Goal of music education had been changed. Did you notice it?

[musicrebel4u]

For centuries the ultimate goal of music education was to create more performing players, because there were no such things as music recording and CD/DVD technology.

Today we need more educated readers and listeners. The best way to understand advanced forms of music is to be able to read it.

Majority of music teachers today still try hard to make Van Cliburn from any ‘average Joe’. What goal such a teacher is pursuing? A goal of personal pride and glory. World does not need that many ‘van cliburns’ obviously.

Instead of giving each student a ‘net to catch fishes’ we try to give a fish by replacing ability to read any music piece with playing one piece at a time ‘perfectly’. As a result we have musically illiterate society, when all the ‘van cliburns’ have no audience to appreciate their talent.

[timothy42b]

For centuries the ultimate goal of music education was to create more performing players, because there were no such things as music recording and CD/DVD technology.

That's a reasonable assertion, although I think we should realize that in the distant past performer included composer, improviser, tuner, repairman, builder, designer to some extent. 

Today we need more educated readers and listeners.

That's also a very reasonable assertion.  Technology really does make a difference in how to produce music and the skills should be changing. 

The best way to understand advanced forms of music is to be able to read it.

Now that's a totally unwarranted assertion.  Nothing you've said has laid any basis whatsoever for that statement.  Why do you think so?  Can you provide evidence? 

Majority of music teachers today still try hard to make Van Cliburn from any ‘average Joe’.

I think most have larger goals beyond dexterity, including appreciation, theory, etc., but there are time constraints. 

However if you feel this way you should be teaching at a minimum the full use of digital keyboards to make music without requiring Van Cliburn level skill - one key chords, accompaniments, etc. 

[db05]

Majority of music teachers today still try hard to make Van Cliburn from any ‘average Joe’. What goal such a teacher is pursuing? A goal of personal pride and glory. World does not need that many ‘van cliburns’ obviously.

Really? Most of what I see are people just trying to make a living. If teachers actually thought of turning their students into concert-level performers, then that's an improvement, no?

Instead of giving each student a ‘net to catch fishes’ we try to give a fish by replacing ability to read any music piece with playing one piece at a time ‘perfectly’. As a result we have musically illiterate society, when all the ‘van cliburns’ have no audience to appreciate their talent.

Again, not true in my experience. All of the music teachers I've been with so far, even on other instruments, teach sight reading, but not everyone can teach interpretation and practicing for performance. As my guitar teacher said, any good teacher can teach reading. You can even practice it yourself. He deemed it a better use of his time to give technical exercises to work on and talk about everything related to musical life.

[thierry13]

For centuries the ultimate goal of music education was to create more performing players, because there were no such things as music recording and CD/DVD technology.

Ho so now that CD and DVD exists, we should stop to go at concerts? You're the one killing music and the beauty of live performance.

[m]

For centuries the ultimate goal of music education was to create more performing players...

As Barack Obama used to say: "This is our fundamental difference"...

Good day Ms. Musicrebel4u

[pianisten1989]

I don't get it? Does teacher try to make preformers out of any pianist, or should they, or what? Or do the teachers try to make students to better listeners?
Gah, I feel so stupid. I don't even understand the topic >.<

[pianisten1989]

Btw, didn't you say you were leaving, like a month ago?