Royal College of Music students offer course on ‘whiteness and racism’

Royal College of Music students can take a course on “whiteness and racism” in classical music.

The conservatory offers an elective module entitled “Music and Racism”, which aims to address a “Eurocentric” vision of music education and performance.

Students who take the course learn about critical race theory and the “whiteness” of classical music.

They are further made aware of the whiteness and “heteronormativity” expected of classical musicians.

The module is part of a diverse suite of courses introduced in recent years on themes such as ‘Music and Power’ and ‘Music and Empire’.

It is taught outside the Royal College by Marko Kölbl, an academic who works at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

In an introductory video, Mr. Kölbl explains that classical music is dominated by “white, male and European” figures, who influence how the art form is perceived.

A lesson plan states that teaching materials will “address racist and Eurocentric structures” and “the hegemonic position of Western classical music,” addressing themes of “colonialism, racism, and oppression of musical expressions.”

“Oppression of expression”

Part of the module will teach students about “the whiteness, heteronormativity and class positionality” of music education itself, and how this influences perceptions of themselves as future performers and of classical music in general.

The “whiteness” of music scholarship is also taught, in order to address the perceived “innocence” of academic music study.

Course outcomes for the limited number of students able to complete the module include the ability to be “anti-racist”, to think about music and dance in relation to “geopolitical hegemonies”, and to be aware of how race, gender and sexuality will influence their careers.

The course is delivered as part of the Global Conservatory, an international project in which different musical institutions offer modules that students from partner organizations can join. This is one of over 100 elective courses offered by the Royal College of Music.

The number of Royal College students was capped at around 5 per term for the module, with budding musicians from other conservatoires in the USA, Denmark and the Netherlands filling the places.

The module’s offering comes after the Royal College of Music joined a number of conservatoires in releasing a statement of support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2020 and established a Diversity Action Group to guide future policies.

South Kensington Conservatoire in central London offers a range of courses aimed at broadening their musical education, including a long-running module on ‘Women in Music’, and new courses ‘History of African American Music’ » and “The Harlem Renaissance”. “.

The initial rollout of the module in 2021 follows a number of debates on the issue of racism and classical music following the BLM protests in 2020, including over the alleged “colonialist” nature of Western musical notation claimed by an Oxford academic in 2021.

Welsh National Opera ran an educational course alongside its performance of Madame Papillon in 2021 to explain how classical music has been influenced by the “long arm of imperialism”.

In 2022, the Royal Opera House was accused of “whitewashing” Madame Papillon despite a year-long consultation to ensure that Puccini’s 1904 opera, about a Japanese geisha exploited by an American officer, was as inoffensive and non-stereotypical as possible.

The following year, the same theater was accused of whitewashing its production of Turandotwhich is set in China, casting a white star in what activists have called a “non-white role”.

Dr Diana Salazar, director of programs at the college, said: “The Royal College of Music’s core curriculum combines tradition and innovation, enabling students to develop expertise in the traditions and repertoire of Western classical music while engaging with today’s musical ideas, debates and technologies.

“The college’s portfolio of over 100 elective courses includes contextual subjects and optional modules delivered by our global partners. The RCM curriculum is designed to develop versatile and critically engaged artists.