I was recently invited to a philosophical discussion regarding culture and identity. There were five music educators and our host. It was intellectually stimulating to be involved with such a discussion, and kudos to my colleagues for their thoughtful and reflective discussion.

During this discussion we were asked about our identity, or how we see ourselves. I came up with the concept, “Community of Self.” I feel our identity is based on life experiences, social interactions, cultural upbringing, and our reflected feelings about all of these variables. We adapt, evolve, and experience many amazing things during our lifetime. Even though we are a singular person our identity is based on community values, experiences, and influences. Therefore… community of oneself.

This community of self seeks out a group that shares common goals, biases, or a place of belonging. We see this in play culturally all around us. The MAGA effect. The Pride Alliance (LGBTQA.) The culture of sports (football, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc.) Religious belief or traditions play a role in the community of self. Family traditions or values are where we first develop our community of self. Do you have any behaviors or personal tics that reflect a parent. I do. I find myself ordering the same food my dad would order when given too many choices (cheeseburger, bacon and eggs, BLT.)

The community of self is influenced by other cultures around oneself. Have you ever found yourself attracted to a food, music, clothing style, color, dance, or a philosophical practice of another culture? I seek out these experiences every chance I get. As a child I enjoyed the Mexican culture that was practiced around my community. My family ate at authentic Mexican restaurants, not chains like Chi Chis, Chili’s, or Taco Bell. We participated in the Mexican Fiesta Days festival in September. Our high school band played Latin American/Mexican music. We also had a youth program that taught Native American culture similar to a Boy/Girl Scouts but this program appropriated culture rather than celebrated the culture. I do not identify singularly with Native or Latin American culture, but my life would be sterile if I had not experienced, empathized, celebrated, or learned about these cultures. I know I have absorbed a few ideals from each of these cultures and fused them into my life practices.

Going to college was a great experience for me. It was here I learned and experienced so many different cultures and people. I loved every minute of it. Music school is a melting pot of cultural experiences. It was here I met people from all over the world. I found out that normal means different things to different people. There are infinite possibilities. I tried food from all over the world, and I learned about so many different faiths. College expanded my definition of self. My community of self became broader. There was one class in particular that opened my mind to a world of endless wonder and that was a Japanese music course. This led to hosting two Japanese Cultural Artists in my early teaching career… and those exchanges opened a door to all kinds of music from Asia.

As an adult my community of self continues to grow and expand. While many of my peers have become fixed in their mindset regarding politics (conservative) or religion (devout,) I seem to get more worldly and humanistic… liberal/socialist and agnostic… My community of self is getting broader, and my allegiances are less focused. I can see enormous possibilities for the human race if they were to unhinge their fixed mindsets and seek out new experiences and new values. My students that I have taught over the years have nourished this growth in community!! Through listening and seeing how their (the student’s) perception of reality is constructed you can learn so much. Teaching becomes a community learning partnership rather than the traditional power structure of teaching. If we looked at schools as acculturated communities, rather than daycare centers for assimilation, I feel it would alter biased perceptions.

What is your community of self. How do you identify who you are? What you are? How you have changed? What inspires you? By sharing with one another we can broaden our horizons. If only American political leadership could embrace a more broadened community of self… so it goes…