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In the modern educational process, the need for practice-oriented learning, which should prepare students for real-life challenges, is increasingly discussed. However, this approach raises the question of the advisability of studying subjects that may not be directly related to their future profession. For example, is it worth loading children, already overloaded with studies, with additional classes in music, painting, and other creative areas if their parents do not envisage a career in these fields? The question also arises about the benefits of such activities for adults. Creative skills can develop critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence, which are important in any profession. Understanding the importance of art and creativity in life can enrich personal experience and contribute to harmonious personal development. Questions about motivation and inspiration in the education of the future received valuable answers from Dina Kirnarskaya, Vice-Rector of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. In her discussion at the 8th SberUniversity conference, "More than Education," on October 25, she shared important arguments. These ideas can form the basis for understanding how to create effective educational processes that promote the development of adult motivation for learning and inspiration in their professional activities.
Head of the Department of Music History and Vice-Rector of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music plays plays a key role in shaping music education in Russia. She is responsible for the development of educational programs, research, and the advancement of music scholarship, which contributes to the training of highly qualified music specialists. As part of her work, the department head actively participates in organizing academic conferences and cultural events, emphasizing the importance of historical context in the study of music and its influence on modern times.
Dina Kirnarskaya reported on her presentation at the 2010 UNESCO World Conference on Arts and Culture Education in Seoul. The conference presented the fascinating findings of a study that found that all Nobel laureates had engaged in the arts or had a creative hobby at some point in their lives. These findings highlight the importance of artistic expression and its influence on personal development and the achievement of outstanding results in science and other fields.
In 2008, researchers from the University of Michigan (USA) conducted a study analyzing the biographies of Nobel laureates awarded between 1901 and 2005, as well as members of the Royal Society and the National Academy of Sciences. The study also examined the results of surveys of members of the Sigma Xi honorary society of scientists and inventors, as well as the opinions of ordinary Americans. This study deepens our understanding of the factors influencing achievement in science and society.
According to research, Nobel laureates display a significant passion for the arts, twice as high as non-Nobel laureates and three times higher than the general public. This includes activities such as music, photography, drawing, and other forms of performing arts. The researchers emphasize that these findings refute the stereotype of a "true scientist" who focuses exclusively on one narrow field. On the contrary, successful researchers are often multifaceted individuals who develop in both creative and scientific fields, which contributes to their outstanding achievements.
Dina Kirnarskaya notes that this fact is confirmed not only by Nobel laureates. Russian composer and member of the "Mighty Handful" Alexander Borodin is also known as a talented chemist. His friend, Dmitri Mendeleev, was also an avid music lover. Dina joked, "If they hadn't studied music, their chemical discoveries would have been nothing." However, as we know, there's a grain of truth in every joke. Music and science often intersect, inspiring each other and fostering creative thinking.
A contemporary of Mendeleev and Borodin, the eminent physician, physiologist, and pathologist Sergei Botkin, a professor at the Imperial Medical-Surgical Academy, played the cello. Despite his busy professional life, he found time for music. His cello teacher often came to Botkin's home at midnight to teach him the instrument. Botkin believed that music helps develop harmony in the body and promotes overall well-being.
Dina Kirnarskaya argues that there is a close connection between scientific achievements and art, conditioned by the development of the human brain. Modern humans more quickly acquire the evolutionary skills developed by our ancestors. The right hemisphere, responsible for creativity, imagination, generalized thinking, intuition, and artistic perception, is more ancient than the left hemisphere, where logic, analytical thinking, sequencing, mathematics, and language are concentrated. This difference underscores the importance of integrating art and science in educational processes, which contributes to the comprehensive development of the individual.
Art became a part of human culture long before the advent of scientific knowledge. As the speaker noted, "science was created by a mind shaped by art." This emphasizes that it is natural for humans to first master what evolutionarily arose earlier, namely, art. Art plays an important role in human life, and, as Dina added, "the brain demands art." Thus, art not only enriches our lives, but also contributes to the development of thinking and creativity.
The principle of prioritizing art in the education of the aristocracy of past centuries remains relevant. While children were taught dance, music, and drawing, only later did they move on to the study of science. Today, as experts note, the arts are given special attention in countries with high-quality education, such as Finland and Japan. This applies not only to educational institutions for children but also to the professional development of employees in companies. For example, Japanese corporations have long integrated art into their organizational culture, which promotes creativity and teamwork.
Research shows that music lessons can significantly change the structure of the human brain. Gottfried Schlaug, Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, conducts in-depth research in this area. In 1995, he and his team found that professional musicians who began music training before the age of seven have an increased volume of the corpus callosum. This area of the brain plays a key role in coordinating functions and transmitting information between the hemispheres, which underscores the importance of early musical training for the development of the nervous system.
In 2015, Schlaug hypothesized that playing musical instruments and singing could improve neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain's crucial ability to form new neural connections, which is critical for maintaining mental skills and learning at any age. In 2021, Polish scientists analyzed existing research and concluded that the higher neuroplasticity in professional musicians compared to others may be due to several factors. This is likely influenced not only by regular music practice but also by the individual neurophysiological characteristics of each person. Thus, music lessons can be an effective tool for brain development and maintaining cognitive function throughout life.
Playing and singing promote creativity, thinking, and ingenuity, and also help achieve high results. Art in this context is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth, notes Dina Kirnarskaya.
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