by Inman Hebert
As the 2026-27 academic year approaches, I find myself at an existential crossroads, hurtling toward completion of a performance degree yet yearning for perspectives beyond my immediate professional goals. I attend the University of Alabama, a massive state university whose music program exists as but one artistic microcosm within a vast expanse of academic offerings. The sum of the college learning experience, however, far exceeds the comparatively small number of required credit hours. If we look beyond music classrooms, we can discover a vast interdisciplinary world within our grasp that, when unlocked, places us on a lifelong journey of discovery which both enriches our lives and elevates our musical passions.
College offers students the opportunity to build learning habits that extend far beyond training in a specific vocation. Exposing ourselves to this atmosphere pushes the boundaries of our curiosity beyond existing comfort zones, and college is a safe place to explore unsafe ideas.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and encounter the infinite expanse of human knowledge and diversity of perspectives. Seek out other curious minds beyond your familiar corridors. Embrace uncertainty. Engage in conversation. Explore different points of view. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reveal a lack of prior knowledge. Recognize the value of expertise. Learn enough to know what you don’t know and where you might look to discover more answers. In the words of my horn professor, Skip Snead, “You will never have more time than you do right now.”
As music students, we are preparing for a lifetime of performing for broad audiences filled with varied perspectives and experiences. The more exposure we gain in exploring humanity, the better we can understand both how our music impacts the broader world and how we might gain inspiration from the lived experiences concertgoers bring with them when supporting us by attending our performances.
As one example, the study of the social sciences—sociology, psychology, cultural geography, or anthropology—provides valuable insights into how the human mind has evolved over time and across places. Such subjects force us to decenter ourselves from our immediate surroundings and consider more deeply the varied cultures our performances could touch. Musicians are more likely to reach greater heights of inspiration and communication across broader audiences if we embrace the importance of interdisciplinary exploration.
Other disciplines offer insights into the classical music we know and love. Intrinsically, the history of music connects to broader narratives of human history, from Beethoven angrily scratching out Napoleon Bonaparte’s name from his heroic symphony to the creative genius unlocked by Shostakovich in reaction to mounting political oppression and censorship. Many musical traditions connect with similar trends within the history of art and literature.
Taking the time to learn, appreciate, and discuss these links will only strengthen our musical IQs as we gain a better appreciation of the broader cultural contexts from which many of our favorite works sprang. Likewise, as we experience personal and collective challenges, possessing a greater knowledge of the past will broaden our perspectives so that we gain greater confidence in transforming difficulties into creative energy.
