300 Years of Classical Music in 18 Minutes

Classical violinist Joshua Bell takes his audience through 300 years of classical music in his recent TED Talk. Bell not only wows listeners with his performance but also speaks to the powerful influence of music on children, arguing that there should be as many orchestras for young people as there are youth sports leagues. If there were ever any doubt as to the importance of music education, his words provide clarity: “In an orchestra a child learns about beauty, and they learn how to listen to each other and to be part of something bigger than themselves…They learn discipline as well, but it’s fun.”