By Shun McGhee, CPCC
Contributor, Career Services
To quote the R&B group the O’Jays, “I love music.” Though unlike the O’Jay’s, I do not love just any kind of music, but prefer anything that can be considered funky. Typically, this includes Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Caribbean, roots Reggae, some Classical, R&B, and Rap. Music is a huge part of my life. When I am working, I usually listen to some type of music. I sing when I run, and when I am quiet, music is going through my mind.
This love of music got me thinking; if my career could be described as a musical genre, what would it be? In reflecting, I would categorize my career as hip hop jazz. I am a student of history, and as such, have borrowed much from those who came before me. I have sought out mentors to assist me in finding my path and to share on how they found theirs. Though I consider myself to be an innovator, I have found a lot of time is saved by not reinventing the wheel. Much like hip hop, I look at what was done before me and I incorporate it into my approach.
The reason I would liken my career to hip hop jazz, is because this form of music requires an abundance of skill, training, and passion. Jazz chords can be both really bright and colorful, or dark and gloomy. It can take years to learn how and when to play them. The genre is probably most noted for the extemporaneous way its players engage in musical conversation; often making what has taken years to develop, appear easy. I can relate this to my own career as I went through extensive training to complete both my degree and certification requirements. Many days I arrived early or stayed late to hone my craft and become a skilled employee. I remain flexible to improvise, pursuing new opportunities even if they were not part of my original plan.
If you could categorize your career as a musical genre, what kind of music would it play?
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