MUSIC OUTREACH AS A STRATEGY FOR REVITALIZING MUSIC EDUCATION IN REMOTE AREAS OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The need to raise awareness of formal music education in remote parts of Anambra State, Nigeria, through music outreach is captured in this paper. Music outreach is conceptualized in this study to denote all forms of campaigns geared towards the rebirth, resuscitation, inclusion, restoration, and sustenance of music education in musically unreached areas of society. Five primary schools located in various remote areas of Anambra State were studied over a span of fifteen years, with the researcher serving in various capacities as a music teacher, school music observer, performer, school anthem composer, and music consultant in the respective schools. Some rudimentary musical instruments, such as the recorder, xylophone, harmonica, and keyboard, were used during the fieldwork to arouse the interest of pupils in the studied schools. Various forms of musical activities, including music clubs, choral singing, school bands, and dance groups, were also explored and integrated into the schools to foster music education as part of the research. Data were sourced through direct observation and interviews conducted with pupils, teachers, parents, and management heads of the selected schools. The findings of the study revealed that music education is non-existent in most schools located in remote areas. Many of these schools, though passionate about music, are unable to initiate music programmes due to financial constraints. Core subjects such as English and Mathematics are also not sustainably taught in some of the schools because of the dearth of subject teachers. The only noticeable form of music instruction in most schools is assembly or classroom singing. The paper therefore recommends that musicologists, music educators, school teachers, and education policymakers should re-strategize towards grassroots music education in remote areas through music outreach. Such outreach may take the form of music concerts, music campaigns, music symposia, career days in schools, dance and singing competitions, classroom music teaching, and school-based music composition. It is believed that if the ideology of music outreach is optimally explored, music education will be restored in schools and repositioned to its proper place in society.