The Pros & Cons Of Digital Music Education
As technological advancements redefine society, musical education also goes through a rapid transformation that affects whether everyone will have the ability to develop their musical talents in the next decade. Music education has often involved in-person training between students and their instructors, allowing them to receive feedback and improve their musicality. However, with new digital platforms and tools, music education has gone virtual. Students are now able to attend music lessons in the comfort of their own homes, while still being able to learn from their instructors. The convenience of virtual lessons has caused a surge in virtual music schools and teachers, promoting long distance interactions and more employment opportunities for college students and those that have recently graduated. Although digital music education seems promising, there are numerous challenges that need to be addressed and are significantly changing the educational experience.
One of the main challenges with digital music education is the lack of physical interactions. Since lessons are being conducted through digital platforms, students and instructors aren’t required to meet in person. Teachers once being able to listen to their students play an instrument or sing from right next to them has now changed to teachers listening to them through a laptop or phone. This completely changes how a teacher reacts to their students performing for them and how they make corrections and critiques. Not being next to them means having a harder time helping their students with feedback, ranging from simply moving a finger to relearning an entire piece of music correctly. Another issue with not having physical interactions is that students in group classes and ensembles are not able to participate in peer learning the same way they would if they met in person. Being part of an ensemble virtually can limit interactions with peers and take away from the group experience. Ensembles and group performances are a great way to meet like-minded people and learn from them.
Taking online music classes
Another challenge is that while virtual learning may be convenient and easy for some people, it may be too expensive and unavailable for others. In the US alone, more than 27.6 million families don’t have internet access. By not having the technology or money to attend virtual classes, young musicians are not able to meet their full potential. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many music teachers and instructors became full-time virtual teachers and students who weren’t able to participate in these classes lost their teachers. If music education is going to have a future digitally, all forms of students should be accommodated, including those who don’t have the resources to partake in digital music education.
With these in mind, it is also important to acknowledge the benefits of digital music education and the opportunities it can provide for musicians globally. An opportunity provided by digital music education is global collaboration. Digital platforms can be used to connect young musicians worldwide, creating global music projects and the spreading of ideas to people of different races, genders, and cultures. An example of this is OneBeat, an international program that enables musicians from around the world to collaborate on music and create compositions that reflect their individual backgrounds and religions. This way, musicians are able to produce music solely through group efforts and social interactions. Music has helped people connect through their similar interests and passions so digital music education should also carry the same purpose.
To conclude, the future of music education is vital for young musicians globally and the new opportunities it can provide for them if it continues to grow digitally can provide new experiences and interactions.
Works Cited
“Digital Music Education.” The Benefits Of Music Education, Connections Academy, 8 June 2022, https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/the-benefits-of-music-education-for-children/. Accessed 14 Aug. 2023.
How Online Courses Are Changing Music Education, https://cdn.elearningindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/how-online-course-are-changing-music-education.jpg. Accessed 14 Aug. 2023.
Music Education in the Digital Age: Challenges ... - Sage Journals, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02557614221084315. Accessed 14 Aug. 2023.
Music, Ling Lyu Department of, et al. “The Effect of Using Digital Technology in the Music Education of Elementary School Students.” Education and Information Technologies, 1 Apr. 2023, dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1007/s10639-022-11334-8.
“A New Season for Digital Music Education? - AEC - Strengthening Music in Society.” AEC, 25 May 2021, sms.aec-music.eu/digitisation/a-new-season-for-digital-music-education/.
