Christopher Neck is an associate professor of management theory and leadership practice at Virginia Tech.
With a Ph.D. in management from Arizona State University, he is able to find many ways to incorporate music into his lessons. As featured in BusinessWeek, Neck has won numer-ous awards, with his most recent being the students' favorite professor. This award has led him to become a YouTube star.
Q: You were recently featured in BusinessWeek for being the students' favorite professor. How does that make you feel?
A: On one hand, this was mind boggling and exhilarating. On the other hand, this was confusing. Let me explain. From the positive standpoint, this was really incredible. I mean, to be named one of the top 20 business professors in the country is hum- bling. The credit really belongs to my students, who encourage me to teach in innovative ways. A proverb reads, "Find a job you love and you will never have to work another day in your life." I truly feel I have found such a job. The negative side of this award in my opinion involves the Virginia Tech administration. How can I be viewed by a seminal business publica- tion as one of the 20 best professors in the country while at the same time my own university has denied me promotion to full professor two years in a row? This BusinessWeek award validates what I have felt over the past two years: that my record of teaching and research warrants my promotion to full professor.
Q: How does it feel to be a YouTube star?
A: I have gotten more attention from this than any book I've ever written. I've received e-mails from across the world from people saying they enjoyed my YouTube video. I believe, at last count, over 10,000 people have viewed this video. It feels really neat that something I did in class at Virginia Tech has been watched by so many. I like the fact that it brings attention to Tech students. I have the highest esteem for them.
Q: What sets you aside from all the other professors that makes you stand out in the students' minds?
A: I don't know what sets me apart because I don't spend much time thinking about what other professors are doing. I believe I have to be myself in the classroom and do what I feel will result in a good class each class period. If I try to be someone else, it won't work. I first try to make class fun and interest- ing for me. If I can do that, I will be into the class and then I feel the students will feed on my energy and interest.
Q: How do you incorporate music into your lessons?
A: I play music before class, dur- ing the break, and after class to bring energy to the room. I also use music- related exercises to get the students to think about how the music relates to themselves and/or a particular man- agement topic. I also have a band and/or singing groups come perform in my class each semester to illustrate teamwork.
Q: By doing so, how do you believe you benefits the students?
A: The first step in being able to man- age others is to first be able to manage yourself. So using music can help stu- dents to better understand themselves. For example, during one class I ask students to bring to class a CD with a genre of music that best represents them. This helps them think more about who they are, which in turn helps them understand how to better manage themselves.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish by using this way of teaching?
A: That the students will leave my class thinking, "This is the best class I took at Virginia Tech," and that they better understand who they are and what management is about.
Q: Do you have a passion for music?
A: I would not say I have a pas- sion for music, but rather I have a passion for thinking of creative ways to illustrate the concepts I teach in class.
Q: Where did you get such an intense passion for teaching?
A: Good question. I'm not sure. But I think it comes from the responsibility I feel I have with teaching such a large class. You see I have the opportunity each week to impact 600 or more stu- dents. I don't want to waste this oppor- tunity. And the only way to connect is to attempt to raise the bar in terms of teaching methods. Virginia students deserve the best and it's my job to try to bring them the best in terms of teach- ing styles.
Q: How does business and music usually tie in together in your course?
A: It's not that business and music tie together, but rather that music ties into helping bring management topics to life.
Q: What possessed you to take on such a different teaching method?
A: I did not want to be a typical professor; I wanted to give my students something that they'd remember and benefit from years after they left my class and Virginia Tech.
Q: What is the one thing you would like your students to get out of taking your class?
A: Take chances, figure out who they are, and don't settle for less in terms of finding a job that does not seem like work. And most importantly, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. There are critics every- where who will try to sabotage you in terms of living your dreams and achieving your goals. Don't let them. Always remember the words from a recent Apple commercial, "Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do."