Dear Editor,

While waiting for the early evening news on local television, I happen to watch TVJ’s Schools Challenge Quiz which precedes the newscast. I am, however, disquieted by the jaundiced ethos of the questions asked in the subject area captioned “Music”. Is there a deliberate attempt by the administrators of the quiz to relegate our youngsters to the dancehall/pop/reggae ambit and deny them exposure to the world of Western Art Music, our indigenous folk music, jazz, and the marvellous music written for the stage and screen?

Occasionally, when questions are asked on the rudiments of music, they are cast in a pedantic, cumbersome manner and at an elementary level more suited for the 9/10 year olds competing in the junior edition of the quiz. Surely, 16/17 year-old teenagers, preparing for “A” levels and hoping to gain entry into tertiary education, should have long passed that stage.

We often boast and exalt our “Music” as a great feature of Jamaican national pride, so I hope that better thought, breadth, and care will be taken when planning policy in the future.

David Johns

djohns325@gmail.com