Thanks to pandemic, music industry goes online
THE year 2020 has spun its own web of uncertainties by redefining what was already conceived as the ‘norm’.
Mumbai: THE year 2020 has spun its own web of uncertainties by redefining what was already conceived as the 'norm'. As we continue to thread between the fine lines of the new normal, the pandemic continues to open our eyes to the crumbling systems of pedagogy that have yet to adapt to the changing times.
By embracing resilience in the face of uncertainty, we've made our peace with technology that stands to be the need of the hour. The Ed-tech space has garnered a considerable amount of attention in recent years with its multifaceted approach towards learning. Music education has also been a recipient of some of these adaptations that have emerged in the light of the pandemic. This timeless form of art has beautifully created a special connection with its audience.
According to the IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, the global recorded music market grew by 7.4 per cent in 2020. Despite the disrupting nature of the pandemic, the passion for music has kept alive the flame of creativity among millions of individuals which has positively influenced the music industry on a greater scale.
While many of us have begun to embrace these inevitable changes by redirecting our energy to positive aspects, there also exists a large part of the society that continues to bear the brunt of these unfortunate events. Despite these setbacks, music education continues to prevail by adopting new-age pedagogical approaches along with extending new learning opportunities in a diverse range of creative avenues.
Dharini Upadhyaya, Co-Founder and Co- CEO of Furtados School of Music said, "Although traditional structures of music education are still deemed as ideal, the ed-tech space has presented us with new opportunities that augment the entire learning and teaching experience, thereby perfectly creating a smooth transition into the online learning environment. It has successfully redefined the ways in which music education is perceived by the masses.
By revoking geographical as well as spatial barriers, the online learning space has provided countless learning opportunities to every passionate musician. It has created an immersive learning environment where students are no longer confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom set-up but have begun to step out of their comfort zones and establish meaningful connections with their teachers. It discourages passivity by allowing students to openly participate in the learning process and share their own thoughts and ideas rather than being reduced to passive listeners. It makes learning more fun and enriching as students received personalized attention from their tutors which reflects in their overall performance." Although it is true that the transition to a virtual learning environment hasn't been an easy ride for a plethora of reasons.
However, various music schools have managed to create an effortless transition by allowing students and teachers to move at their own pace, without impeding their individual growth. By setting efficient systems in place that caters to the learning needs and requirements of each student, they have managed to fully assimilate in the ed-tech space and have been able to reap the benefits of an enriching pedagogical experience. Tanuja Gomes, CO-Founder and Co- CEO of Furtados School of Music, said "Music schools have indeed changed their entire operation to continue to carry out their mission and embrace distance learning, often without prior training in digital tools. The use of digital technology suddenly became necessary to ensure the continuity of music education and provoked teachers and students to discover and become aware of possibilities and limits of this alternative mode of musical teaching where FSM is highlighting the difference between distance learning and the use of digital technology in learning situations."
Thus, the online learning space has opened our eyes to a world full of endless possibilities. Right from providing teachers with an opportunity to reach out to a wider audience in the comfort of their home to allowing students from different corners of the world to gain access to quality music education that was previously restricted to metropolitan areas, the ed-tech space has proved to be a boon, especially for passionate musicians. Thus, it continues to create a gamut of opportunities by allowing students to chase after their dreams and aspirations in the comfort of their homes.
