No matter what your passion in life, TED probably hosts an intelligent — if not outright provocative — video on the subject. Considering that music exists as one of the essential pillars of human creativity, it comes as no surprise that the beloved lecture series frequently turns its stage over to some of music's great thinkers and performers. Professionals, students and fans alike can easily spend an entire day immersing themselves in all the relevant videos TED has to offer. The following, however, particularly stand out for their illuminating ideas about music and the human experience.1. David Byrne: How Architecture helped music evolve
As his career grew, David Byrne went from playing CBGB to Carnegie Hall. He asks: Does the venue make the music? From outdoor drumming to Wagnerian operas to arena rock, he explores how context has pushed musical innovation.
2. Jose Abreu on kids transformed by music
Jose Antonio Abreu is the charasmatic founder of a youth orchestra system that has transformed thousands of kids' lives in Venezuela. Here he shares his amazing story and unveils a TED Prize wish that could have a big impact in the US and beyond.
3. Mark Applebaum: The Mad Scientist of Music
Mark Applebaum writes music that breaks the rules in fantastic ways, composing a concerto for a florist and crafting a musical instrument from junk and found objects. This quirky talk might just inspire you to shake up the "rules" of your own creative work.
4. Benjamin Zander on music and passion
Benjamin Zander has two infectious passions: classical music, and helping us all realize our untapped love for it--and, by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences, new connections. When Robert Gupta was caught between a career as a doctor and as a violinist, he realized his place was in the middle, with a bow in his hand and a sense of social justice in his heart. He tells a moving story of society's marginalized and the power of music therapy, which can succeed where conventional medicine fails.
Now we want to hear your opinion! Are these your top TED talks for Music? Are there others you would add? Let us know what they are by leaving feedback in the comment box below and so we can connect with you in collecting the best resources for music teachers, students, and enthusiasts.
This article has been adapted from 20 Incredible TED Talks for Both Music Students and Lovers on the BachelorsDegree.org blog and Top 10 TED Talks for Music Education on the FunMusicCo.com blog.
