research Family, Culture and the
Creative-Curious Mind Amy Lewis, Ph.D., UW-Madison
Tiffany Bourgeois, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
fostered a curious mind, and that a curious mind can become a creative and musical mind, which then leads to the expansion and growth into bigger minds. The authors lean on the importance of curiosity and cre- ativity as a foundation to an ever-growing mind. By the end of this article, readers will gain deeper insight into how familial culture and experiences can influence our being and existence.
Introduction
This article provides an autoethnographic account of family, creative culture and musical lived experiences of two academics from within a musical family. The authors detail how these musical and creative ex- periences fostered a sense of curiosity and exploration in a way that greatly impacted their lives and careers. To expand the theme of the publication, the authors describe how culture, lived experiences and access
While studies rightfully acknowledge how music making and other creative activities exercise and strengthen multiple parts of the brain (Musacchia & Schroeder, 2009; Musacchia & Khalil, 2020), many research- ers critique the widely accepted claim that “music makes you smarter” because it does not prove causation (Mehr, 2015; Thompson et al 2001). “Music makes you smarter” is a reductive phrase that does not provide a full picture and implies a nar-
row understanding of what it means to be “smart.” This is done by often identifying higher IQ ratings or grade point averages as an absolute metric without taking into account that IQ tests are eugenic in nature and biased. These measurements of intelli- gence do not represent lifelong learning, but rather a summation of learning. To replace “smart” with “curious” allows the possibil- ity of infinite learning. This article is not an attempt to prove causation of a musical and smart mind, but provides stories that expand possible reasons for developing a curious mind that is ever-evolving – a creative-curious mind.
The authors are twin sisters who grew up in the city of Lee’s Summit, a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. In this article, each author shares their individual account of growing up in a two-parent, musical and creative household. Their stories provide
– Call for Research Posters –
Wisconsin State Music Conference Do you have a research or inquiry project you would like to share with your community? 2026 Research Poster Sessions at the Wisconsin State Music Conference are your chance. All submissions received by the deadline (September 28) will be reviewed and considered for presentation.
Guidelines (see more at
wmeamusic.org/research-poster):
• Current or recent research on music learning, music teaching or related areas of inquiry
• Undergraduate, in-service and collaborative projects are encouraged
Complete proposal form (click here) to provide title, authors, and a 750-word abstract by September 28. Questions? Email
research@wmeamusic.org Include all contact info (name, title, affiliation, address, email, phone number) in the body of the message.
32 September 2026
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