Zena Mlayes

Ms. Nuckolls
EFL 094-0
November 9, 2018
Essay 3:
“Is Music the Key to Success?”
In “Is Music the Key to Success,” Joanne Lipman claims that there are some studies

about how music is connected to academic achievement. For example, people who became

successful in their job field, have had some strong relationship with music that has led them to

think creatively, collaborate easily, and communicate effectively, due to their passion for music.

According to the author, music can help and train a person to think differently, which can be a

reason for one’s success. I totally agree with the author that there is a connection between music

and academic accomplishment and that this connection can motivate our society to solve

problems that are happening in this era.

The author explains that one of the reasons why people become successful is that they

play music on their favorite instrument, which made them think outside of the box. She starts by

giving some reasons about why this relationship exists. She mentions Paul Allen, who co-

founded Microsoft and began playing the violin at 7, offering an answer by saying that music

builds your confidence, giving you the ability to create. In addition, the author says that Mr.

Allen found music is a great motivation to look beyond and have creative thinking. The author

goes on to say that James Wolfensohn says that music behaves as a “hidden language.” The

author also suggests that when Mr. Wolfensohn ran the World Bank, he traveled to many

counties performing some music, which helped him understand each country’s culture. Also, the

author mentions that some successful people who have a strong connection with music, have a
notable passion for music than their talent. Lipman ends by saying that music provides balance in

your life. She gives an example about Mr. Wolfensohn saying that when a person plays music,

he or she is not trying to win a race or be a leader, they are enjoying it because of the satisfaction

they’re getting out of music. The link in this statement appears to show that working hard for

satisfaction at a hobby is the same type of pleasure at work to be successful.

In response to the article, I do feel that the reasons that she gave to support her argument

matched my own experience. The author suggests that the connection between music and

academic achievement exists because music gives you the confidence to be able to create. She

mentions Mr. Allen’s experience about that so it makes sense. In my experience, I have been

playing the piano since I was little, so I used to do so many concerts in front of many people and

I discovered that after all these years, playing the piano made me confident and it made me

create my own songs. Furthermore, recent research has shown that many successful politicians,

businessmen, and more were trained at a young age to be a musician of some kind (Garcia).

Whether it be from a piano, clarinet, or saxophone, it didn’t really matter. What does matter is

that these people credit their music education with making them more creative. In that case that

doesn’t necessarily mean that musicians are smarter, it does demonstrate that their brains are

making unique and interesting connections and associations (Garcia).

The author also emphasizes how music can function as an unknown language, she

supports that idea by giving an example of Mr. Wolfensohn’s personal experience when he

traveled to many countries and learned each country’s culture from their music. I found it very

interesting for the author to add that because that reminds of when I used to travel with my

friends in Italy, some places that we visited had a piano and I would occasionally play some

songs with some random citizens that live in that area which it helped me to understand each
region’s music and culture. Therefore, the author ends by saying that music provides a balance

between your professional status and the way your mind works. In fact, every time I’m stressed

out, I found that listening to some music or playing the piano made me feel relieved and

motivated to keep on working, studying, and doing some other things. Also, a recent study cited

by filmmaker and author Elena Mannes states that scientists have found that music stimulates

more parts of the brain than any other human function. That is why Mannes sees so much

potential in music's power to change the brain and affect the way it works; it can improve the

mental status too.

Lipman concludes by saying that music doesn’t make anyone a genius, or rich, or a better

person than a non-musician, instead, it helps a person to think in a new way, have a different

perspective of life, and most importantly, to enjoy it. I agree with the author that music is

beneficial for everyone who is trying to look for new ways to understand life and the different

aspects of it. I highly recommend for each parent to embrace their children’s talent, such as, in

music and other areas because it will give them a learning experience which they will never

forget.
 Work citied

Garcia, Nicholas. “10 Reasons Why People Who Learn Music Are More Likely to Be Successful.”

Lifehack. Lifehack.org, 10 June 2015. Web. 09 November 2018.

Lipman, Joanne. “Is Music the Key to Success?” The New York Times. Nytimes.com, 13 October

2013. Web. 09 November 2018.

Mannes, Elena. “The Power of Music to Affect the Brain.” NPR. Npr.org, 1 June 2011. Web. 09

November 2018.