Classroom lessons focus heavily on pop while understanding the classical (古典的) art form and its history should be paid attention to.
A Professor in music and music education at the University of NSW, Robert Walker, argues that all students sho uld study the works of Western classical composers such as Haydn and Tchaikovsky.
Professor Walker says students are missing out on an important part of the culture heritage (遗产) because they fail to study classical music, as the little music that children learn at school is mainly pop. The lack (缺乏) of music teaching is serious, especially in government schools where there are not enough specialist (专业的) music teachers.
A national review in 2005 made 15 suggestions, but Professor Walker said it still failed to deal with the lack of classical music taught in schools.
“I'm not against pop music, but it's very simple, and not difficult either to play or to sing，” Professor Walker says. “But classical music is challenging and although it is part of Australia's culture heritage, most children learn it only through Hollywood films.”
“At least children ought to know what's happening in Western culture. It's part of culture heritage，” he says. “Asian students know more about Western classical music than most children in th e West.”
Professor Walker has taught music and music teachers in Britain, Canada and Australia and is a former chief (首席的) examiner for the International Baccalaureate and a former chairman of the research committee of the International Society for Music Education. Professor Walker says no school curriculum (课程) in Australia lists a piece of music that children should study, such as the Mendelssohn's.
“This lack of standard texts means that some children can be brought up totally on Western classical music, others on Elvis Presley, or on any music the teacher wants to teach. The situation should be changed as soon as possible，” he says.
26．What's the problem in music education in Professor Walker's o pinion?
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