Toward a theory of musical intelligence

Abstract

This article presents an effort toward a theory of musical intelligence through a somewhat novel combination of Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences with Robert J. Sternberg’s theory of successful intelligence. In particular, musical intelligence involves creative, analytical, practical, and wisdom-based aspects. These components apply to both musical composition and performance and can apply as well to musical understanding and scholarship. In performance, for example, performers devise creative interpretations of composers’ music, analyze their interpretations to ensure they are historically and musically defensible, perform the music in a way that is practical in reaching their audience, and do good in providing their listeners with enjoyment and sometimes new ways of thinking about the world.