Description

Book Synopsis

Music Saved Them, They Say: Social Impacts of Music-Making and Learning in Kinshasa (DR Congo) explores the role music-making has played in community projects run for young people in the poverty-stricken and often violent surroundings of Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The musicians described here former gang members and so-called witch children living on the streets believe music was vital in (re)constructing their lives. Based on fieldwork carried out over the course of three-and-a-half years of research, the study synthesizes interviews, focus group sessions, and participant observation to contextualize this complicated cultural and social environment. Inspired by those who have been saved by music, Music Saved Them, They Say seeks to understand how structured musical practice and education can influence the lives of young people in such difficult living conditions, in Kinshasa and beyond.

... a tribute to the persis

Trade Review

"It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement."

—John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

"Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across."

—Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education


"It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement."

—John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

"Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across."

—Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education



Table of Contents

List of Figures / Foreword / Preface / Acknowledgements / Introduction / Chapter 1: The Case Studies: Espace Masolo and Beta Mbonda / Chapter 2: Practitioner Research / Chapter 3: Why Make Music at All? / Chapter 4: Artistic and Social Accompaniment: The Teaming Up of Musicians/Teachers/Mentors/Educators / Chapter 5: Behind the Wheel: The Role of Competence and Mastering / Chapter 6: Shared Ownership: The Potential of Empowerment through Participation in Internal Organization and Governance Related to Music-Making / Chapter 7: Music As an End in Itself: The Role of Enjoyment/Play / About the Author / Index

Music Saved Them They Say

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    A Paperback by Lukas Pairon

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      View other formats and editions of Music Saved Them They Say by Lukas Pairon

      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      Publication Date: 2/1/2022 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9780367500184, 978-0367500184
      ISBN10: 0367500183

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Music Saved Them, They Say: Social Impacts of Music-Making and Learning in Kinshasa (DR Congo) explores the role music-making has played in community projects run for young people in the poverty-stricken and often violent surroundings of Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The musicians described here former gang members and so-called witch children living on the streets believe music was vital in (re)constructing their lives. Based on fieldwork carried out over the course of three-and-a-half years of research, the study synthesizes interviews, focus group sessions, and participant observation to contextualize this complicated cultural and social environment. Inspired by those who have been saved by music, Music Saved Them, They Say seeks to understand how structured musical practice and education can influence the lives of young people in such difficult living conditions, in Kinshasa and beyond.

      ... a tribute to the persis

      Trade Review

      "It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement."

      —John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

      "Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across."

      —Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education


      "It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement."

      —John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

      "Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across."

      —Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education



      Table of Contents

      List of Figures / Foreword / Preface / Acknowledgements / Introduction / Chapter 1: The Case Studies: Espace Masolo and Beta Mbonda / Chapter 2: Practitioner Research / Chapter 3: Why Make Music at All? / Chapter 4: Artistic and Social Accompaniment: The Teaming Up of Musicians/Teachers/Mentors/Educators / Chapter 5: Behind the Wheel: The Role of Competence and Mastering / Chapter 6: Shared Ownership: The Potential of Empowerment through Participation in Internal Organization and Governance Related to Music-Making / Chapter 7: Music As an End in Itself: The Role of Enjoyment/Play / About the Author / Index

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