In the Classroom – highlights interesting use of a lesson from the study guide in a classroom. It features student discussing and working through the activities and teacher and student testimonial.

A Teacher’s Perspective – offers educators whose classroom were featured “In the Classroom” a chance to further reflect on the lessons they taught, their own teaching styles and reflections from a selected clip from a MasterClass episode.

An Artist’s Perspective – offers professionals in field a chance to reflect on their work, the individuals who inspired them as well as reflections on selected clips from a MasterClass episode.

We hope you find these videos useful in their preparations and teaching of the study guide.

What do former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan have in common? Both are trained musicians. Rice is a concert pianist and Greenspan was a professional clarinet and saxophone player. In this op-ed for the New York Times, author Joanne Lipman notes there has been multiple studies linking music study and academic success. She used the aforementioned Rice and Greenspan as examples of musicians whose musical training helped them achieve success in other professional fields.

As part of her research, Lipman notes that in conversations with several high-level industry professionals (tech, finance, etc.,) who had previously received musical training, there was a consensus in linking their musical backgrounds to their professional success. The professionals noted that music was essential in developing skills such creative thinking, discipline, reconciling conflicting ideas and collaboration. Though most of the professionals highlighted in the piece became experts and found success in non-related musical fields, they all credit music in helping shape their thinking. Some have even credited music with reconciling their professional work.

The importance of music education highlights the need to bring it back into the national discourse as music, both as a professional pursuit and in education, are declining across the country. With standardized testing and accountability the current norm for educators and students across the country, it is important to remember all the benefits of music already aforementioned and how it cuts across diverse cultures, academic disciplines and professions.

The preliminary results from the survey revealed some interesting information, especially in engagement among American adults in arts education. At least 59% of college graduates reported having taken some form of arts-based education compared to 32% of high school graduates. Furthermore, respondents differed across the arts based classes they took as students: 36% reported taking voice training or playing an instrument, 19% in visual arts and 18% reported taking art history or art appreciation. The full results of the survey will be released next year.

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced this year’s award on behalf of President Obama and all 20 scholars were also YoungArts winners in their respective creative field. In announcing the winners, Duncan noted “Presidential scholars demonstrate the accomplishments that can be made when students challenge themselves, set the highest standards, and commit themselves to excellence.” The work of the artists and graphic designers were displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and those in the performing arts featured their talents with a show at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.