Include music in school syllabus

According to Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, humans have several different types of intelligences—logical-mathematical, linguistic, and interpersonal. He believes that music intelligence is equal in importance to all of them. Several scientific studies have determined conclusively that music plays significant role to

1. develop children's language skills
2. develop children's self-esteem
3. develop children's listening skills
4. develop children's math skills
5. stimulate children's brain connections

Because of this vital role of music in Child's development, Western countries, and some Asian countries such as China and Korea include music in school syllabus. Schools recruit different types of music teachers and give options to kids to select music instruments they want to learn. Schools conduct concerts and encourage kids to learn music. This creates interest in music in kids at early age.

Why can't we do this in India? Why can't our governments include music in school syllabus and recruit at least some music teachers in all public schools and impart free training to children? This helps to:

1. create several new jobs for musicians.
2. create a huge market for music instruments. This generates jobs indirectly and triggers small scale business.
3. encourages kids to learn music which gives options to kids to choose a different occupation when they grow up.

Historically cultural development is part of overall development and prosperity of a community or region. Look at the great Mowryas, Guptas, Moghuls, or present Western culture specifically US. Economic development and prosperity is never de-coupled with cultural development.

India is rich in culture historically. However, post independence cultural development has been getting hit significantly due to lackluster encouragement especially financially from Government and also due to the impact of Western culture. This is high time India needs cultural revolution to protect our culture and create a sense of pride about our culture in our kids. This can be done to a significant extent by including music in the school syllabus.

What do you think?

The power of appreciation

Appreciation is one powerful tool to get things done and also to get more productivity from employees. This I learnt way back in 80s when I read the book How to Win Friends and Influence people by Dale Carnegie. This book has plenty of tools to win friends and influence people.

I applied this tool successfully in real life in the early 90s. My company got into a tiff with a a very Senior Bank Manager related to a foreign transaction and reached a dead end and the Manager refused to meet any one from our company. My MD called me to resolve this hot potato. I met him at the bank and talked with him for 30 mts everything under Sun except the problem. I have made sure to appreciate him for all his help to our Company. It worked. Even before I asked his help, he offered his help and resolved it. Of course he called my MD later to tell the story.

I have used appreciation as a tool of appeasing people, getting things done, and getting more productivity from staff very very effectively. You don't really lose anything by appreciating others. Remember this does not have to be necessarily at work place, you can use it any where even to win over your wife.

Try it next time. See the results.