Thirteenth International Conference on The Arts in Society

Abstract

Critical and creative thinking is a learning outcome promoted by the Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative. Launched in 2005, LEAP is a national public advocacy and campus action initiative which champions the importance of a liberal education. This paper will address how critical and creative thinking skills may be developed by playing an instrument. Specific musical examples will be explored. Playing a musical instrument utilizes both brain hemispheres. The left side (cognitive) decodes musical patterns, structures, concepts, and makes logical connections. It teaches students to analyze, to make informed choices, and to problem-solve. The right side (affective) interprets and responds to music from an aesthetic perspective. It teaches students to generate new and free ideas and to develop into imaginative thinkers in a variety of ways. Both areas are active and inseparable when playing an instrument. The experiential, hands-on approach to playing an instrument promotes examination and practice, clear thinking and communicating, mindfulness and listening, and deepens a student’s overall understanding of themselves, their beliefs, knowledge and perception of the world. Critical and creative thinking skills are imperative for understanding and contributing to 21st century challenges. Playing an instrument teaches these skills and provides lifelong joy and enrichment.