Music education in Singapore has focused on Western canonic composers in the study of art music for Western performing forces, and traditional genres in the study of Asian musics. While these approaches are valuable, they overlook the dynamic nature of modern Asian music and the global perspectives that can enrich students’ understanding of music as a multifaceted cultural phenomenon. The following four essays explore why Singapore’s music syllabi should broaden to include not only local traditional Asian musics but also modern Asian and global genres beyond that of the local Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations.
These essays argue that broadening the music curriculum can address several limitations of the current syllabi, which often lack relevance to contemporary Asian cultures and reinforce a Eurocentric outlook. The essays make a case for understanding music in its social and historical contexts, recognizing the evolution of Asian identities in music, and fostering skills that prepare students for a global music landscape.
(The following essays are auto-generated using ChatGPT and then edited, with an eye to adherence to the meaning I intend to convey. The reason for this is that I have a limited amount of time, and need to focus on research proper, but I feel that the commentary on the O and A level syllabi, which has retained weaknesses from 2015 when I left MOE, is necessary.)
2 Beyond Formalism in Asian Music Teaching
3 Beyond the "Traditional Musics Only" Model in Asian Music Teaching
4 Beyond the Western Canon for Art Music Teaching
Overview of Disadvantages of Current Music Syllabi
Limited Relevance to Modern Asian Societies
Traditional music-only in Asian music teaching feels outdated, failing to reflect contemporary culture and music students encounter daily.Eurocentrism and Cultural Imbalance
Emphasis on Western and not global composers in art music teaching reinforces a Eurocentric view, marginalizing Asian and global perspectives.Narrow Skill Development
The traditional music-only model in Asian music teaching fails to address modern techniques like electronic production, improvisation, and cross-genre composition, leaving students unprepared for contemporary careers in Asia.Reduced Engagement with Contemporary Asian Identities
Excluding modern Asian genres misses the dynamic transformation of modern Asian cultural identity in music, risking a stagnant view of Asian musical traditions.Lack of Cross-Cultural Competency
Limited exposure to hybrid and popular Asian genres restricts students' ability to engage with diverse musical styles and collaborate across Asia and globally.
Overview of Proposed Changes to Address These Disadvantages
Incorporate Modern Asian Music Genres
Include popular Asian music (e.g., K-pop, J-pop) and modern art music from Asia, fostering cultural relevance and reflecting contemporary identities in the curriculum.- Impact: Enhances cultural relevance and engages students with music that incorporates Asian cultural elements they recognize, connecting their studies to everyday experiences.
Introduce Global Composers for Western Performing Forces
Include works by Asian and other global composers who write for Western forces, blending Asian aesthetics with Western forms.- Impact: Balances the curriculum, addressing Eurocentrism and providing students with a nuanced view of how diverse cultural influences can coexist in modern music.
Expand Skills in Modern Asian Music Production and Composition
Integrate training in skills relevant to modern Asian musics like electronic music production, popular songwriting, and digital composition, preparing students for varied music careers.- Impact: Broadens students' technical abilities, enabling them to adapt to a range of genres and professional contexts.
Encourage Ethnographic and Cultural Studies of Music
Train students to study music in social and historical contexts, using ethnography to explore how modern genres reflect societal shifts.- Impact: Develops a well-rounded understanding of music’s cultural role, equipping students to see music as both art and cultural expression.
Enhance Cross-Cultural Collaboration Training
Introduce collaborative projects and fusion genres, allowing students to explore creative connections across traditional and modern Asian musics.- Impact: Builds cross-cultural competency and prepares students for a global music landscape, making them more versatile and culturally aware musicians.
These changes encourage a more inclusive, relevant, and skill-diverse music education, better preparing Singaporean students for meaningful engagement with the modern music world.
