Fijian 'singing culture' and implications for music education in Canada
Given the Canadian interest in choral singing, especially evident over the Christmas holiday season, McGill education professor Dr Joan Russells research on "singing culture" offers an interesting perspective on music education in our society. Drawing on fieldwork in the Fijian Islands, Dr Russell reminds us that singing has many positive benefits for both the individual and the community.
What does a so-called "singing culture" look like? What kind of advantages can be determined from promoting a singing culture? Is there something we can learn from other societies that might enhance the quality of music education in Canadian schools? These are some of the central questions addressed by Dr Russell over the past two years.
A singing culture may be described as one in which large numbers of the population sing frequently and regularly. "In such a culture, singing embodies and expresses the values of the group, it nurtures and expresses group identity and affirms social relations," says Dr Russell. To gather data for her study, Russell visited the Fijian Islands twice to conduct extensive ethnographic research there, including participating in many singing events. What she found is that singing is a valued activity necessary to maintain the spiritual and social well-being of Fijians. "One of the important ways in which Fijians assume membership in society and promote the values of the culture is through singing. The act of singing is not so much a matter of personal choice, but rather is a requirement for group membership," notes the McGill education specialist. "Singing provides the population with emotionally satisfying, uniquely human experiences that promote social cohesion and ensure group acceptance and membership. Children learn the musical repertoires and assimilate the vocal qualities and styles of singing that are essential for the maintenance of the musical culture by regular exposure to singing in the church, the home and the school."
As a result of her study of the Fijian singing culture, Dr Russell suggests that rather than attempting to reflect the musical culture that exists outside the classroom, Canadian teachers should take a leadership role in creating a "musical subculture" within the schools. The singing practices inside schools and outside in the larger community should be seen as interacting with each other, rather than in opposition to one another. "When perceived as a natural act that has personal and social value, singing can foster group identity within a school community. At the same time it provides the melodic and rhythmic language that are important for the development of musical skills and knowledge," she concludes.
