Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music: Business leaders advocating music education as an instrument of their success

Craig M. Cortello
La Dolce Vita Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780978990015
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (02/10)

 

Craig M. Cortello writes a compelling and well-researched argument for continual support of the arts in the public school system.  In his book, “Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music,” he utilizes a myriad of business professionals, from C-level executives to small business entrepreneurs who also have a love of music, whether amateur hobbyist to the professional trained performer, to illustrate his points.  Seasoned with the rich flavor of New Orleans’ unmistakable musical personality, the book also serves as a tribute to the town’s post-Katrina rebirth and renewal. 

“Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music” reads as a persuasive and refreshing case for the importance of music in our basic education system’s curriculum.  Cortello’s work is intelligent, well-rounded, and includes a considerable amount of research from both previously published studies to personal interviews in order to validate his many points.  This isn’t some hopeful author with a personal agenda and pages of soapbox-type tangents; he’s an expert with substantial background in his field.  He combines this knowledge with a deep love and respect for his hometown’s inspiring resurrection.  In the wake of the most devastating disaster in its history, New Orleans serves as a multi-faceted parallel of how the resurgence of music can bring new life into a floundering and seemingly hopeless situation.

“Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music” is a great read for music and business professionals, those interested in school system reform, and music/arts supporters.  While music-related specialists and followers will enjoy its defense of their passion, business and reform individuals can learn of the dual creative and analytical foundation music provides.  The contributors of his book come from different backgrounds and work in different fields so as to connect with many types of readers.  While all agreed that their background in music helped them become the success they are today, each had a surprisingly different take on what exactly that ‘something’ was – skills in leadership, team building, public speaking, motivation, discipline, marketing, confidence, flexibility, organization, and much, much more.

“Everything We Needed to Know About Business We Learned Playing Music” is THE advocate for redeveloping music and the arts in our pubic school systems.  From one musician to another, bravo!

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