FORMAL MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE PROPAGATION OF CULTURAL VALUES

Abstract

Events of socio-cultural significance are marked and hon oured by society in different ways. The activities that celebrate these events ar e often multidimensional. In most cases, they involve sounds and gestures that symbol ise and communicate the ethos of the practising community. As a people’s economy changes, the activities that mark significant stages in a person’s social development change in form and content. Thes e changes occasion and are articulated through variations in music forms. In music, the co ntext determines the content. This leads to change in the functional music of each community. Y et this music is an entity that expresses and reflects life. When discarded, a wealth of knowledge is l ost. In an economy where formal education occupies a large portion of an individual ’s life, the school is a strong socialising agent. With its role of imparting knowledge and ski lls, the school is best placed to facilitate familiarity with one’s cultural heritage. Since music is a living treasure, its role in the p ropagation of values and the need for its preservation cannot be overemphasised. This pap er proposes that this can be achieved through practices within formal education in Kenya.