Music education in third-world countries

1 January 2024 – 1:29 pm Posted in Articles' List, General Information

This entry was written by Ali Farahani

Music education in third-world countries is facing many problems that limit access to it and it’s full of challenges. These rising and falling obstacles are made of the socioeconomic, cultural educational systems, etc.
Here we will inspect some of the most important challenges which make difficult the progress of music education in this area.

1- Limited references
Usually, in many third-world countries, education institutions, particularly, those that focus on the dissemination of art disciplines, don’t have enough resources. The lack of financial resources for the provision of music education tools as well as musical instruments, and the lack of experienced teachers and suitable facilities, reduce the quality of music education provided especially to children.

2- socioeconomic factors.
High levels of poverty in third-world countries may prevent children from following music education.
Families may put their priorities on basic needs over cultural activities such as learning music. This limits the number of students participating in the music program.

3- cultural standpoints deterrent
Cultural attitudes toward music education are different and sometimes it may reduce value or misunderstand its validity and importance. Generally, in the development and growth of music especially among children, the culture’s domination of society and lack of artistic recognition create a kind of predestined view that affects the fate of this art. In a society where cultural beliefs marginalise music and trap it in a corner, so, art can not be active and remains passive and has no fans or it goes astray and finds quiddity like the heart in an underground movement. Certainly, this cultural disconnect led to a lack of support for music education initiatives.

4- Gender discrimination
Gender discrimination can cause problems in music education, in some societies old beliefs and traditions may prevent girls from participating in art activities, particularly, music. Patriarchal societies can keep half of the society limited and lead to limited representation of certain groups in the field of musical talent development. Although third world societies are so Sick that boys and girls are confined in this area.

5- Lack of experienced teachers
The lack of skilled music teachers is an important issue that it caught the collar of promotion and dissemination of this art for a long time. Without experienced teachers, the quality of music education, what is transmitted is incomplete and infirm, even if it may even cause ، escape the art students to cut off their connection with art education and destroy their talent.

6- Disconnected from the world and isolation
Though limited to a certain number of music genres may lead to a reduction in the variety of music fields and disconnection of world music. The limited program prevents the development of music education as universal. Cooperation with international organizations can provide more opportunities for music education in the third world.

7- Infrastructure challenges
Inadequate infrastructure, including, a lack of education spaces, schools, conservatories, music venues, lack of suitable facilities for holding concerts, all of them are high obstacles in front of music. A prominent example of this is that there is only two music conservatory in the capital of a big country like Iran.

8- religious beliefs
Religion can have various effects on music education.
For instance, in some cultures, music may be compatible with values and religious principles and it enhances the power of music as a booster element, like, the influence of different religions in Indian music.
On the contrary, in some societies, music may conflict with religious principles and some religious opinions may be made circumscription for music activities.

In Iran, the influence of Islam on music has created different historical periods. In the primitive Islamic periods, music faced limitations and sometimes masters of music were killed, sometimes rejected and exiled and sometimes isolated and in some periods completely reciprocal movement was going on.

This entry was written by HarmonyTalk
Tagged: Music education.

Nasser Masoudi: The Voice of Gilan and a Legacy of Iranian Music

In Iranian music, certain singers have become emblematic of their homelands through their distinctive voices. Historical figures such as Eghbal Sultan, who epitomized the grandeur of Azerbaijani music, and Taj Isfahani, who conveyed the authentic essence of Isfahan, serve as notable examples from the Qajar era. Nasser Masoudi occupies a similar position; his voice emerged as a symbol of Gilan while also achieving national acclaim. Before him, Master Ahmad Ashurpur represented Gilan’s musical landscape, but his extended residence outside Iran limited his continuous engagement in the music scene. In contrast, Masoudi’s consistent presence allowed him to introduce the voice of Gilan to audiences across Iran.

Farhad Poupel: The Voice of the Shahnameh in the Orchestras Around the World

In an era when almost no trace of contemporary Iranian music can be heard in international concert halls, except (so-called!) avant-garde works that owe their existence solely to the fashionable slogans of the “pseudo-intellectual” crowd who have seized the already meager resources for performing classical music from the true artists of the field, the numerous performances of Farhad Poupel’s works shine as a ray of hope for lovers of sincere musical art. Without resorting to trendy slogans, he has kept the flame of Iranian classical music alive purely through the power of his artistry.

Latest posts

From Past Days…

Polyphony in Iranian Music (II)

With regard to each polyphonic form, only one specific and distinguished example is analyzed. These polyphonic forms are as follows:

Prominent Iranian Musicologist Passes Away in Vienna

Khosrow Djafarzadeh, musicologist and architect, who was also one of the main authors of HarmonyTalk journal passed away on 15 July 2019.

Whose dream?! Whose reality?!

(A review of the “So Faraway” album; Tar and Tonbak duet; Siavash Imani, Pedram Khavarzmini)

Parviz Meshkatian’s Heart Beat for People (I)

Amidst the popularity of traditionalism in the Iranian music, Parviz Meshkatian (1955- 2009) moved from Neyshabur to Tehran. He learnt to play Santour and became educated in the Radif of Iranian music at the Centre for Preservation and Promotion of Music which was at the forefront of promoting the return to musical traditions. Despite his studies at a centre which promoted the use of the phrase “traditional music” in Iran, Parviz Meshkatian emerged as a creative artist whose innovative and unique ideas attracted the admiration of Iranian artists and people from different walks of life. This article studies the reason behind Meshkatian’s deviation from the wrong approach of traditionalism strongly promoted by the Centre and argues that apart from the issue of theory of Iranian music, he can be considered as Ali Naqi Vaziri’s successor.

Principles of Playing Violin (VI)

B. applying force: the force needed for putting finger on finger board is applied through finger tips and using the rest of hand set especially wrist is not allowed. To practice this, it is possible to hold violin without the bow and throw the fingers on the finger board from 1-2cm distance; apply force only through finger tips.

Farhad Poupel’s piece, Road to Bach, performed at Suntory Hall

On June 19, 2021 , young Iranian composer and pianist, Farhad Poupel’s piece, Road to Bach, was performed at the prestigious Suntory Hall by the great Japanese pianist, Kotaro Fukuma. The piece was commissioned by Kotaro Fukuma to have its world premiere in Suntory Hall during a concert by the same name.

Transition to Enlightenment: Six Lectures on Mozart’s String Quartets (3)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a musical prodigy of the Classical era, was deeply influenced by the intellectual currents of the Enlightenment. His exposure to Enlightenment ideas was multifaceted, shaped not only by the cultural milieu of his time but also by the relationships within his family and his own interactions with prominent figures of the Enlightenment. This exploration will delve into Mozart’s acquaintance with Enlightenment ideas through his father’s relationships and his own encounters with influential personalities of the era, including Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, Baron Melchior Grimm, Madame d’Epinay, and Joseph von Sonnenfels. Additionally, the essay will examine the impact of Joseph II’s reforms on Mozart’s life and artistic endeavors.

Principles of Violin Playing (IX)

4.3.1. To practice playing of doubles of notes involving two different fingers, each note is played at separate bows with slow tempo, each note is played perfectly regarding its bass and tenor sounds and then the considered double is played at another bow while considering the resulted sound of the double.

Homayoun Rahimian & Iran’s National Orchestra

The Roudaki Foundation presented the permanent conductor of the National Orchestra (Orchestr Melli), Homayoun Rahimian, in a ceremony, and finally, after four years, the national orchestra found a permanent conductor. Homayoun Rahimian is the fourth permanent conductor of this orchestra after Farhad Fakhreddini, Bardia Kiaras, and Fereidoun Shahbaziyan. He, who has previously had experience of conducting concerts besides being Meister’s concert of this orchestra, performed the concert “Autumns” on the 20th of Tir, performing works by Rouhollah Khaleqi, Javad Ma’roufi, and Hossein Dehlavi.

“The Art of Silence” Project Will be Released

Shaahin Mohajeri, the award-winning Iranian microtonal compose, has contributed to The Art of Silence is an international project which features unpublished pieces by microtonal composers from Iran, Japan, the United States, and other countries.