PASLEY, from p. 60
I put the question to top-flight professionals in industries from tech to finance to media, all of whom have serious past lives as musicians. Almost all made a connection between their musical training and their professional achievements. Just what is the connection? Ms. Lipman explained that many high achievers explained that music opened up the pathways to creative thinking. These individuals’ experiences suggest that music training sharpens other qualities such as collaboration, the ability to listen, a way of thinking that weaves together disparate ideas, the power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously (New York Times, 2013)
Who are some of these important people other than the three mentioned at the outset of this article? Do you know Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft (guitar), or Woody Allen screen actor, director (clarinet), Andrea Mitchell, NBC correspondent (trained to become professional violinist) Paula Zahn, television broadcaster (cello), or Chuck Todd, NBC chief White House correspondent (French horn); the latter two attended college on a full music scholarship. Of course there are others such as Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, who played saxophone in high school and there is Steven Spielberg, who is a clarinetist and the son of a pianist. I could go on and continue to “name drop” more of these high achieving adults who have had
strong music training as young people, but you get the point. For all of these individuals, music has connected and, I am sure, will still connect for them in various ways in their professional adult lives. As Chuck Todd stated, “There’s nothing like music to teach you that eventually if you work hard enough, it does get better. You see the results.” (New York Times, 2013)
In the upcoming celebration of “Music in Our Schools” for the month of March, can you emphasize life long learning with your special programs and special lessons? Sure you can--NAFME, MMEA, NEA and MNEA all have a plethora of ideas on each selective website that can help you and your students to engage in the music life long learning skills that are necessary to become a productive and high achieving adult. Also for you fellow Orff and Kodaly instructors, be sure to check AOSA, STLOSA, OAKE and STAKE websites for ideas for “Music in Our Schools.” After you have done your research on what you want you and your students to present, your questions will not be: do I have enough material; your question will be: I have so much material, where can I find the appropriate quality time?
References: https//
en.Wikipedia.org/Wifi/Lifelong Learning
www.nafme.org/20-important www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/Sunday/is www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/is
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MISSOURI SCHOOL MUSIC | Volume 71, Number 3
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