Project Overview

This project is a major initiative devoted to the study of music experiences and their relation to adult creative achievement outside of music.  Very little is understood about the effects of formal and informal music experiences on creative achievement of adult professionals in fields such as architecture where there is a complex blend of both convergent and divergent thinking during the creative process similar to music.  Studying professionals both in the Chicagoland area and beyond, I am working from a theory that there may be a linkage between music experiences and creativeness in architecture.

I am asking professional architects, desigers, and chefs to take a 15-minute online survey that collects basic information about formal and informal musical involvement during school years. The last question in the survey asks that you nominate a few names of working architects or designers or chefs in your area or near Chicago, that, in your opinion, have attained high levels of “creative achievement."  In thinking about “creative achievement,” we asks that you define this in ways that you feel make sense.  This will set the stage for the second part of the study which will involve personal interviews with selected individuals that are identified by peers.  By taking some time from your busy schedule to complete this first stage of our research, you will be helping greatly in the understanding of music and its role in adult creative achievement.

Please Assist!