Inspired by the recent TED Talks, this week we feature the article “Leadership and Innovation Lessons” contributed by Cheenu Srinivasan. In the article, Mr. Srinivasan presents the story of “El Sistema” and its Blue Ocean Strategy-like approach which has positively affected the lives of over 350,000 children around the world by making “music by the masses for the masses.”
From “Leadership and Innovation Lessons” by Cheenu Srinivasan:
Challenging the entrenched supply-side thinking of those days in the mid 1970s, economist and amateur musician Jose Antonio Abreu struck upon the idea of combining social work with classical music orchestras as a way of offering an alternatively lifestlye to that of a life of crime on the streets for the poor.
Rather than cramped class rooms for vocational training, he assembled children in open spaces to learn and practice classical music as a group. While classical music was hitherto the exclusive reserve of the wealthy and connected, that which he called classical music by the few for the few, he opened up entire new vistas of opportunity with his vision of music by the masses for the masses.
Rather than cramped class rooms for vocational training, he assembled children in open spaces to learn and practice classical music as a group. While classical music was hitherto the exclusive reserve of the wealthy and connected, that which he called classical music by the few for the few, he opened up entire new vistas of opportunity with his vision of music by the masses for the masses.
Continue reading “From Leadership and Innovation Lessons” by Cheenu Srinivasan in PDF here. Read previous contributions by Mr. Srinivasan here and here.
Watch the TED talk which inspired the article by clicking on the video image above.
