Plato's Gorgias begins with a discussion of rhetoric among Socrates, Chaerophon, Polus, Gorgias, and Callicles. Chaerophon is the friend of Socrates which heard the oracle's divination that Socrates is the wisest man at that time, Polus appears to be a student of Gorgias, who is a rhetorician, and Callicles appears to be a statesman.

The discussion leads, according to Socrates, towards the "most important matters" for a man to discuss, and along the way it suggests a moral imperative for poets and performers of music.

I'll leave it to the interested reader to form an opinion about what those "most important matters" are in Socrates' eyes (I'm still figuring that out) as well as how music and other arts fit in.

Actually, if you want food for thought for Ion, go read the work with a friend and have the two of you dialogue.  Some beginning questions:
 
Assuming the dialogue is about Ion due to its name, what do we learn about Ion?
 
What about Socrates?  What significance is his part in the dialogue?
 
Does an art of rhapsody exist?  What does Socrates have to say on this?  What does Ion have to say on this?  Is this applicable to music performance?
 
Does Ion know what he is talking about?
 
How does Socrates describe the effects of Homer's music?  Is this consistent with our culture's experience of music?  What are the viewpoints of the modern music conservatory and your music teachers?

This Friday I and some friends will discuss Plato's dialogue Ion. The person of Ion is a rhapsode, or vocal performer, of Homer's epics, and Socrates talks with him. So prima facie this appears to be relevant to those who study in a music conservatory of today. This will be my second read and my first discussion of the dialogue. Stay tuned as I plan to share some food for thought.