On the way to Eurovision, we stop at school: The eyes of the State of Israel were carried last week to the Eurovision stage, where young pop star Noa Kirel represented Israel.
Quite a few students saw Noa and dreamed of one day representing Israel on the world's biggest stage. The education system, which deals not only with mathematics, English or history but also with music education, a field that is expanding, is trying to give them a solution and a push to realize their dream. Millions are invested to find and nurture young talent in singing and playing, along with pursuing music as a hobby.
In the education system, there are 67,500 students who participate in music lessons in playing schools, in which all Israeli students are given the opportunity to experience musical studies, usually with orchestral instruments such as trumpet, flute, etc. The system has 1,260 elementary schools with music teachers, where students' intellectual, emotional abilities and physical coordination develop simultaneously.
"I play between two and seven hours every day." Noam Raanan, Photo: None
While teaching in elementary education, students are identified who are interested in expanding and deepening their musical studies. The continuing education frameworks in middle schools (125 middle schools with music teachers) and music tracks enable students to specialize in music subjects and take the matriculation exam in music of up to 10 units (5 units in the recital music track and 5 units in the music track). In total there are 165 music majors in high schools.
There are also 700 school choirs, and students perform at various school ceremonies, but not only. They often participate in municipal events and conferences of teachers' unions or the Ministry of Education.
As we know, engaging in music in the schools themselves is only the tip of the iceberg. To be able to persevere, it takes many hours of work each day. The talented students, those with potential, reach the 90 music academies scattered throughout the country. In total, there are 45,8 students studying music in academies. The most popular musical instruments in the education system are piano - 359,5 students, guitars - 097,3 students, and percussion - 868,<> students.
In Noa's way
Noa Kirel, 22, who represented Israel at Eurovision, started her music career at a very young age. Although at the age of 10 she was not accepted into the young talent program "Music School", but already at the age of 14 she released her first single.
Despite her many talents, she did not do it alone. Her parents supported her from the first moment and invested a lot of time and money in her, which certainly helped her success. But for many students in the education system, especially those from the lower socioeconomic strata, this is not the case. Most parents work long hours, and have less time to invest in nurturing their children's musical talent.
"Want to put out songs." Noa Ron,
The Ministry of Education's budget for music in the education system stands at NIS 33 million a year – NIS 6 million more than in the previous budget, an increase of 17%. At a time when there is talk of budget cuts, it is hoped that this budget will not be affected.
Noa Ron, a tenth grader from the Mor Metro-West School in Ra'anana, is a singer who studies in the music track for gifted students "Tallemim". The track includes a classical music track and a jazz track, and Noa chose to study in the jazz track.
Noa has been singing for as long as she can remember: "In third grade I started recording and doing covers of songs I loved. By fourth grade, I had joined the conservatory choir, and it was getting serious. Since joining the choir I have had more opportunities to perform, and I have also started singing at school ceremonies. In seventh grade, I joined the music program, and a year later I started taking voice lessons. I learned to play the piano for two years, and this year I started learning bass guitar."
Spaghetti Operation
"I have a trio band called Operation Spaghetti 2. The other two members of the band and I play our original songs, some of which we write together. We have a YouTube channel where we post footage from our shows, and we plan to post recorded songs as well. We've already taken one out.
"Since I joined the music program, I often sing solo, and not only in a group, at all kinds of ceremonies and events. It's a lot of fun, I love the stage."
What are your plans for the future?
"I write and compose original songs, and I also have my own YouTube channel where I upload material. I see the path Noa Kyrell has taken, and I'd like to be in her shoes and stand on big stages like this. It's a dream, something I'd really like to do. I see myself releasing songs I've written and composed."
Noam Raanan (18), a student at the municipal conservatory, is in the twelfth grade at Katzenelson High School, plays the violin and performs in many concerts. "I started playing music in second grade as part of a playing school," he says. "They came from the conservatory and showed us instruments, I chose the violin and I've been with it ever since.
"Today I study music and composition at the conservatory. I spend between two and seven hours playing every day, in addition to playing with friends in ensembles and orchestras – the conservatory is really a second home for us. Only recently there was a 'Breathing' festival in Kfar Saba, during which a lot of music was played, and later in the year there will also be events.
"My goal is to turn this into a career, as an outstanding musician in the army soon and in my academic studies. I really like music. To me, it's a language that contains everything, and beyond."
"The Ministry of Education sees music studies as a significant learning tool for nurturing students as independent learners," says Bezalel Kuperwasser, Director of Music Knowledge at the Ministry of Education. "Music is a social activity that can develop connections and interactions between students, thereby making an important contribution to improving the school climate.
"In light of this, this year we increased the budgets for music education by about 17%, out of a deep educational concept that as educators, our role is to give each and every student a rich toolbox and a variety of opportunities to realize themselves and realize their talents."
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