Music and Music Education in Israel in an Era of Social and Cultural Schism 

Authors

  • Tomer Lev Buchman-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University  Author

Keywords:

identities in conflict, identity politics in Israel, culture and culture policy in Israel, music education and cultural identity, music curriculum and multiculturalism

Abstract

Post-Modernist thinking led to the dissolution of traditional classifications and hierarchies in the arts, in art policy and art education through the globe. Music and music education were no exception, as the roles of Canonical, Popular and Folk music were challenged and re-evaluated. In Israel, this confusing process was further intensified by the growing cultural tensions between the different "tribes" that make the Israeli society and fight over hegemony in Israel of the 21st century. Haw can a national music curriculum be built under such unusual circumstances; and how can the singular richness of music traditions in this country become a blessing, rather than another point of controversy?" 

Author Biography

  • Tomer Lev, Buchman-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University 

    Tomer Lev is concert pianist, lecturer and pedagogue. Together with the Israel Philharmonic and Maestro Zubin Mehta, Prof. Lev co-founded the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music and was appointed as its director. In addition to serving as Head of the School of Music, he is a member of the piano faculty at the school. As a pedagogue, Tomer Lev headed the School of Music Education at the Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv, as well as the National Curriculum Committee in music, which was responsible for a major reform in music education throughout the Israeli education system. Together with his advanced piano students, Tomer Lev formed the "MultiPiano" Ensemble in 2011. Since then the ensemble performed more than 10 international concert tours, recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra in London and received the Israeli Culture Minister Prize for "the best chamber ensemble in Israel". Prof. Lev is a graduate of the Samuel Rubin Israel Academy of Music, Tel Aviv University (B.Mus & M.Mus, Summa Cum Laude). He later completed his doctoral studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Among his teachers: Arie Vardi, Gilbert Kalish, Victor Derevianko, and his mother, pianist Naomi Lev. 

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Published

2024-02-04

Issue

Vol. 15 (2018)

Section

Articles