In January of 2020, I wrote about passion as one of the most powerful of emotions. Now, in 2022, I find myself being somewhat discouraged at what a change I’ve witnessed in the emotions of our young people. I see passion lacking. In the past few weeks, I watched as new violin students chose to return their violins and give up learning this new skill. The reasons given included, I just can’t find enough time to practice…besides I can’t remember to bring it to school on Fridays for our class. (I wondered if the forgetfulness was because Friday is the only day students are allowed to bring their video games, phones, etc. to school to play with friends.
I noticed most everyone had their electronic equipment …just not the musical instruments.)
It seems to make no difference that research has shown that playing a musical instrument helps the brain develop both hemispheres of the brain. It also has been proven that those who play musical instruments score better in science and math tasks. It is in fact, coding skills and math skills which comprise the musical experience. These students also just nod their heads as I remind them they are getting music instruction free as compared to the typical $35 to $40 per lesson charge.
As a person with degrees in music, art, education and administration, I see the value in the arts. In fact, as our art students find out, art is problem solving…a higher order thinking skill. Musical performance requires exactness and precision as one prepares to please the audience of listeners.
So, what has happened to passion? I see it in their video gaming and somewhat in their sports. However, I seldom see the sports reaching a “passionate level.” We recently graduated a student who was passionate about playing basketball. You never saw him without a basketball in his hand. I am sure he probably had that ball in bed with him as he slept! Now, that is passion!
Perhaps the video experiences that the Internet offers have caused people to become a “jack of all trades…and master of none.” One of the characteristics of gifted children is that they want to try everything…at least once! Then, they can walk away if they were “excellent at it” but say, “Oh, I’ve been there and done that!” They walk off and seem quite satisfied with their declaration.
Now, I must ask myself, “Will it really matter much to life as we know it if our people as a whole lack passion?” I don’t have an answer right now…but I am turning this question over and over in my mind more and more every day. Kay