Having navigated the trials and tribulations of life’s demands where survival and stability takes precedence over personal aspirations and dreams....

 

Facing the challenges such as  the need to secure stable work and financial obligations and living in a climate of the rising cost of living , which forces us to settle for compromises.. 

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I have managed to manifest not only my dreams but the skills, knowledge, exotic audio equipment and opportunities I once aspired to learn and obtain. Also by having a determined focused mind and putting in the extra time and hard work, I now find myself actively involved in the music and audio industry having gained job opportunities and negotiated deals with globally recognised industry names such as SSL, Cranbourne Audio and Antelope Audio.

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With all this said there was one key element in making all of this possible...... Knowledge​

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Whether its the teachers, peers, mentors, friends, family, and even people i have crossed paths along the way of life. each played a crucial role in various ways ranging from sharing their expertise, offering guidance in life, or simply passing on a mindset. It wasn’t just about the technical side of music and audio.

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It was also about the mindset needed to face the challenges of being in the creative industry and life itself as i would learn of others experiences in the creative industry. The combination of wisdom, encouragement, and influence from all of them pushed me to progression and toward my goals.​

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This also had a key element in making all of this possible..... Time

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Reflecting and looking back on the time of me developing in my journey i have noticed how lucky i was to have received the time of those people that had passed on knowledge to me as it seems that the value of time is slowly being lost. People no longer have the time they once did and this has a ripple effect. Driven by the pace of life and the increasing demands set on to the individual, These factors force people to prioritize time leading to a more rigid routine which ultimately leaves less room for growth creativity and exploration. A prime example of this shift was when the COVID-19 pandemic had taken place. it was a period where  the world and time seemed to have stood still. Lockdowns or curfews  were in place which reduced our daily obligations which left many of us finding an abundance of time. This unique situation not only allowed individuals to explore hobbies and creative pursuits but also created an environment in where people had the opportunity to reconnect and engage in activities that they either wouldn't have had the opportunity to or even meet new people through the increasing use of the internet during this period.

Once the pandemic ended and life returned to what we now call normal, we find ourselves moving at the same rapid pace but less stability in the world than before as the demand for time has significantly increased. this in turn has placed an even greater demand of time on the individual further intensifying the pressures and constraints many already faced before.

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Following along these effects of the shift of time it becomes clear that these changes have also had a major impact on larger systems  or companies in place, such as the education system.

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While apprenticeships and mentorships still exist which allow for deeper learning, the general education  system and the way of teaching has shifted through time. Having been a Lecturer for 7 years at Hammersmith & West London College i had actively seen some of these shifts first hand ranging from the rise and fall of "E-Learning" down to the initial introduction of STEM courses (which the government are supposedly going to reimplement as stated in their manifesto). These shifts were driven by several factors including time constraints or new technology/systems in place which had not been tested. This would results in a rushed compacted learning environment with a one-size fits all approach leaving little time for the learner to gain a deeper understanding of the subject and limiting the learners true growth. The pressure of students rushing to meet deadlines or the teachers rushing to cover and asses materials quickly in turn affects the teacher student relationship and depth of learning that once existed  which allowed for a more thorough and immersive educational experience.

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“Perhaps one of the most significant social relationships in music is that between teacher and pupil. The historical impact of teachers has already been explored, but recent empirical research (cf Chapter 10) has shown that the relationship between teacher and pupil in the music lesson is a particularly interesting social phenomenon."

(Hargreaves & North, 1997,p.214).

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On the flip side of the coin it’s understandable that such changes have been driven by the need to keep up with advancements and the growing demands across various sectors and industries. These pressures have forced adaptations to a more structured and time-efficient method for the educational institutes but at the expense of a more in depth and personalized engagement in education.

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This leads to what has shaped me in still being a lecturer, but one who is free and aims to go beyond the limitations imposed by rigid systems set in place. By drawing from my own experiences and the invaluable knowledge passed down to me by my mentors, peers, and industry professionals, I learnt that time is sometimes needed to ensure that one can engage in meaningful learning. a lesson doesn't even need to involve music but could be in the form of encouragement or motivating the individual.

  

With the rapid pace and changes over time, The music and audio industry has seen the emergence of new Digital tools, hardware, software, workflows and even new genres being introduced. The educational institutions have attempted to adapt to these new demands and many Universities and colleges such as my university have incorporated some of the new tools and workflows into their curriculum. Yet despite these efforts online platforms like YouTube has created a clash in the educational landscape. While these platforms may appear to offer an abundance of learning resources, they are saturated with surface-level information and most cases educational videos from individuals who lack in-depth knowledge of the subject. This misleads learners giving them the false impression that you can quickly master complex concepts by watching short bite-sized videos when the true reality is that mastering a craft requires time and dedication and at times hands on approach.

The combination of saturation of misinformation and the fast-paced nature of modern life further complicates things which makes me wonder has or will the true drive to learn slowly diminished in this time we live in? where convenience or relying on quick fixes or systems is the way forward to progression? Are we losing the dedication required to truly master a skill and our motivation is being affected?

 

Only time will tell as time shifts by....​

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“Motivation in learning music involves more than merely preferences. Abeles et al. (1984) mention self-image, conformity, expectations and roles, feelings of competence, cooperation, and creativity as other important aspects of the social psychological foundations of music education."

(Hargreaves & North, 1997,p.293).

 

 

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