How Music and art connects kids to schools, each other & the economy

We all want our kids to make it big, innovate, be creative and different. Aspirations sore high! But really what does it take to be so different? As parents we are so vulnerable that we pretty much do everything to achieve this. A study by Harvard researchers over 6 years showed that its all about making connections. Innovation expert Debra Kaye agrees: “Great innovators make connections between seemingly unrelated observations to uncover unique insights.â€_x009d_

Study shows some interesting facts:

– Arts connect kids to their schools, to each other and to the economy improving academic performance, graduation rates and life beyond the classroom.

– Self-expression and confidence can be built over time with creative arts and works brilliantly with immigrant children, kids with disabilities or those who have been bullied.

– Creativity ranks higher than rigor, discipline, integrity and vision and is the most essential leadership skill in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

– Entrepreneurship is better aligned with an arts curriculum than a traditional business school curriculum. In addition to creativity, entrepreneurship requires imagination, collaboration, risk-taking and resilience. These skills, taught through artistic practice, are the core drivers of innovation.

The study recommends reading bios of student finalists in the Intel or Siemens innovation competition. Strikingly, most are musicians or engaged in other artistic endeavors.

Albert Einstein said he discovered his theory of relativity through music. Nick D’Aloisio, the 17-year-old who just sold his news app to Yahoo for $30 million, is a self-described art and design aficionado. Following his passions at the age of 12, Nick developed his first app — a music discovery service called Song-Stumblr.

Until now I thought art was a destresser and reduces anxiety sparking creativity and innovation. A study in Germany found that singing is at least as effective to both the body and mood as light exercise and meditation.

I thought this was an eye opener and if you haven’t figured out a creative art outlet for your innovator yet then now is the time.

Excerpts were taken from Chris “Kiffâ€_x009d_ Gallagher Jr. article in Politico. He is the founder and CEO of MusicianCorps and served in the White House Office of National Service under President Bill Clinton.