[HANASHIR:16420] Re: Early Childhood Developmentally Appropriate Practice

[Adrian A. Durlester <adrian...>]

Shirona, et al:

I'd like to respond to this discussion by taking a strong stand on two
points. And know from the outset that I am not intending to criticize any
individual person who has contributed to this discussion.

One:
ASSIMILATION IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

Dictionary.com defines assimilate thusly:

1. Physiology. 
        a. To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after
digestion. 
        b. To transform (food) into living tissue by the process of
anabolism; metabolize constructively. 
2.To incorporate and absorb into the mind: assimilate knowledge. 
3. To make similar; cause to resemble. 
4. Linguistics. To alter (a sound) by assimilation. 
5. To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing
culture.

We always seem to focused on the last definition - to see a distinct group
absorbed into the prevailing culture. However, assimilation can just as
easily refer to what Judaism has been doing throughout its history: to
assimilate the knowledge and cultures of the communities it finds itself in.
And we have been really good at that. Why stop now?

If a better or equally good way to do something is found outside historical
Jewish culture, why do we always assume the superiority of the method that
is already part of Jewish history and culture. This is a kind of
close-minded-ness that leads to stagnation.

We cannot assume people turn to "The Dinosaur Song" because it is easier, or
because it is familiar. There may really be situations when it may do a
better job at what someone is trying to accomplish than a more "traditional"
source.

I agree that, yes, we should look to our own tradition and history first,
but I do not agree that what our tradition holds is inherently superior to
something we might find outside the tradition.


TWO.
As to "high quality" and "professionalism" I would argue that both are
extremely subjective evaluations. How does one measure quality? One persons
unprofessional sounding voice may be another person's most spiritually
uplifting singer. Take, for example, Reb Shlomo, z"l. He couldn't sing his
way out of a paper bag. Is his work not of "quality?"

Is all the music that Joe Raposo wrote for use on Sesame Street inherently
inferior simply because he wrote it for Sesame Street?

So when we speak of "professionalism" and "high standards" I would suggest
that we recognize that it really is entirely personal opinion--because we
are all likely to disagree on this matter of quality. I do not believe there
is universal agreement among musicians and among Jewish musicians, or the
members of this list, on how we are to rate the quality and professionalism
of anyone else. We are all free to be critics, but we must also understand
what the Chofetz Chaim calls upon us to do when we criticize. And if we hand
out criticism, we must also be prepared to get some back.

And I also think it is extremely important that we remember why people do
what they do. Any music that is Lashem Shamayim---well, maybe some people
feel empowered to be critical of it, but I sure don't. It may be their best
gift. Who are we to deny them that?

Have we all forgotten the story of the boy with the flute?

So it's not a matter of "political correctness" it's a matter of being
Buber-esque--and treating all relationships as I-Thou. For we are all
b'tzelem Elokim. Maybe these "hush-hush" dialogues and criticisms are
"hush-hush" not due to political correctness, but due to embarrassment.
Because I sure would be embarrassed to be criticizing anyone's attempt to
praise Gd with music.

Quality and professionalism just don't mix with my vision of faith. Yes, we
must each offer Gd our best--but that is just it. It's up to EACH of us.
Yes, as a community, we are also responsible to see that our community is
represented by the best it can offer, and so, yes, we should work to raise
the level of what we do. 

Yes, there is bad music, bad pedagogy, et al out there. And yes, we, as a
community are responsible for trying to find a way to help make it better.
But that's not going to happen by creating Star Chambers and elitist groups
of judges. Or by snickering behind people's backs. Or by confrontation.

Instead of snickering about someone's musical abilities, or simply outright
and outspokenly condemning their efforts, if one feels that strongly about
it, why not take them by the hand and work with them to help improve those
things one finds lacking? That, to me, is a better definition of "kol
Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh." If their own haughtiness causes them to reject
your offer, so be it. At least one has made the effort.

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  URL:www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation
director (at) bethesdajewish(dot)com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org] On Behalf Of Shirona
> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 12:28 PM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:16417] Re: Early Childhood Developmentally 
> Appropriate Practice
> 
> 
>   Since I was the only one who publicly "dismissed" the
> dinosaur song - perhaps I should respond and further clarify 
> my point.  But first I want to share this:  the most 
> interesting aspect of this thread (for me) was the fact that 
> MANY people wrote to me privately... agreeing with me and 
> thanking me for having the "guts" to come out and say what I 
> did.  Some people worried about how much flack I was about to 
> catch...(it wasn't too bad this
> time!) so this is what I'm wondering about - why are we so 
> scared to voice a strong opinion that may be critical by 
> nature? Is the whole "politically correct" mentality holding 
> us in a vice of fear of coming out to protest about... 
> anything really, including "bad taste"?
> 
>   Actually I think that sadly this IS the case - and very
> much so in the world of Jewish Music.  We can walk around 
> feeling really good about ourselves for being a "supportive 
> community", and for the most part we are, and it's wonderful. 
>  I can't think of a better example of that than in your case, 
> Ellen.  But there are other aspects to this community, and in 
> our case music is the common denominator that binds us 
> together.  In Hebrew we say "Kol Yisrael arevim ze la'ze" - 
> all of Israel are accountable for one another...so let's be 
> that!!  For whatever reason we developed a high tolerance for 
> low-quality music in our midst.  Many of us do alot of 
> "private cringing" and "hush hush" critiques behind others' 
> backs - but no public outcry against the plummeting level of 
> musicianship...
> 
>   Taste is a personal matter - and there is no absolute
> "right or wrong" when in comes to the arts... but there are 
> aspects of *quality* that seem to be inherent and universal - 
> and we "know" them when we see-hear-taste-smell and feel 
> them. We know "bad" singing when we hear it, or silly lyrics, 
> or poor playing, or banal sugary melodies... and no one says 
> anything... well then, I finally broke down and it just 
> happened to be the dinosaur song that was the last straw for 
> me.  So let this be MY soap box. I can handle being called 
> "judgmental, critical and a cultural snob". If that what it 
> takes to get MY message out there.
> 
>   I'm an advocate for high quality and professionalism - as
> an expression of service and reverence to our art-form and 
> that which we are supposed to serve - Jewish culture, 
> religion, the future of our people... Yes we SHOULD ask 
> ourselves at all times "is it good enough" to be out there in 
> the world, for a congregation, for kids, for each other... 
> and we owe ourselves and each other a measure of honesty when 
> faced with the gradual erosion of basic (musical and 
> professional) standards.
> 
>   As for the dinosaur - again, it's a question of taste.  So
> a dinosaur comes for Shabbat... is he also going to read form 
> the Torah? Where do we draw the line...?  When we are faced 
> with a sudden wave of  "gosh, this is SO inappropriate" kind 
> of feeling - I guess there's a need to "make a case" for it - 
> and this is all I was trying to do...although other "issues" 
> that I wanted to put out there for years found their way out...
> 
>   Shirona
> 
>   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>   Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
>      www.shirona.com
>      www.cdbaby.com/shirona
>   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> 
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: "Ellen Allard" <ellen (at) peterandellen(dot)com>
>   To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
>   Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:05 AM
>   Subject: [HANASHIR:16414] Early Childhood Developmentally
> Appropriate Practice
> 
> 
>   > I'd like to cast another vote for the Dinosaur Song.
> Peter and I have
>   > used it very successfully during Tot Shabbat services. It 
> is one of
>   > those magical songs that children love. And it is one of 
> those magical
>   > songs, that despite the fact that children know (or are 
> learning) that
>   > there are no dinosaurs living in our present world, they 
> are still able
>   > and willing to suspend reality and sing about a 
> make-believe creature
>   > spending Shabbat with them. And for those children who 
> are still in the
>   > "Are dinosaurs real?" stage, the song is a great tool for 
> helping them
>   > make sense of what is and is not real. Remember the 
> Maurice Sendak book
>   > "Where the Wild Things Are"? How many of us read that 
> book to our young
>   > children? How many of us have children who, despite their fear of
>   > monsters, gobbled that book up because it helped them 
> sort through their
>   > feelings and begin to understand what was or wasn't real? 
> And those of
>   > you who have studied early childhood education know that helping
>   > children make sense of their world is VERY important.
>   >
>   > It is simply astonishing to me that synagogues ask people with no
>   > background in early childhood education (and that 
> includes clergy as
>   > well as lay leaders) to lead services for young children. 
> All of us who
>   > work with children have an obligation to learn what works and what
>   > doesn't work with children. Yes, having been a parent 
> helps. But it is
>   > not enough. We owe the children with whom we work more 
> than that. If you
>   > are leading services for young children, I would like to 
> suggest that
>   > you either take an early childhood education class, or at the very
>   > least, read some books that will help you learn about the 
> developmental
>   > needs, stages etc. of young children. Frankly, it is a 
> shonda (okay,
>   > Mom, where are you? Help me out with the spelling?) that 
> anyone is put
>   > into a teaching or lay leader position without the proper 
> training. Even
>   > one class on the developmental needs of young children 
> would be better
>   > than none.
>   >
>   > This also raises an issue regarding the amount of time 
> allotted for
>   > Shabbat services for young children. Peter and I have led numerous
>   > workshops on how to develop, lead, etc. Tot Shabbat 
> services. Most of
>   > the people who attend our workshops tell us that their 
> synagogues have
>   > 15 - 30 minute services, and many of the people who lead 
> the services
>   > couldn't imagine doing a service any longer than that. 
> Hogwash! If you
>   > understand early childhood, if you pay attention to the 
> developmental
>   > needs of young children, if you understand that within 
> your group of
>   > young children you will have numerous styles of learning 
> (some children
>   > learn best by listening, some by moving, some learn best 
> with visual
>   > cues), you will then begin to have an idea about 
> sequencing your service
>   > to meet the needs of all of the young children who have 
> come to pray
>   > with you. Doing an hour is a piece of cake! You will be 
> able to fit all
>   > the basics (or whatever you consider most important) into 
> the service,
>   > AND you will have time for lots more, from fun dinosaur songs to
>   > interactive stories to mini-bibliodramas to reading picture books.
>   >
>   > And by the way, I totally understand that many don't make 
> the decisions
>   > about how much time is allotted for Tot Shabbat services. 
> And I ask why
>   > not? Who is better able to make these decisions than the 
> very person who
>   > studies, prepares, and leads these services? Who better 
> to advocate for
>   > the young children in your congregation? If you are 
> adequately prepared,
>   > if you do your homework, if you create exciting, developmentally
>   > appropriate services, then you should have a say in the 
> length of your
>   > service. The decision shouldn't be made based simply on 
> how long the
>   > room is available, or some other arbitrary reason, but 
> rather on WHAT IS
>   > BEST FOR THE CHILDREN!!!
>   >
>   > Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. To conclude, please don't 
> dismiss a song
>   > because you think it is silly. First learn about what 
> best suits the
>   > needs of your young congregants, then figure out how you 
> will meet those
>   > needs.
>   >
>   > All the best,
>   > Ellen (and Peter)
>   > -----
>   > Peter & Ellen Allard
>   > Specializing in Music for Young Children
>   > *******************************
>   > For information on our award-winning recordings, 
> children's concerts,
>   > and teacher workshops/keynotes, please visit
>   > http://www.PeterandEllen.com
>   > or call tollfree 1-888-746-4481
>   >
>   >
>   > -----Original Message-----
>   > From: Carol Boyd Leon [mailto:cbleon (at) hotmail(dot)com]
>   > Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 8:47 PM
>   > To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>   > Subject: [HANASHIR:16394] Re: dinosaur song
>   >
>   > It turns out that I DO include Doug's "Thank You God" in 
> each of my Tot
>   > Shabbat services, but it's got a much different feel and 
> mood than the
>   > dinosaur song.  In fact, I manage to include 3 songs 
> which all at least
>   > mention candles-wine-challah as I feel those are important Shabbat
>   > associations for tots to make and repetition, 
> particularly for young
>   > children, is very valuable.
>   >
>   > I start with my "Shalom Shabbat Shalom" so kids get 
> practice reciting
>   > the 3
>   > blessings in their entirety (which otherwise they 
> wouldn't get to do
>   > because
>   > most of my Tot Shabbat services are on Saturday mornings), we sing
>   > Doug's
>   > "Thank You God" near the end of the service as a time to 
> cuddle-up with
>   > parents and give thanks to God for the many blessings in 
> our lives, and
>   > we
>   > sing "The Dinosaur Song" during the oneg Shabbat when it's time to
>   > simply
>   > have fun.  Plus the service includes many of the "basics" 
> -- Bar'chu,
>   > Sh'ma,
>   > Mi Chamocha, Oseh Shalom, Torah songs, etc.  No problem 
> fitting 'em all
>   > in.
>   >
>   > -- Carol
>   > Carol Boyd Leon
>   > Songwriter/Songleader/Music Educator
>   > CBLeon (at) hotmail(dot)com
>   > www.geocities/com/CBoydLeon
>   >
>   > ... I think we need to consider how much time we have 
> with these kids
>   > and
>   > consider whether there are better song choices to 
> accomplish the same
>   > goals
>   > for what we're teaching.  Doug Cotler's "Thank you God" 
> would fulfill
>   > the
>   > content needs that the dinosaur seems to be being used 
> for.  I would use
>   >
>   > that instead personally.
>   > Abby
>   >
>   > _________________________________________________________________
>   > Working moms: Find helpful tips here on managing kids, 
> home, work -  and
>   >
>   > yourself.   http://special.msn.com/msnbc/workingmom.armx
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> -----------------------+ Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish
> Network, http://shamash.org
> a service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and 
> an online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/
> 
> To unsubscribe email listproc (at) shamash(dot)org and have your
> message read: unsubscribe hanashir
> ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
> -----------------------=
> 
> 


------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+
Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network, http://shamash.org
a service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and an
online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/

To unsubscribe email listproc (at) shamash(dot)org and have your message read:
unsubscribe hanashir
------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------