闲话音乐会

我对音乐会的印象开始于上个世纪末的托福考试，因为托福听力考题中总有关于音乐会的话题，而答案永远是对音乐会的肯定和赞扬，所以即使听不懂也能答对，可见音乐会具有很强的正能量。

移民后由于女儿喜欢音乐，多年来，我参加过无数的音乐会，有家庭的，教会的，慈善的，纪念的，娱乐的，小学的，初中的，高中的，本科的，硕士的。最近还参加了女儿博士毕业的钢琴演奏会，这是女儿的最后一次考试，也是决定女儿能否毕业的小型考核音乐会。尽管时间安排在晚上9点半，11点多才结束，可还是来了许多人来捧场，我担心咳嗽会影响演奏，于是坐在后排，发现女儿房东夫妇也来了，我也没咳嗽，真是意外。中场休息时，我旁边的一位华人观众主动和我聊天，原来他是我女儿的学生，在学校做博士后研究，几年前他主动想学弹钢琴，于是在学校广告上找老师，他很喜欢我女儿的教学方式，还想继续学习，特意同他的女友一起前来捧场，音乐会结束后还担心去不了后台，将一束鲜花托我转交，我说你们可以去的，结果还在后台合影留念。大家都很高兴，音乐会十分完美，令人难忘！

在西方，各种形式的音乐会已形成一种文化，一种由家长，社会共同支持，鼓励孩子学习音乐的文化，是对演奏者的欣赏和认可。在各类学校都受到很高的重视，我昨晚还参加了一个中学的春季音乐会，原因是女儿给合唱团钢琴伴奏。节目持续近2个小时，有不同年级的乐队演奏，交响音乐，室内音乐及大合唱。有个曲目叫非洲梦（African Dream） 讲的是有个老师在非洲用废垃圾当成乐器组成乐队的感人故事。节目单里还列举了学习音乐的20个好处（附后）。

我曾在国内上学，工作多年，对音乐会的记忆只有个别同学的独唱和电视上的维也那新年音乐会，现在一定会好多了，因为家长普遍重视。
附：学习音乐的20个好处：

20 Important Benefits of Music In Our Schools

1. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds.

2. A mastery of memorization: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond.

3. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study.

4. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music.

5. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement.

6. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and engaged in school. Student musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects.

7. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character. Students in band or orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their lifetime. Musical education can greatly contribute to children’s intellectual development as well.

8. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety.

9. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and pattern-recognition skills with the help of musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format.

10. Better SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation courses.

11. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can better detect meaningful, information-bearing elements in sounds, like the emotional meaning in a baby’s cry. Students who practice music can have better auditory attention, and pick out predictable patterns from surrounding noise.

12. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood years can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a child’s imagination.

13. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in helping kids relax.

14. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument.

15. Preparation for the creative economy: Investing in creative education can prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The new economy has created more artistic careers, and these jobs may grow faster than others in the future.

16. Development in creative thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think creatively. This kind of education can help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that there may be more than one right answer.

17. Music can develop spatial intelligence: Students who study music can improve the development of spatial intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and form mental pictures. Spatial intelligence is helpful for advanced mathematics and more.

18. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band or orchestra. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie.

19. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so teaches kids how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential.

20. Better self-confidence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument can build pride and confidence. Musical education is also likely to develop better communication for students.