When a person hears “music education,” maybe they are drowned in horrific memories of elementary school choir, or perhaps the words are literally music to their ears. Two things that may not be so quick to come to mind are the ideas of justice and visibility.
On Monday, September 20, students, faculty and staff gathered at the Bowers Writers House to be inspired by Dr. Kevin Shorner-Johnson’s experience in Haiti and hear about the unique relationships between justice, visibility and music education.
Dr. Shorner-Johnson is the Director of Music Education and spent his sabbatical in Haiti, researching and experiencing music education in a developing country. In different parts of the world, music education is seen in many different lights. Dr. Shorner-Johnson gave examples such as China, where music education is seen as an unjust imperialist power. However, one thing that is unchanging from sea to shining sea is that all children, regardless of status, have the ability to sing.
Singing or playing an instrument in a musical performance makes human emotion visible. This visibility connects to justice. Dr. Shorner-Johnson described, “The act of fully seeing and listening to another human being is an act of justice.” A musical performance is just that- an act of visibility and justice. Music education brought visibility and justice to Haiti.
Once enough instruments were collected, the Haitian school was prepared to bring marching band and concert band into their community. “The instruments appear and a cacophony of sound erupts,” Dr. Shorner-Johnson stated. For the band, though only composed of ten students, the benefits of music education were immeasurable. The students finally felt they were visible in the eyes of others, their parents were filled with pride, and the teachers were grateful to see innate talents being cultivated.
Sacrifices are made continually to ensure a better life for the children of Haiti. The parents sacrifice, but do it with whole heart so that they can say, “this is my son, this is my daughter, and this is what they became.” Musicianship brings pride into the community. Music is part of the Haitian soul, and when Dr. Shorner-Johnson saw the students playing at a graduation concert, there was evidence of the Haitian soul finally becoming visible. Too often children and families in third world countries are represented by their situation in the way that they are shown starving or deformed. He explained that exposing a child in this way is portraying something as deeply personal as sexuality: suffering. Once music education arrived, however, photos began to be shared of the students playing music, an image that is perceived as success. While visiting, he spoke with a few students asking them why they play music. The recurring answer was that it is beautiful. He asked students why they joined band only to be met with the same answer.
On reflecting, Dr. Shorner-Johnson feels that seeing the “other” is an act of justice. His sophomore music students are encouraged to pay more attention to the students in their placements through personal interactions, allowing them to see who they really are. He is very proud of the way they are learning the names and singing ranges of the students. These simple efforts are “turning teachers into teachers of justice.” When attending concerts, he views them as chances for all students, whether they find being visible easy or difficult, to be recognized for the work they do. He desires that students and teachers will listen to the voices of the invisible as much, if not more, than the voices of the visible.
Dr. Shorner-Johnson’s eyes were opened by this experience and he was lucky to have found professional and personal happiness through his research. Although he does not know exactly where he wants to travel next, he has a love of Latino, Hispanic and Central Caribbean music. Through this passion, he hopes to increase the participation of minority populations in music education of the United States.
-Kristen Ambrose
