With all the research and evidence proving the many benefits of a musical education, it only makes sense for employers and CEOs to consider a potential employee’s history of music education an added benefit. At least that is what Dylan Savage argues in his article: ‘What CEOs Need to Know: The Benefits of Past Music Training in Potential Employees’.
Meanwhile, there is plenty of fodder to help your own argument in support of music education, such as: the numerous feature articles which have been popping up about people who attribute their prior music study to their success in non-music fields. What about Thomas Südhof, the 2013 Nobel Prizewinner in the Physiology of Medicine? He’s widely quoted as saying he owes it all to his bassoon teacher. Wonderful! Other famous examples include: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State, trained to be a concert pianist; Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was a professional clarinet and saxophone player; the hedge fund billionaire Bruce Kovner is a pianist who took classes at Juilliard.
There are so many others. Here are a few folks I know (who aren’t famous) but who have done exceedingly well: past fellow UNC Charlotte colleague David Binkley, PhD, who studied jazz piano all through his formative years, is now a senior level electrical engineer for Siemens Corp.; Victor Hymes, a past fellow music student at the Oberlin Conservatory, is now CEO of Legato Capital Management, a billion-dollar global equity firm; Doug Huffmyer, another past fellow Oberlin Conservatory student, currently VP/Creative Director at Elizabeth Arden and has held major positions at Lancôme, L’Oreal, and Giorgio Armani fragrances. Via What’s Music Got To Do With It
A valid argument, if you really think about it. Exposure to a musical education contributes significantly to the abilities and skills a person will apply in the workplace. “What skills?” you may ask. Well, let’s look at three that any employer worth his or her salt knows are vital in the workforce.
Discipline
This is one thing all employers want to see in their workers, but many don’t get – at least not as consistently as they’d like. It’s one thing for a potential employee to claim to be disciplined – it’s another for them to have evidence of this. An educational history that includes learning to play an instrument to high school level is definitely an indication that this is someone with a high sense of discipline.
Music is a way to expand upon what has been taught in school through activity and application. It is one thing to read about leadership in a history book and another to actually lead. Playing an instrument, for example, requires mental focus, discipline and hard work. Reading music incorporates comprehension, math, and in the case of choir, literature. Via Lacrosse Tribune
Flexibility
In the dramatically shifting modern workplace, you want employees that can adapt to change quickly. With constant technological disruptions and new ways of doing business cropping up every other day, it’s important for a firm to remain relevant and respond appropriately to the environment. Additionally, you want employees that can work well with others, because this makes it that much easier to adapt to changes as an organization.
Most importantly, music education prepares students for something that cannot be taught in a traditional classroom setting — change. Music is constantly evolving, so students are expected to keep up with new material and adapt quickly. Music is also a welcoming environment for everyone and promotes camaraderie. It allows students to interact with those outside of their social circle and push them to cooperate. Via Lacrosse Tribune
Innovation
With constant technological disruptions and growing rates of competition, the firms that are most likely to survive are those with a workforce that can think outside the box and compete in new innovative ways in order to stay ahead – and even just survive in some cases.
The academic and social benefits of music education will broaden your child’s understanding and can be applied beyond the classroom. By communicating a higher appreciation of music, you will help end the stereotype before it starts. Encourage your children to challenge themselves and try something outside of their comfort zone. Give your student the option to learn through music. It is never too late. Via Lacrosse Tribune
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Via @NewsCut: Music education is a better tribute to Prince than shallow symbols https://t.co/Mo4RoEVxzP pic.twitter.com/jfaL6NasMq
— MPR News (@MPRnews) April 27, 2016
Learn what NAfME is doing to advocate for YOU and the future of #music education: https://t.co/mvzc84PR4b pic.twitter.com/kJmItkBxbD
— NAfME (@NAfME) April 28, 2016
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