Veblen, K.K. (2018). Adult music learning in formal, nonformal, and informal contexts. In G. McPherson & G. Welsh (Eds.). Special Needs, Community Music, and Adult Learning: An Oxford Handbook of Music Education, Vol 4. Pp.243-256. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN - 10:019067444X/ ISBN-13: 978-0190674441.
As someone who started learning music late into the game, I found this article to be very interesting, especially because of the difference of learning music at a young age compared to learning when being an adult. I started learning about music when I was in grade 9. I always had an interest in singing and being part of choirs or ensembles, so when I had the opportunity to learn an instrument I went for it. Soon after starting I realized how behind I was and wanted to catch up quickly. I took part in all the ensembles which included choirs and started to practice way more. Eventually, I took the next step and joined the local community band, committing to Wednesday nights, where a group of people of different ages and skill level got together to have fun and make some music. A big focus of this article was the concept of formal, non-formal, and informal learning. Taking music in high school, I only would have been learning through a formal concept because it was through the education system and it was required of me. When I went beyond the school program and joined the community band I started to learn through a non-formal context. As a young adult, I felt like I had more maturity when it came to practicing and learning music, whereas if I was a kid I may not have been as focused or dedicated. The ensembles were great ways of learning music through a non-stressful way and was not just about music but helping in social settings and many other skills you need in your everyday life. Music does not only teach you how to play an instrument or sing a song, but it helps bring you out of your shell and communicate with other people where you learn things you may never have known. Music helped me boost my confidence and I found myself starting to take leadership roles because of what being part of a community taught me. This concept of learning through different types of contexts don’t have to only apply to music, but can apply to dance or sports and it focuses on taking that extra step and seeking these opportunities for yourself. Unfortunately, most of these opportunities are offered to kids of a certain age group and it is more difficult for adults to find them, but they should never be discouraged because it is never to late to start. Kari Veblen’s article has shed light on a situation that I believe everyone should have access to and definitely encourages me to do more research if I want to become a music educator.
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