It's 2013.

Today's music thoughts dwell upon the music my students shared with their playlists today.

I found it interesting that two students in different classes chose the old song "You Are My Sunshine."

It is 2013.

This song was first recorded in 1939.

~*~*~*~

Another two students chose the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

It is 2013.

This song, by John Denver, was first recorded in 1971.

~*~*~*~

Another student chose the song "(I've Had) The Time of my Life."

It is 2013.

It was a cover of the song made popular by the movie Dirty Dancing in 1987.

~*~*~*~

It is often said, "Don't sell the younger generation short."

Despite an earlier blog, I believe that the younger generation is going to carry on the music of the past.

Nearly all of the students claim to have learned of a song from a parent, grandparent, or sibling.

The tradition of passing on songs from one generation to the next does seem to be continuing.

But is it ORAL tradition?

While it might be more an AURAL tradition, many students claim they learned to sing the songs from the repeated play of cassettes [YAY! They know what cassettes are!] so they are learning it from a voice though not a LIVE voice.

Sure, it might not be folk songs from 250 years ago.

But, they're off to a good start.

As long as music remains a vital part of our young people's lives, I believe that our music will survive.

Now, the challenge is to get students back to actively PERFORMING music and not just listening.

There's time.

After all, it is 2013.

And they are young.