‘Government should bring music back to the classroom’

Despite remarkable achievements in the country’s entertainment industry, music teacher, choirmaster and organist, Shosanya Babatunde Oluwaseyi, has said that more still needs to be done to further push the frontiers of music development in the country.

Sosanya

“As a powerful force in human existence, music plays an important role in society. It plays a huge role within our everyday society. Listening to certain music has shown to improve mood, increase productivity and even encourage intellectual growth,” he added.

Shosanya further said that apart from shaping society and the identities it creates, the importance of music is far beyond the concert in the hall, stressing that it can influence us positively or negatively.

“Music is one subject that is not fully appreciated in this country. It is not commonly offered as a subject in public schools unlike in private schools. Government should look inward and have a rethink through the Ministry of Education to bring music back to the classroom in our public schools.

“From my research, the problem stems from the government merging Music, Art and Drama together; there is absolutely no reason for the merger. Government should provide adequate funds for the purchase of musical instruments such as piano, saxophones, trumpets, drums sets, tape recorder and internet facility, to help facilitate the studying and learning of music,” he said.

On the way forward, the music scholar said: “Untrained and unqualified teachers should not be allowed to teach music in the school. Training and sponsoring of qualified teachers for postgraduate studies should be a top priority. There should be scholarships for students that are willing to study music at the University level.

“Also, music studios and libraries with music textbooks should be provided. There should be a review of the curriculum with our indigenous music infused into it. Befitting concert halls that have indigenous instruments should be provided.”