vision

Leadership

Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who chose to follow. Sometimes the relationship is one-to-one. Sometimes it’s one-to-many. But regardless of whether the number is one or one thousand, leadership is a relationship.

Model the Way
Leaders establish principles concerning the way people (constituents, peers, colleagues, and customers alike) should be treated and the way goals should be pursued. They create standards of excellence and then set an example for others to follow. Because the prospect of complex change can overwhelm people and stifle action, they set interim goals so that people can achieve small wins as they work toward larger objectives. They unravel bureaucracy when it impedes action; they put up signposts when people are unsure of where to go or how to get there; and they create opportunities for victory.

 

Inspire a Shared Vision
Leaders passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future.

 

Challenge the Process
Leaders search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve the organization. In doing so, they experiment and take risks. And because leaders know that risk taking involves mistakes and failures, they accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities.

 
Enable Others to Act
Leaders foster collaboration and build spirited teams. They actively involve others. Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts; they strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity. They strengthen others, making each person feel capable and powerful.

 
Encourage the Heart
Accomplishing extraordinary things in organizations is hard work. To keep hope and determination alive, leaders recognize contributions that individuals make. In every winning team, the members need to share in the rewards of their efforts, so leaders celebrate accomplishments. They make people feel like heroes.

 

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Music and the Arts

Connected with Learning and the Brain
By Ann Smith

The Mozart Effect asserts, “In an instant, music can uplift our soul. It awakens within us the spirit of prayer, compassion, and love. It clears our minds and has been known to make us smarter.”

Music is a valued part of culture; it is a birthright of every child. In addition, learning music in school contributes to student achievement in four important categories:

Success in society
Success in school and learning
Success in developing intelligence
Success in life

 

Test Scores

Why do we want a high quality music education program in our schools? One reason would be that tests show students in top-quality music programs score better on the SAT as well as other standardized tests. In 2006, the “Journal of Research in Music Education” found that students in top-quality music programs scored 22 percent better in English and 20 percent better in Math. The College Board reported that same year that on the SAT, students who had experience in musical performance scored 57 percent higher on Verbal and 43 percent higher on Math.

According to the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2000,” the arts are classified as a “core academic subject.”

Earning Potential

A 2007 report from the “New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce” reported that high earnings are not just associated with people who have high technical skills. The mastery of the arts and humanities is just as closely correlated with high earnings.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, “Ask CEOs what they are looking for in an employee, and they will say they need people who understand teamwork, who are disciplined, and who understand the big picture. You know what they need? They need musicians!”

Intellectual Development – The University of […]