Gergely Szabo

Maori Haka – Warrior Music at a Wedding

It’s easy to forget – in our very popularity based culture – that music comes from within, from all of us.

In this very interesting clip, a traditional warrior chant and dance used to intimidate enemies, is presented at a wedding as a sign of respect.

The Traditional Haka

Below is a more traditional video, with traditional dress and tribal tattooing.  This is a good one to watch with kids, to broaden some cultural horizons, and to show that music isn’t just singing behind a microphone!

Exposing your kids and friends to different music culturally, historically, rhythmically, and tonally is a subtle, but excellent way to teach the embracing of new things in general.

For a good overview of Haka in general, the Wikipedia article on Haka is excellent.  Of particular interest is the role of women in the traditional Haka, which is reserved for extra special events, and the evolving role for women and children in Haka in modern times.  It is extraordinary and inspiring that a traditional musical form is evolving with what is a pretty quick speed.

Music for Life

As a Music School, we aren’t looking to create prodigies or to get kids into a career in music.  We are certainly open to these things, but our goals are more life-skills oriented.

What is real about Music Education?

There is a lot of cultural acceptance of Music Education and lessons as a strong foundation for children in life, but the benefits are seldom articulated in a way that we can understand in the modern world.  We know the standard lines that we refer to, such as “Music is good for the brain”, or “Music helps to develop hand-eye coordination”.  All of that is true, and we love referring to this video, which explains what the act of playing does to the brain:

That being said (and watched), there are the other specific things about music that we don’t describe well, but should.  Some of these things include and lead (=) to:

• Playing in front of people or in concert = effective presentation skills for educational and professional settings (think interviews, seminars, presentations, etc.)
• Communicating in a musical group = learning to listen, communicate, and lead effectively in social and professional settings (think peaceful, progressive, constructive, and successful approaches to working with others in any setting/environment, including home)
• Developing and expanding confidence in the process of personal growth and exploration = confidence as an adult to pursue goals
• Goal setting and achievement = Goal setting and achievement!

This really scratches the surface, but you can see that music lesson skills are truly life lesson skills.

The 11 year-old that is a natural

All of this notwithstanding, a little inspiration and watching for the sake of enjoyment is to be embraced whenever we can.  For some reason we revel in the magic of skilled youth, particularly prodigies.  And why not?  The brain and body are so complex, and through the miracle of randomness, some people do indeed find themselves with an astonishing and unexpected aptitude for not just a particular instrument, but a particular style.

Here’s a young gentleman playing jazz at the piano.  His playing is so natural, that you’d swear he’d not only been doing it since birth, but for decades.  You might want to protect your jaw, it’s going to drop!