Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to Dennis Chung:
I refer to your column in the Jamaica Observer Sunday Finance on February 28, 2016, specifically your statement: “Similarly, if enough individuals believe that school is a waste of time, and it is better to pursue an athletic or music career, or just ‘beg’ money, then we would end up with low labour productivitiy.”
Oh, my friend, where do we start? How about by trying to imagine how diminished our world would be without Bob Marley and Usain Bolt? I’m going to let the athletes out there address your statement separately, although it would seem pretty apparent the amount of hard work, determination, training, and focus that is required to be an athlete. Are these not qualities you would like to see more of in society?
As a musician and as the daughter of musicians, I’d like to share with you a little about what it takes to pursue a music career. Beyond talent, becoming a musician also requires years and years of training — often beginning in early childhood — endless hours of practice, discipline, dedication, focus, and plain old hard work. Musicians must master not only their instrument(s), but for many musical genres, music theory; the language or code, if you will, for how to read and write music. Understanding music theory involves sophisticated mathematics and mind-boggling scientific formulae.
The financial investment to pursue music is enormous; the cost of years of music lessons, instruments, music accessories, and so often higher education. Many musicians attend university or conservatories and earn degrees in music and often, they go on to to earn higher degrees in music. I can’t think of a profession, especially for the classically trained, that requires as much training as becoming a musician.
To pursue a music career also takes courage. For 97 per cent of musicians, there will never be compensation commensurate with the amount of training they have received or the amount of time they have dedicated to learning and honing their craft. Yet they still pursue, practise and play music. So there must be something pretty compelling about music.
The practical benefits of music have been well established. For our youth, learning music has repeatedly proven to improve academic performance and build self-esteem. Music can be the lifeline out of poverty, and for many at-risk teens it is a productive alternative to a life of crime and violence. Music literally saves lives. But, even beyond these societal-saving benefits, we still need people to pursue music careers and make music because, Dennis, music feeds the soul. It reaches the inner core of every human in a way that nothing else can. Music is the universal language that no words could ever express. It comforts the ill, gives hope to the sad and celebrates the good in life. Music unites us. And, after all, isn’t that ultimately what you are hoping for? I leave you with the words of J K Rowling from
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: “Ah music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here.”
Leora O’Carroll Downer
Founder/Director
Jamaica Music Camp
This is an open letter to Dennis Chung:
I refer to your column in the Jamaica Observer Sunday Finance on February 28, 2016, specifically your statement: “Similarly, if enough individuals believe that school is a waste of time, and it is better to pursue an athletic or music career, or just ‘beg’ money, then we would end up with low labour productivitiy.”
Oh, my friend, where do we start? How about by trying to imagine how diminished our world would be without Bob Marley and Usain Bolt? I’m going to let the athletes out there address your statement separately, although it would seem pretty apparent the amount of hard work, determination, training, and focus that is required to be an athlete. Are these not qualities you would like to see more of in society?
As a musician and as the daughter of musicians, I’d like to share with you a little about what it takes to pursue a music career. Beyond talent, becoming a musician also requires years and years of training — often beginning in early childhood — endless hours of practice, discipline, dedication, focus, and plain old hard work. Musicians must master not only their instrument(s), but for many musical genres, music theory; the language or code, if you will, for how to read and write music. Understanding music theory involves sophisticated mathematics and mind-boggling scientific formulae.
The financial investment to pursue music is enormous; the cost of years of music lessons, instruments, music accessories, and so often higher education. Many musicians attend university or conservatories and earn degrees in music and often, they go on to to earn higher degrees in music. I can’t think of a profession, especially for the classically trained, that requires as much training as becoming a musician.
To pursue a music career also takes courage. For 97 per cent of musicians, there will never be compensation commensurate with the amount of training they have received or the amount of time they have dedicated to learning and honing their craft. Yet they still pursue, practise and play music. So there must be something pretty compelling about music.
The practical benefits of music have been well established. For our youth, learning music has repeatedly proven to improve academic performance and build self-esteem. Music can be the lifeline out of poverty, and for many at-risk teens it is a productive alternative to a life of crime and violence. Music literally saves lives. But, even beyond these societal-saving benefits, we still need people to pursue music careers and make music because, Dennis, music feeds the soul. It reaches the inner core of every human in a way that nothing else can. Music is the universal language that no words could ever express. It comforts the ill, gives hope to the sad and celebrates the good in life. Music unites us. And, after all, isn’t that ultimately what you are hoping for? I leave you with the words of J K Rowling from
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: “Ah music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here.”
Leora O’Carroll Downer
Founder/Director
Jamaica Music Camp