When reporting the results of the Grammy Awards last night, the reporter for the Washington Post wrote: “In one of the bigger surprises so far of this year's Grammy Awards, Esperanza Spalding won the best new artist award, beating out better known names Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence + The Machine and Mumford and Sons. If you're a serious music (especially jazz) fan, this was a moment in which integrity triumphed over mass popularity.” But, the out of tune singing and playing was shocking. Last week Aguilera forgot the words to the national anthem in front of two Presidents at the Super Bowl and this week the pop icons of our time (singers and instrumentalists) can’t seem to find DO (although Lady Gaga and Eminem did not disappoint). The best opera recording went to "L'Amour De Loin," by female composer Kaija Saariaho. How many of you know her music? How many of you have Esperanza Spalding on your playlists? For the world music advocates, there was a category for Native American music. That Grammy went to "2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance." I wonder how many music teachers are teaching cuts from that album in their general music classes. The Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance went to Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony and Chicago Symphony Chorus for the Verdi “Requiem.” How should music educators, and music educators informed by critical pedagogy respond to all of this?
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