2006 Edition 2 (Issue 144) - Sasmt-savmo.org.za

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t h e s o u t h a f r i c a n s o c i e t y o f m u s i c t e a c h e r s ~ d i e s u i d - a f r i k a a n s e v e r e n i g i n g v a n m u s i e k o n d e r w y s e r s president Dr Tim Radloff president-elect ~ aangewese president Prof Hubert van der Spuy past-president ~ uittredende president Mev Marie Gaerdes vice-president ~ vise-president eastern cape ~ oos-kaap Mr Pierre Malan vice-president ~ vise-president kwazulu-natal Dr Ros Conrad vice-president ~ vise-president transvaal & free state ~ vrystaat Mev Riètte Swart vice-president ~ vise-president western cape ~ weskaap Mr Leon Hartshorne executive officer ~ uitvoerende beampte Mr Jaco van der Merwe executive committee ~ uitvoerende komitee Dr Tim Radloff (president) Ms Carolyn Stevenson-Milln (minuting secretary ~ notule) Ms Mandy Carver Ms Jillian Haarhoff Mr Pierre Malan Mr Ian Smith standing committee ~ vaste komitee Mr Hannes Taljaard (chair ~ voorsitter) Mr Jaco van der Merwe (executive officer ~ uitvoerende beampte) Ms Dikonelo Booysen Mrs Estelle Stauffer honorary members ~ ere-lede Mrs Noreen Currie, Ms Inga Heineberg, Ms Diane Heller, Mr Ivan Killian, Prof Rupert Mayr, Prof Reino Otterman, Prof Hubert van der Spuy, Prof Michael Whiteman official correspondence ~ amptelike korrespondensie Executive Officer SASMT ~ Uitvoerende Beampte SAVMO PO Box 20573 Noordbrug 2522 South Africa tel./fax. +27 (0)18 299-1699 sasmt@samusicteacher.org.za http://www.samusicteacher.org.za/ e d i t o r i a l I think most people discover somewhere near the start of their careers that it is almost as easy to criticize as it is difficult to develop and implement improvements. This can have the paralyzing result that we simply accept the status quo and keep on doing things the way they have been done, without reflecting upon the outcomes of our actions. This is clearly not a suitable course of action for educators. The difficulty of evaluating and improving current practices should not make us reluctant to criticize where criticism is due. The unpleasant (for most) experience of receiving criticism should not seduce us into ostracising those who dare speak their minds. It is easier to live together cosily, but it is not conducive to growth and excellence. We need a bit of sibling rivalry, and often criticism highlights what is good and gives more energy for further improvements. Sometimes pupils are taught exams, not music — this is not the fault of the examination boards. When educators are trying to produce good and happy cooks, here is what they will not do. Make the child choose four recipes. These recipes should be from four different countries, but the child should not have clear ideas about the culture of those countries. Have them practise incessantly only these four recipes at home for eight months; taking them to cooking lessons once a week. They may be allowed to make a sandwich once in a while, but do not confuse them. Now get some background into their heads. Make them endlessly copy a few other recipes. Be inventive: leave out certain words and then teach them rhymes and riddles so that they will know which words were left out. Above all, make them count the letters, and show them the dresses of the people in those foreign countries. Do not forget — they should memorise the names of those dresses: kimono, sarong, kilt, kikoy, aba, camis. It does not really matter if the pictures are old and not so realistic. If you do not have pictures of the dresses, the children should still know all the names. Then have them take a cooking examination during which the cooking teacher should look worried, as if their self-esteem depended upon the outcome of this examination. One often hears criticism of music examinations. “It’s all UNISA’s fault.” Is it? I think not. Music educators, be they private or part of an institution, have considerable freedom — and responsibility — to choose what they do before and after music examinations which for most pupils are played and/or written but once a year. The problems in music education in South Africa is less the result of the presence of music exams and more the necessary consequences of our teaching strategies. Improvements of strategies can happen when we are learner-centered and when we try to establish authentic musical contexts for the activities of our pupils. Examinations can be part of a healthy music education, but never the only or the most important one. Suid-Afrikaanse Musiek Onderwyser |144 | November 2006
Thank you for my copy of issue 143 of the South African Music Teacher. It is full of interesting and informative articles. The contents, layout and general production have given us a magazine of the highest quality and one of which the SASMT can be truly proud. Congratulations. There are, however, some points that cause concern. The magazine belongs to the members of the SASMT. Society developments and activities are of interest to them and many would welcome space being allocated to bringing some of these to their attention. In March / April 2005, the Annual Conference took place in Natal. Apart from Marie Gaerdes’s thought provoking presidential address, there is no further mention of the conference. Several important matters were discussed and decisions taken. Interesting papers were read and master classes were presented by leading members of the society. Facts regarding resolutions passed and short reviews of other activities would surely encourage a higher attendance at future conferences. Part of the time was devoted to the election of new office bearers. These are of utmost importance for the well–being and future of the SASMT, but few of our members are aware of the results. Since 2004, three prominent members, Prof Rupert Mayr, Prof Hubert van der Spuy and Mr Ivan Kilian have been awarded honorary membership. This is the greatest honour the society can bestow and is surely worthy of a photograph and some biographical notes appearing in the magazine. Reading of the achievements of these senior members could well lead to the formation of role models for ex students and less active members, which is something our society desperately needs. Diane Heller, Johannesburg Centre Artikels, resensies en nuus kan in enige van die amptelike landstale geskryf word. Bydraes word geplaas in die taal waarin dit ontvang word. Voorstelle oor die ingewikkelde taalkwessies is altyd welkom. n e w s ~ n u u s Improvisation Re-visited South African Music Teacher |144 | November 2006 l e t t e r s ~ b r i e w e Baie geluk met ‘n puik tydskrif. Die voorkoms, samestelling en leesinhoud beïndruk en ek vind die artikels, spesifiek dié oor die Alexandertegniek baie insiggewend en leersaam. Ek sien met afwagting uit na die volgende uitgawe vir nog interessante leesstof. Marietjie Renison, Parys Voor ek die laaste uitgawe van Die Suid-Afrikaanse Musiekonderwyser in die hand gehad het, was ek nie ‘n gereelde leser daarvan nie. Dit het nou verander. Die tydskrif lyk so goed, en wanneer ‘n mens begin deurblaai is dit duidelik dat dit nie net aanbieding is waaraan julle aandag gee nie. Die tydskryf het ‘n samehang en variasie van inhoud wat geen klein prestasie is nie. En dit behandel temas en bring inligting aan die bod waarvan ek nie andersins sou kennis neem nie. Alles baie professioneel en vakkundig solied. Bravo! Ek sien uit na die volgende uitgawe. Stephanus Muller Is there something in the magazine that you find informative, provocative, challenging, annoying or even infuriating? Maybe you would like us to remove some content or change some aspect of the magazine’s layout. Did this issue of the magazine connect, inform, challenge and support you? Your letter can help The South African Music Teacher and the South African Society of Music Teachers to reach important goals. Your opinions can move people to look differently at their own situations. If your letter is considered for publication, you will be consulted. The best letter will earn a R200 gift voucher to be used at Write to: The South African Music Teacher, PO Box 20573, Noordbrug 2522, South Africa Fax. (018) 299 1699 / musdjt@nwu.ac.za The AGM and conference of the South African Society of Music Teachers will take place at Rhodes University in Grahamstown from 2 to 5 April 2007. Please send suggestions and submissions for contributions before 15 January to the president: t.radloff@ru.ac.za. Die algemene jaarvergadering en konferensie van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging van Musiekonderwysers sal plaasvind vanaf 2 tot 5 April 2007 by die Rhodes Universiteit in Grahamstad. Stuur voorstelle vir bydraes voor 15 Januarie aan die president: t.radloff@ru.ac.za.
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2006 Edition 2 (Issue 144) - Sasmt-savmo.org.za

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