Sample Essay

1.0         The Acceptance of Traditional Music Among Teenagers

 (Personal’s Response)

Traditional music is described as the ethnic music or folk music. Traditional music represented some place’s history or culture and form a vital link between the past and the present.  In musical terms, it is called ethnomusicology.

           Our traditional music is very unique and suitable with our multiracial country.  They got some common characteristic that make it nice to be heard by all Malaysians.

           In Malaysia, traditional music reached the age of downfall, especially among teenagers.  They labeled traditional music as out dated.  Local media also not highlight this issue and I also facing difficulties in searching article from our local media except the western media. Since this issue is not really highlighted in our country, I decided to choose this issue because I think that I should make people realize that the deduction of traditional music among teenagers is a serious matter, since I also one of the traditional music activist at my place.

           History records mention the popularity of traditional is decreasing.  The growth and evolution of music move along with the technology, modern life, immigration et cetra. In western country, the acceptance of traditional music decreasing starting early 50’s so do our country.  This is because the radio only plays the jazz and pop songs - dedicated to the soldier that went to war.  The radio was dominated by the pop songs from Britain and United States since the British colonized our country during that time.

           Starting 21^st century, there were a lot music genres introduced by the world and teenagers starting to like the rock, pop, and ballads songs.  There was an effort to attract people interest in traditional music and one of them is Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard, member of the Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society that bring out the Royal Terengganu Gamelan from it Royal Court and introduced the Gamelan music to the public.

           Since that, government starts to take action to revive the traditional music that was forgotten for years. They started by establishing Akademi Seni Warisan, an academy and conservatory to conserve traditional music and cultural activities. The subject for appreciation of traditional music was also introduced in school and higher institution. The efforts made by government managed to increase the interest of traditional music among teenagers.  Media like televisions and radios also broadcasted traditional music such as Klasik Nasional, a local radio.

           I hope that the traditional music will not fade by age.  Teenagers should appreciate what they got from the past generation especially the urban teenagers, because traditional music is part of our culture and it symbolized our heritage and patriotism.