public Security Bureau, the Former president of Kenya, the Premier of Bermuda, Scientology, the Catholic & Mormon Church, the largest Swiss private bank, and Russian companies. WikiLeaks has released more classified intelligence documents than the rest of the world press combined.”

“In its landmark ruling on the Pentagon Papers, the US Supreme Court ruled that 'only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.' We agree.”

The ruling stated that "paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and sending them off to distant lands to die of foreign fevers and foreign shot and shell."

It is easy to perceive the connection between publication and the complaints people make about publication. But this generates a perception bias, because it overlooks the vastness of the invisible. It overlooks the unintended consequences of failing to publish and it overlooks all those who are emancipated by a climate of free speech. Such a climate is a motivating force for governments and corporations to act justly. If acting in a just manner is easier than acting in an unjust manner, most actions will be just.

Sufficient principled leaking in tandem with fearless reporting will bring down administrations that rely on concealing reality from their own citizens.

Here are lyrics to the video linked above:

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/6455812

Bradley Manning, formerly saxophonist in an American high school band:

http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/dispute-over-confinement-of-wikileaks-suspect-echoes-guantanamo-chaplain-case/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Mirror List

Wikileaks is currently mirrored on 208 sites (updated 2010-12-05 19:43 GMT)

wikileaks.as50620.net	wikileaks.tard.is ipv6	freeus.jsdev.org
wikileaks.enzym.su	freeus.jsdev.org	wikileaks.cellue.de
wikileaks.kafe-in.net ipv6	wl.opsec.eu ipv6	wl.donatepl0x.com
wikileaks.challet.eu	wikileaks.kister.org	wl.gernox.de
wikileaks.morningtime.com	wikileaks.renout.nl	wikileaks.fdn.fr
wikileaks.gonte.se	wikileaks.kaptenkong.se	wikileaksmirror.proxelsus-hosting.de ipv6
leaks.gooby.org	wikileaks.dubronetwork.fr ipv6	wikileaks.perry.ch
wikileaks.sbr.im	wikileaks.u0d.de	wikileaks.81-89-98-125.blue.kundencontro...
www.fuckip.de	wikileaks.psytek.net	wl.mrkva.eu
wikileaks.joworld.net	wikileaks.chiquitico.org	wikileaks.rout0r.org
www.gruiiik.org	wikileaks.high-color.de	wikileaks.holarse-linuxgaming.de ipv6
wl.alfeldr.de	wikileaks.huissoud.ch	wikileaks.geekview.be
wikileaks.dysternis.de	wikileaks.nulset.net	wikileaks.franslundberg.com
wikileaks.krkr.eu ipv6	wl.yoltie.net	wikileaks.zeitkunst.org
wikileaks.aelmans.eu	wikileaks.serverius.net	wikileaks.synssans.nl
wl.ernstchan.net	wikileaks.yasaw.net	zwartemarktplaats.com
wikileaks.dena-design.de	wikileaks.zone84.net	wikileaks.iuwt.fr
wikileaks.chmod.fi	wlmirror.wildeboer.net	leaked.rndm.ath.cx
wikileaks.splichy.cz	wleaks.3sge.pulsedmedia.com	wleaks.hellfire.pulsedmedia.com
wikileaks.palisades-berlin.de	wikileaks.razor1911.com	wikileaks.dokansoft.com.ar
wikileaks.thinkfurther.de	wikileaks.trankil.info	wikileaks.gonte2.nu
leaks.stumcomie.com	wikileaks.timburke.org	wikileaks.ehcdev.com
wikileaks.myscripts24.de	wikileaks.breit.ws	wikileaks.emilts.com
wikileaks.ruicruz.pt	wikileaks.now-pages.com	wikileaks.ego-world.org
cablegate.r3blog.nl ipv6	www.wikileakz.eu	wikileaks.realprogrammer.org
wikileaks.the-secret-world.info	wikileaks.rtjuette.de	wikileaks.rustigereigers.nl
mirror1.wikileaks.lu	mirror2.wikileaks.lu	internaluse.net
wikileaks.r00t.la	wikileaks.cordover.id.au	brd.mcbf.net
wikileaks.spurious.biz	wikileaks.1407.org	wikileaks.mollar.me
azow.selb.us	wikileaks.furdev.org	wikileaks.datkan.net ipv6
wikileaks.threefingers.ca	wikileaks.brenne.nu ipv6	www.anontalk.com
wikileaks.hutonline.nl	vm8157.vps.tagadab.com	nl1.wikileaksmirror.nl
wikileaks.noomad.org	wikileaks.xcplanet.com	www.wikileaks.nw-ds.com
wikileaks.infinium.org.uk	wikileaks.piratskasit.cz	peoplerule.info
wikileaks.sirobert.com	wikileaks.solvare.se	wikileaks.marktaff.com
wikileaks.hmaks.com	im.wikileak.im	wikileaks.yoerin.nl
wikileaks.siwhine.org	wikileaks.schroth.cx	wikileaks.delight.ch
wikileaks.moochm.de	wikileaks.syncaddict.net	www.hallitus.info
info.patourie-systems.com	wikileaks.softic.cz	wikileaks.redhog.org
wikileaks.brokenbydesign.org	wikileaks.nisd.dk	wikileaks.sentientrobot.net
wikileaks.kronoss.org	wikileaks.s4ku.com	wikileaks.glembotzky.com
wikileaks.nperfection.com	wikileaks.laquadrature.net	wikileaks.legrandsoir.info
wikileaks.artwww.net	wikileaks.39mm.net	leaks.uaqv.com
wikileaks.krtek.net	www.emilts.com	leaks.3nglish.co.uk
wikileaks.explain-it.org	wikileaks.dunnewind.net	wl.fcharlier.net
wikileaks.datenscheibe.org	wikileaks.kapitein.org	www.wikileaks.djity.net
wikileaks.listepik.net	wikileaks.explain-it.org	wikileaks.sedrati-dinet.net
wikileaks.rigacci.org	wikileaks.ratm.ch	wikileaks.tonbnc.fr
cablegate.sentientrobot.net	wikileaks.ist-bremer.de	wikileaks.spinrise.com
wikileaks.rothnet.org	wikileaks.webtito.be ipv6	wikileaks.lainconscienciadepablo.net
wikileaks.g33kthug.co.uk	wikileaks.b166er.net	wikileaksmirror.matstace.me.uk
87.106.58.253	wikileaks.virii.lu	wikileaks.junkle.org
leaks.iamfos.co	wikileaks.wass-media.com	wikileaks.karlsen.co
wikileaks.lupine.me.uk ipv6	wikileaks.webprofiles.org	wikileaks.azatoth.net
wl.unbloggbar.org	santocristo.info	wikileaks.back2hack.cc
wikileaks.supercrapule.com	wl.treymassingill.com	wikileaks.poliisi.mobi
wikileaks.karlsen.co	wikileaks.rickfalkvinge.se	wikileaks.amette.eu
wikileaks.batsh.it	wikileaks.freei.me	wikileaks.chsdl.de
last.to	wikileaks.rackstack.com	wikileaks.serverlicious.org
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wikileaks.afturgurluk.org	wikileaks.phasebook.net	wikileaks.emquadat.com
wikileaks3.no-ip.org	wikileaks.hermans.net	wikileaks.urli.eu
wikileaks.laotracarboneria.net	wikileaks.datapusher.net	wikileaks.citizen-boycott.org
wikileaks.in-edv.de	wl.hor.de	wl.rekursion.ch
naixt-genne.com	wikileaks.aircraftdispatch.net	wikileaks.2qt.us
wikileaks.rhgnet.de	wikileaks.xgstatic.fr	wikileaks.medienfuzzis.com
wl.creative-guerillas.com	wikileaks.para-dice.de	wikileaks.bandsal.at ipv6
wikileaks.concretedonkey.cz.cc	wikileaks.oualid.net	wikileaks.webterrorist.net
wikileaks.theano.de	wikileaks.electric-castle.net	wikileaks.jotocorp.com
wikileaks.canariaswireless.net

Musical Instrument Grants

2010-12-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

The NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) has recently announced its WannaPlay grants opportunity, which provides musical instruments for community and school ensembles in the USA that are in need of additional instruments.

In order to qualify for these grants, ensemble supporting organizations must meet the following criteria (quoted from the NAMM website):

“Public schools serving low-income students; percentage of free and reduced lunch data required
Community organizations servicing low-income students and students with special needs; community demographic information required
Schools and community programs that have made a commitment to hiring and retaining high-quality music teachers and providing standards-based, sequential learning in music”

An online grant application is available here: http://www.nammfoundation.org/grant-information/apply-grant-and-scholarship.

Wikileaks and Fox Half-Truths in America

2010-11-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

Musicians, teachers, and scholars living in the USA often express their frustration that many Americans seem obsessed with consumerism and mundane entertainment, and uninterested in such enduring matters as the arts, history, philosophy, science, and global affairs. In such a complex milieu, the value of music and other arts tends to be widely unrecognized and under-supported. What has been the role of news media in exacerbating this problem?

The series of recent disclosures on Wikileaks is troubling, yet the broader implications are especially interesting to consider in light of what former President Jimmy Carter has described as “the total distortion of the news that Fox Broadcasting has perpetrated on the American people.”

The larger issue here is the extent to which common American citizens have access to accurate information, enabling them to be even minimally informed and educated about the actions of their own government and the role of American corporations around the world, as well as the extent to which they are stimulated by media to think critically about the world around them across their lifespan. The most popular news organization in the USA today is Fox News. Despite its popularity, Fox is infamous (both worldwide and among American academics and journalism experts) as an extremely biased broadcaster that disseminates inaccurate accounts of current events tainted by a nationalistic and corporate-capitalist agenda. What is worse is that Fox also tends to oversimplify all matters, consistently suggesting that there are only two sides to each issue. Its broadcasts therefore condition viewers to adopt an inflexible world view through modeling of oversimplistic, unimaginative, and non-empathetic analysis of topics that consist almost exclusively of politics, financial matters, and competitive team sports. Even Al Jazeera’s news programming is far superior in terms of both accuracy and balance, but most Americans have never had the opportunity to watch it. Many Americans have also never seen the BBC, and many are unable to access alternatives to Fox News. Fox News is even prominently displayed in an array of public spaces, including the boarding gates of many American airports. Indeed, the United States would be a very different country today if Fox News did not exist, or if it were at least required to meet strict standards in order to use the term "news" in connection with its broadcasts.

“A lot of gullible folks in the United States actually believe what Fox puts forward as facts, when most of it is just complete distortions” – Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States.

Although some recent actions of Wikileaks are ethically questionable and cannot be encouraged, one positive outcome is that it will become increasingly difficult for Fox News commentators and other propaganda outlets to continue systematically deceiving American citizens regarding the practices of their own government and American corporations, and it is possible that citizens of the USA may become better educated regarding the reality of America’s role in the world. The data is all there for those willing to examine it, if they actually want to know the truth. Although some of these kinds of disclosures are regrettable, it will admittedly be amusing to see sly Fox personalities Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly (Rush Limbaugh, too) continue trying to lie their way around facts now - despite ever-growing mountains of contrary evidence - spinning their usual Fox half-truths for their gullible and ever-loyal fans.

Perhaps, in time, these kinds of unfortunate disclosures will actually lead to more responsible and transparent governance as well as an American press that is less influenced by its corporate sponsorship and ratings, and maybe eventually even pressure for greater access to foreign media broadcasts within the United States (such as the BBC, Al Jazeera, etc.), so Americans are able to better understand how the USA is viewed from abroad.

For an enlightening empirical analysis of the political agenda of Fox's owner Rupert Murdoch please see the following research study: David McKnight, "Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation: A Media Institution with A Mission," Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television, Sept 2010, Vol. 30 Issue 3, pp 303-316.

For those interested in gaining a more accurate interpretation of recent world news, here are some useful resources:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/28/1947638/no-evidence-that-wikileaks-releases.html

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2010/10/at-war-with-wikileaks.html

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp

http://www.fas.org/

http://www.prwatch.org/

http://en.rsf.org/wikileaks-hounded-04-12-2010,38958.html

http://mediamatters.org/action/dropfox/

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article933915.ece

http://wikileaks.ch/mirrors.html

Forbes magazine writes the following about Wikileaks:
“In January 2008 the site posted documents alleging that the Swiss bank Julius Baer hid clients’ profits from even the Swiss government, concealing them in what seemed to be shell companies in the Cayman Islands. The bank filed a lawsuit against WikiLeaks for publishing data stolen from its clients. Baer later dropped the suit—but managed to stir up embarrassing publicity for itself. The next year WikiLeaks published documents from a pharma trade group implying that its lobbyists were receiving confidential documents from and exerting influence over a World Health Organization project to fund drug research in the developing world. The resulting attention helped crater the WHO project. In September 2009 commodities giant Trafigura filed an injunction that prevented British media from mentioning a damaging internal report. The memo showed the company had dumped tons of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, chemicals that allegedly sickened 100,000 locals. But it couldn’t stop WikiLeaks from publishing the information. Trafigura eventually paid more than $200 million in settlements.”

Forbes even proposes that efforts to miminize corruption and increase ethical practices may be the most effective response to the emergence of WikiLeaks and related organizations:

“How can an American corporation respond to a Wiki attack? Lawsuits won’t work: WikiLeaks is legally shielded in the U.S. by its role as a mere conduit for documents. Even if a company somehow won a judgment against WikiLeaks, that wouldn’t shut it down. Assange spreads the site’s assets over many countries. ‘There’s no single target to drop a bomb on,’ says Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University. The best protection? With a dash of irony Icelandic Wiki¬Leaks staffer Kristinn Hrafnsson suggests that companies change their ways to avoid targeting. ‘They should resist the temptation to enter into corruption,’ he says. Don Tapscott, coauthor of The Naked Corporation (Free Press, 2003), agrees. His simplistic conclusion: ‘Open your own kimono. You’re going to be naked. So you have to dig deep, look at your whole operation, make sure that integrity is part of your bones.’ Most corporations, instead, are turning to cybersecurity to shield their private parts.” [Andy Greenberg, “WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange Wants To Spill Your Corporate Secrets” The Firewall, Forbes Magazine, November, 2010].

IS EVERYONE A TERRORIST? If the leaders of Wikileaks are "terrorists" simply for publishing truthful information, then so are most people on the planet who share news with each other. The term terrorism seems to no longer have a specific meaning among American politicians who are eager to make hasty proclamations and even death threats in order to look tough and score political points among uninformed voters. It is unfortunate that politicians are rarely held accountable for making outrageous statements that defy human rights and the rule of law, and merely perpetuate ignorance so power is more easily maintained over an uninformed citizenry.

The Effects of Music

2010-11-27T03:08:00.000-08:00

In just a few more days a music conference will be held in Bergen, Norway, entitled The Effects of Music. I very much look forward to participating and giving my presentation entitled "Education Reform and the Music Doctorate: Current Issues in Europe and North America" at this event.

According to the conference announcement, “The goal for the seminar is to stimulate interdisciplinary innovative thinking concerning questions that are important in several academic music areas but that are seldom debated on an interdisciplinary level. Many different approaches will be presented, e.g. theoretic, historical, educational, therapeutic as well as artistic point of views. Through exploring different topics in music, such as interpretation, reception, educational use etc. the relations between different parts of music will be articulated and discussed. The seminar will consist of academic and artistic presentations and debates. The presentations will be in Norwegian the first day and in English the second day.”

Further above is an image of Norse explorer Leif Erikson, who visited America around 500 years before Columbus “discovered” it. Since 1964, the USA has officially recognized October 9 as Leif Erikson Day, since that on that day in 1825 the first large group of Norwegian immigrants arrived in New York.

Damascus

2010-11-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Damascus: possibly the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

Below are images of (1) nearby, the ancient city of Ma'loula (where probably the world's oldest churches -- founded by St. Paul -- are located and Aramaic is still spoken), (2) the new Damascus Opera House, (3) the spice market of Old Damascus, (4) the magnificent Umayyad Mosque, a sacred site which enshrines Hussayn (grandson of Mohammed) and unique relics that even include "John the Baptist's head", and (5) a meal with Syrian Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Nahel Al Halabi and concert pianist Dr. Chaden Yafi (leading young classical musicians affiliated with the opera and conservatory).

I taught a workshop today for trumpeters at the conservatory, following a meeting with the Director of the opera house, and then had a marvelous meal and visited various sites in Old Damascus. The architecture, design, spices and calligraphy were all certainly memorable, but the ecstatic singing and tearful prayers at these sacred sites were especially impressive.

Abu Dhabi

2010-11-21T02:36:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying Abu Dhabi today. The call to prayer, heard many times per day all throughout the city, has a very musical sound to it, although not usually acknowledged as a form of music. Yesterday I taught a seminar in Norway, advising graduate students on research plans for their theses. The mosques of Abu Dhabi are certainly a contrast to the elegant old wooden buildings of Bergen, but both cities have impressive contemporary architecture as well, and the latest architecture of nearby Dubai is also truly astonishing. I visited this ultra-modern city today with my sister Christina (below). Later this week I will travel to Syria, where I look forward to visiting the Opera House of Damascus. Here are some photos I took yesterday and today at the world's tallest building and the eighth largest mosque, both here in United Arab Emirates. We also managed to visit the Emirates Palace on the same evening the Queen of England arrived, so security was unusually tight.

Give Peace a Chance

2010-11-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

At the 30th annual John Lennon tribute, the Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF) is now announcing its Power to the People campaign to raise awareness and funding for peace-building music education programs.

More information:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playing-for-change-foundation-and-theatre-within-advance-john-lennons-vision-for-peace-with-power-to-the-people-campaign-107595123.html

RIP Gorecki

2010-11-13T20:14:00.001-08:00

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki (December 6, 1933 – November 12, 2010)

Composers Discuss Music Education

2010-10-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

Here are links to some very interesting videos of contemporary American composers discussing music education along with performances of a few of their pieces. Joseph Schwantner explains what he owes to the teacher who taught him as a child, while Joan Tower describes the gap between composer and classical performer that has been formed by misguided educational practices and proposes some practical solutions to this widespread problem.

Joseph Schwantner’s musical education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otL4D9DABg8&feature=related

Schwantner: Black Anemones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVraF6ciyx8

Joan Tower discusses issues in composition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXIFArjXT0M&feature=channel

(mentions education at 1:19)

Joan Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm8EZj5skY8

Music Education and Global Responsibility

2010-10-15T08:52:00.001-07:00

In a recent issue of the Finnish Journal of Music Education, Rauni Rasanen writes of how “Music with its words, melodies and rhythm has a very holistic effect on people. Still, if these methods can be used to build prejudices they are equally efficient when deconstructing them” (2010. p.22). Professor Rasanen reminds readers that in the contemporary world “international connections are not only natural, but also necessary” and that a reflective and compassionate awareness of “global responsibility” belongs in teacher education programs, including those in the field of music.

Historian Goldwin Smith is credited with first introducing the phrase “Above all nations is humanity,” which has since become a popular motto used in various ways by such institutions as Cornell University, University of Hawaii, University of Illinois, and University of Southern Mississippi. Few, it seems, would claim to be opposed to this idea. Nevertheless, music curricula rarely reflect a commitment to the spirit of this motto in terms of either careful representation of global heritage on the one hand, or proper restraint in terms of the promotion of nationalistic ideology on the other.

I am pleased to report that we have now obtained a contract to publish a book in 2011 entitled Patriotism and Nationalism in Music Education, which will directly examine the phenomenon of national identity construction in music education from a global perspective, with particular attention to how patriotic music has been used in various nations in the past, and how it might most appropriately fit within a curriculum that seeks to represent contemporary values and concerns among multicultural nations. Contributors include several of the most widely published young scholars in the field of music education. While there are many purely musical rationales (e.g. development of compositional and performance ability, enhanced aural skills and general musical knowledge, etc.) for including an array of genres such as patriotic or non-western music in any curriculum, this book will discuss the implications of how the power of music is also frequently used for ideological purposes that may lend support to those who advocate either war or peace.

Below is the opening material for the book I have developed with Alexandra Kertz-Welzel:

Hebert, D. G. & Kertz-Welzel, A. (Eds.) (forthcoming, 2011). Patriotism and Nationalism in Music Education. [Contributors: Simon Keller, Jane Southcott, Kari Veblen, Ambigay Yudkoff, Carlos Abril, CheeHoo Lum, Eugene Dairianathan, Amy Beegle, Wai-Chung Ho, Marja Heimonen, David G. Hebert, Alexandra Kertz-Welzel].

Patriotism and Nationalism

in Music Education

Edited by

David G. Hebert and

Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

Abstract

Music has long served as an emblem of national identity in educational systems throughout the world. Patriotic songs are commonly considered healthy and essential ingredients of school curriculum, nurturing the respect, loyalty and “good citizenship” of students. But to what extent have music educators critically examined the potential benefits and costs of nationalism? Globalization in the contemporary world has revolutionized the nature of international relationships, such that patriotism may merit rethinking as an objective for music education. The fields of “peace studies” and “education for international understanding” may better reflect current values shared by the profession, values that often conflict with the nationalistic impulse. This is the first book to introduce an international dialogue on this important theme.

Contents

Introduction

David G. Hebert and Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

Preface: On Patriotism and Education

Simon Keller

1 Patriotism and Music Education: An International Overview

David G. Hebert

2 Lesson Learned? In Search for Patriotism and Nationalism in the German Music Education Curriculum

Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

3 Nationalism and School Music in Australia

Jane Southcott

4 National Identity in the Taiwanese System of Music Education

Wai-Chung Ho

5 A National Anthem: Patriotic Symbol or Democratic Action?

Carlos R. Abril

6 Nationalism and Patriotism: The Experience of an Indian

Diaspora in South Africa

Ambigay Raidoo Yudkoff

7 Soundscapes of a Nation(alism): Perspectives from Singapore

Chee-Hoo Lum and Eugene Dairianathan

8 Conflicting Perspectives on Patriotism within Music Education in the United States During Wartime

Amy C. Beegle

9 "We Stand on Guard for Thee": National Identity in Canadian Music Education

Kari K. Veblen

10 Nationalism and Music Education: A Finnish Perspective

Marja Heimonen and David G. Hebert

11 Conclusions and Recommendations

David G. Hebert and Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

Music Conference in Norway

2010-10-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

[Photo: Petr Šmerkl, Wikipedia.]

I look forward to another visit to Bergen, Norway in November for a conference entitled The Effects of Music.

Below are links to more information about this lovely country:

Norway Country Profile (BBC): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1023276.stm

Standard of Living, Norway: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article828724.ece

Living in Norway: http://www.studyinnorway.no/sn/Living-in-Norway

Culture Net Norway: http://www.kulturnett.no/index.jsp?&lang=en

Statistics Norway: http://www.ssb.no/english/

Norway Public Sector: http://www.norway.no/

Norway Country Profile (CIA): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html

MusicNet West (graduate music studies consortium): http://www.musicwest.no/

USM Faculty Jazz Combo

2010-10-09T15:41:00.001-07:00

It is very nice to be performing music again in the USA with some excellent jazz musicians. Today I played trumpet and sang with the University of Southern Mississippi Faculty Jazz Combo, led by outstanding saxophonist Larry Panella. We performed a set of several jazz standards at an outdoor barbecue for the Homecoming Week events at the university. The student jazz combo also performed, and sounded superb!

Terence Blanchard

2010-10-04T13:00:00.001-07:00

Renowned jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard is performing at University of Southern Mississippi in just a few more days!

More information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7pbEB65Sq8

http://www.terenceblanchard.com/main.html

Music Psychotherapy Among Refugees

2010-10-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

The doctoral defense of Sami Alanne will be held on October 23, 2010 at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finand. His dissertation, entitled "Music Psychotherapy with Refugee Survivors of Torture: Interpretations of Three Clinical Case Studies," documents his own music therapy interventions with three immigrant men living in Finland who originally came to Europe from nations in Central Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa. This study combines qualitative observations with data from psychological tests and even factor analysis of events recorded from therapeutic sessions. Alanne originally began his dissertation under emeritus Professor Kai Karma. I worked intensely with Alanne at the Sibelius Academy as his main supervisor across the 2009-2010 academic year, but left Finland for a job in the USA as Alanne was sending out the completed document to reviewers for critique. He will graduate with Sibelius Academy's Lauri Vakeva as his Chair and renowned Norwegian music therapy expert Evan Ruud as the "opponent" reader. I anticipate that Alanne's study will be of great interest to music therapists in multicultural nations who seek to more effectively serve patients from immigrant backgrounds, particularly those who have been traumatized by warfare and other dehumanizing conditions.

Education Reform and the Music Doctorate

2010-10-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

I look forward to presenting a paper for an upcoming conference entitled The Effects of Music, which is hosted by the Musicnet West academic consortium, in Bergen, Norway (November 29-30). Prior to that, I will be visiting Abu Dhabi, and plans are underway for me to give a lecture in Damascus.

Below is the abstract for the presentation in Norway:

Education Reform and the Music Doctorate: Current Issues in Europe and North America

Arising from analysis of policy documents, and illustrated with anecdotes from supervision of doctoral dissertations in both Europe and the USA, this paper proposes a theoretical model for conceptualization of recent changes to the music doctorate. Developments affecting music education doctoral studies in USA have previously been chronicled in a series of publications by David J. Teachout and recent contributions by Patrick M. Jones and Bennett Reimer, as well as various publications associated with the Carnegie Foundation’s extensive project “Re-envisioning the PhD”. The evolving European situation is described in key reports by Ester Tomasi, Joost Vanmaele, and others associated with the Polifonia Third Cycle Working Group and the European Association of Conservatoires, which emerged in response to the EU’s Bologna Process. While these kinds of documents offer a holistic view of the rapidly changing terrain of doctoral (third cycle) education, a rich understanding may also be obtained from qualitative accounts of what occurs at the level of individual students and their mentors, which is where narrative description can provide a helpful supplement. It is hoped that this paper will open some timely issues for consideration, including such topics as online mentoring, research quality assurance, and “artistic research” methodologies, as Norwegian institutions consider various ways to envision the future of music education doctoral programs.

Originality and Institutionalization of Music

2010-09-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasure to learn today that my proposed paper presentation entitled “Originality and Institutionalization: Factors Engendering Resistance to Popular Music Pedagogy in the USA,” has been accepted by the Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium (SMERS VIII: Popular Music Pedagogy), Tampa, Florida (February 2-5, 2011). Below is the abstract.

Originality and Institutionalization:

Factors Engendering Resistance to Popular Music Pedagogy in the USA

Abstract:

The roots of much of the world’s popular music may be traced to blues and rock – styles that originated in the southern Mississippi region in the early 20^th century – yet, when considered from a global perspective, it becomes clear that performance of these genres has been especially slow to gain wide acceptance in schools of their homeland: the USA. This paper begins with identification of some inevitable challenges associated with institutionalization of novel artistic movements, and then contrasts these with sociological and historical factors commonly perceived to have engendered resistance to the growth of popular music pedagogy (PMP). Proponents of PMP typically assert that performance of such genres in schools attracts broader student representation with invaluably visceral opportunities to experience diverse identities via an embodied creativity that ultimately facilitates empathy toward other lifestyles and worldviews. The foundations of PMP in the USA may therefore be interpreted as closely aligned with multicultural music education, yet PMP has faced additional impediments posed by the aforementioned challenges of institutionalization due to its emphasis on creativity and “cutting edge” practices rather than cultural heritage. That PMP is increasingly accepted while genres such as blues and rock come of age (and stake a claim to cultural heritage) is no coincidence. This discussion illustrates the perennial educational challenges posed by originality and cultural diversity in music, as well as the need for research to more fully understand opportunities and risks associated with the array of PMP approaches currently advanced under the banner of democratic ideology.

The Freedom Singers: Their History and Legacy for Music Education

2010-09-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dr. Deanna Frith Weber, who has recently submitted the final version of her dissertation for a doctorate degree in music education from Boston University. Her dissertation is entitled The Freedom Singers: Their History and Legacy for Music Education. Based on interpretation of both original interviews and archival data, this unique study profiles Albany, Georgia’s influential Freedom Singers of the Civil Rights era, and proposes ways that African-American music from this important movement may be effectively used by contemporary educators.

Dr. Weber is an accomplished vocalist and Assistant Professor of Music at Albany State University in Georgia. It was a pleasure to serve on Dr. Weber’s doctoral advisory committee along with Dr. Patti Tolbert of Georgia College and her supervisory professor Dr. Richard Bunbury, of Boston University. Congratulations, Dr. Weber!

Here is the abstract of Dr. Weber's dissertation study:

Abstract:
The original Freedom Singers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) were a group of four young African-Americans, formed in Georgia in 1962, who traveled throughout the United States serving as musical ambassadors for the southern civil rights movement. This is a study of their history, music, and influence. The late 1950s and 1960s was an era of tremendous social upheaval throughout the country; however, this study will focus on the political and musical events which took place in the Deep South, namely Albany, Georgia and the surrounding area. Its cultural landscape was significantly changed by the civil rights era, in which song played an integral part. These changes also had an effect on music education in K-12 classrooms, as school desegregation brought together African Americans and whites, who for the most part, had existed separately from one another, despite their close geographic proximity.

The story of the SNCC Freedom Singers unfolds through interviews with members of the original group, as well as other participants in the Albany Movement (a coalition of workers from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and local citizens’ groups). Interviews were also conducted with people from the area whose lives were impacted by Movement activities. Pertinent source material from archives, library collections, and museums supports an authentic historical narrative. The study also focuses on implications for music education, regarding a variety of issues such as racism, tolerance, and respect for various peoples and cultures. In order to consider the extent to which the civil rights repertory, including freedom songs, is currently in use in music classrooms, particularly in areas of the Deep South, a qualitative survey questionnaire was sent to music teachers in public elementary and middle/junior high schools in five targeted counties in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Data was analyzed using frequency tables, and coded using a grounded theory approach. These findings illuminate possibilities for further research into such areas as cross-disciplinary learning, teacher training, and the continuing incorporation into the school music curriculum of the diverse array of cultural musics found in the United States.

Here is a link to Dr. Weber's website:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/deanna-weber/8/281/400

Challenges of Teaching Music Improvisation

2010-08-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Pignato, who has very recently completed his doctorate degree in music education at Boston University with a dissertation entitled An Analysis of Practical Challenges Posed by Teaching Improvisation: Case Studies in New York State Schools. This insightful study examines two cases of music teachers who have pioneered some innovative approaches to the use of improvisation in school music classrooms. Dr. Pignato is a highly-accomplished professional percussionist and composer who works as an Assistant Professor at State University of New York, Oneonta. It was a great pleasure to serve on his doctoral advisory committee along with Dr. Ron Kos and his supervisory professor Dr. Andrew Goodrich, both of Boston University. Congratulations, Dr. Pignato!

Here is the abstract of Dr. Pignato's dissertation study:

Abstract:

For much of the past century, music education researchers have espoused improvisation as an important tool for developing creativity, self-expression, and aesthetic understanding. Improvisation instruction in American school music programs, however, primarily occurs in two limited areas of activity: jazz performance ensembles and the teaching of select elementary music methods. Comprehensive integration of improvisation instruction in school music curricula beyond those domains or via other idioms rich in improvisation remains relatively uncommon. Researchers in music education have documented improvisation and its applications in elementary music methodologies. A large body of extant literature addresses jazz in school music programs, jazz pedagogical methods, and jazz ensemble student experience. Studies examining improvisation in American school music contexts in regard to other genres or teaching modalities, however, are sparse. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe selected New York State music educators, school music programs, and class settings that make improvisation a central part of their curricula in ways that transcend traditional jazz ensemble or elementary methodology offerings. The author employed a case study methodology to study the classrooms of two teachers over the course of one academic year. Data collection utilized ethnographic techniques including formal oral interviews, classroom observations, and informal conversations. Data analysis employed interpretive coding guided by a constant comparative approach.

Data analysis revealed challenges posed by teaching improvisation in the school music contexts studied including lack of curricular resources supporting improvisation instruction, conflicts with tradition and the expectations of colleagues, parents, students, and administrators, and standing apart from the prevailing practices of colleagues. Four themes emerged from participant narratives during the course of investigation: (a) significant epiphany experiences, (b) protracted personal transformations, (c) intentionality, and (d) concerted advocacy. Suggestions for music education include improving integration of exceptional teachers into prevailing practices in ways that foster a multiplicity of approaches to teaching music “of all periods, styles, forms, and cultures” (Choate, 1968, p. 139), minimizing extrinsic challenges to teaching improvisation in school music contexts, enhancing teacher intentionality, and encouraging advocacy efforts to foster acceptance, cooperation, and deeper understanding of the value of incorporating improvisation in school music programs.

Here is a link to Dr. Pignato's website:

http://www.joepignato.com/

Cultural Translation and Music

2010-07-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

(photo of Gothenburg, Sweden, by Mikael Miettinen)

At the end of August 2010, I participate as an invited speaker for the international Cultural Translation seminar in Sweden at University of Gothenburg, organized by Prof. Noriko Thunman. Below is the abstract of my presentation for this event:

International Perspectives on the Cultural Translation of Musical Meanings

David G. Hebert

For several generations, musicologists have written about similarities between music and language, and reflected on ways that analytical approaches from the field of linguistics may be effectively applied to music. Linguists, however, have generally taken less of an interest in musicological paradigms. Unsurprisingly, a similar trend may be seen in the emerging field of cultural translation, for which it already appears that linguistic discussion may be dominant relative to paradigms associated with research on other forms of cultural discourse (such as music, theatre, dance, visual art, fashion, etc.). What of consequence to intercultural understanding might inevitably be missed by theorization that arises almost exclusively from examination of a single form of discourse as a basis for cultural analysis? Translators routinely grapple with complex meanings embedded in nonlinguistic forms of communication that defy conventional modes of translation, and consequently a holistic and trans-disciplinary theoretical orientation is seemingly desirable to many proponents of cultural translation. Moreover, like language, music certainly qualifies as one of the “fields in which ideological horizons of homogeneity have been conceptualized” (Buden & Nowotny, 2009, p. 206), and postcolonialist scholars such as Homi Bhabha (1994) and Paul Gilroy (1993) have acknowledged its critical role as an emblem of identity within the very sites of cultural hybridity that are of most interest to scholars of cultural translation. According to the positions advanced in many of its seminal documents (Bassnett, 2002; Gentzler, 2001; Sakai, 1997; Toury, 1995), it would appear that analysis of intercultural musical practices – and the ways in which they are explained – merits a place in the field cultural translation. Specifically, systems of music transmission and pedagogy seem to represent especially fertile areas for research on educational issues in cultural translation (Mehl, 2009). Through reflection on experiences with various cross-cultural research projects in music (Hebert, 2010, 2009a, 2009b, 2008a, 2008b; Hebert & Karlsen, 2010; Heimonen & Hebert, 2010), this paper explores various ways that analyses of musical meanings might potentially contribute to the development of robust theories to advance the field of cultural translation.

References:

Bassnett, S. (1980) 2002. Translation studies. London: Routledge.

Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The location of culture. Routledge.

Buden, B. & Nowotny, S. (2009). Cultural translation: An introduction to the problem. Translation Studies, 2(2), 196-208.

Gentzler, E. (1993) 2001. Contemporary translation theories. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Gilroy, P. (1993). The Black Atlantic: Modernity and double consciousness. London: Verso.

Hebert, D. G. (2010, August). Ethnicity and music education: Sociological dimensions. In R. Wright (Ed.), Sociology and Music Education. Aldershot: Ashgate Press.

Hebert, D. G. (2009a). Rethinking the historiography of hybrid genres in music education. In V. Kurkela & L. Vakeva (Eds.), De-Canonizing Music History (pp.163-184). Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Hebert, D. G. (2009b). Musicianship, musical identity and meaning as embodied practice. In T. Regelski & J. T. Gates (Eds.), Music Education for Changing Times: Guiding Visions for Practice (pp.39-55). Dordrecht and New York: Springer Press.

Hebert, D. G. (2008a). Alchemy of brass: Wind music and spirituality in Japan. In E. M. Richards & K. Tanosaki (Eds.), Music of Japan Today (pp. 236-244). Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Hebert, D. G. (2008b). Music transculturation and identity in a Maori brass band tradition. In R. Camus & B. Habla, (Eds.), Alta Musica, 26 (pp. 173-200). Tutzing: Schneider.

Hebert, D. G. & Karlsen, S. (2010, August). Editorial introduction: Multiculturalism and music education. Finnish Journal of Music Education, 13.

Heimonen, M. & Hebert, D. G. (2010). Pluralism and minority rights in music education: Implications of the legal and social philosophical dimensions. Visions of Research in Music Education, 15.

Mehl, M. (2009). Cultural translation in two directions: The Suzuki Method in Japan and Germany. Research and Issues in Music Education, 7.

Sakai, N. (1997). Translation and subjectivity: On “Japan” and cultural nationalism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive translation studies and beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

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Here is a link to my paper from a 2011 conference that extended on the above 2010 conference:
Cultural Translation: Research on Japanese Literature in Northern Europe (2011 symposium proceedings).

Another related link:

http://imerc.blogspot.com/2011/02/lecture-cultural-translation-and-music.html

ISME 2010 in Beijing

2010-07-16T00:05:00.001-07:00

The 2010 world conference of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) will be held in Beijing in a few weeks. I am already on my way there - going early to Japan and China - and making final preparations for some conference presentations. Below are the abstracts for two of my presentations, the second of which is an international symposium I will be chairing. I have been asked to participate in two more presentations as well, but it is not yet clear how some scheduling conflicts will be resolved. It will be exciting to learn of new developments in the field from across the world, particularly China which is experiencing so much growth in recent years.

Paper Presentation: On the Musical Instrument Industry and Music Education in Japan

Abstract:
Much has been written in recent decades about the need for music education historians to expand their scope of inquiry to include consideration of the sociocultural, economic and political contexts of music teaching and learning. In many nations, the music industry has largely shaped the emphases of both school and community-based music education, yet its influence has only rarely been considered in historical accounts. Taking a social historical approach, this paper examines the rise of the musical instrument industry in Japan during the early twentieth century, as well as its ongoing relationship to music education that extends to the present day. Japanese music companies with a global impact will be discussed, including Yamaha, Kawai, Korg and Roland. Positions espoused by notable Japanese music industry leaders regarding music education and cultural policy will also be considered in relation to music education practices in and outside of Japan. The paper will conclude with some suggestions for how relationships between music industry and music education practices can be meaningfully examined through coordinated and innovative approaches to historiography.

Symposium: International Perspectives on the Teaching of Keyboard Improvisation

Abstract:
Keyboards are ubiquitous in music education, as the most popular instrument used in music teaching worldwide. Many different music genres feature improvisation, yet techniques for effective teaching of basic keyboard improvisation are often little understood by music teachers and only rarely bolstered by research findings. This international symposium addresses this challenge by offering demonstrations from Germany, Finland, and the United States that effectively integrate research and practice in the field of keyboard improvisation. Brief description of the current state of theory and research findings related to keyboard improvisation pedagogy will be followed by discussion of common challenges faced by keyboard teachers who seek to integrate improvisational activities into their instruction. The presenters will offer practical solutions and effective approaches to meeting the instructional needs of beginning keyboard improvisers.

Mapping Historical Ethnomusicology

2010-07-02T16:04:00.001-07:00

I recently learned that my paper on theory and method in historical ethnomusicology has been accepted for the upcoming meeting of the international organization Society for Ethnomusicology, which will be held at UCLA in November, 2010. Below is the abstract for that paper:

Mapping Historical Ethnomusicology: Definitions and Debates

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, historical ethnomusicology has been identified by several scholars as an emerging subfield of ethnomusicology. An active Historical Ethnomusicology Special Interest Group has developed within the Society for Ethnomusicology, yet an array of contradictory positions have also been advanced regarding the extent to which all ethnomusicological scholarship might be seen as “historical” and whether such a specialized subfield as historical ethnomusicology should even exist. How might historical ethnomusicology be meaningfully defined in relation to ethnomusicology proper, and what arguments serve as the foundations for various positions on such a question? What kinds of ethical and epistemological issues are encountered in historical studies of diverse musical traditions that differ from that of fieldwork on contemporary musical practices? In terms of research methodology, what kinds of data collection and analytical strategies are unique to historical studies; and in terms of theory, what might historical ethnomusicologists learn from recent debates in historical sociology, cultural history, philosophy of history, and related fields? Such questions will be considered in relation to the author’s own research in several nations as well as three recent doctoral dissertations on historical topics for which the author served as either supervisor or committee member. The outcome of this discussion will be a conceptual mapping of the intellectual antecedents of historical ethnomusicology, as well as a critical interrogation of some possibilities for the future of this developing field.

The above paper extends further on ideas developed in a paper entitled "Whither Hypermusicology: Ethical and Epistemological Issues in Historical Ethnomusicology" that I gave in March 2010 at another international conference in Finland: Musicology in the 3rd Millennium. The abstracts for that conference can be obtained HERE.

At the conference in UCLA, I will also be leading a meeting of the society's Historical Ethnomusicology special interest group.