Heavy Metal Music Education

Posted by Chad Criswell Jun 27, 2007

When a person thinks of music education he or she often does not think about heavy metal music or any currently popular musical genre. While heavy metal may not be the most educational genre in terms of musicality there can be no doubt that heavy metal musicians have had a significant influence on current musical styles and interests. Names such as Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osborne are big right now, decades after their prime has passed. More and more music students are becoming interested in these performers and in their music simply because of the media coverage that they are receiving of late on reality shows such as Gene Simmons' Family Jewels and The Osbornes. Should music educators embrace these performers as an integral part of our musical history? Maybe that answer will be clearer in another fifty years or so, but for now, VH1 has made it possible for all of us to witness a bit of the history of these mega groups in a special documentary titled Heavy: The Story of Metal.

From the VH1 Music Studio Web Site:

This episode of VH1 Music Studio features VH1’s original documentary series Heavy: The Story of Metal, which traces the evolution of heavy metal music and culture from its dark, grim beginnings in Birmingham, England to the worldwide force that it remains to this day. Metal is rude, crude, irreverent, and irrepressibly loud, which is why throughout the years everyone from Black Sabbath to Slipknot have been hated by critics, feared by parents, attacked by politicians, and blamed for most of the world’s ills. Heavy: The Story of Metal, explores four decades of heavy metal music, examining this powerful and often misunderstood genre.

If you would like to brush up on your appreciation of heavy metal music or simply want to impress your kids with your amazing trivial knowledge of Metallica, consider watching this program. If you are a night owl this will not be a problem. If, however, you are like the rest of us and can't bear to stay up past midnight any more you will need to set up your DVR to record the program. Heavy: The Story of Metal Part 2 will play on VH1 on July 3rd at 4am Eastern Time.

To preview the show ahead of time visit the VH1 Music Studio web site. Lesson plans are also available for teachers to use to incorporate this video into your curriculum.