10 Reasons Why Music Education is Essential

The experience of studying music builds character by promoting perseverance, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Increased self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment improve social interactions. Music students learn self-discipline and time management, which will help them in all areas of life.

1. Music students attend college at a rate twice the national average.

- Bands Across America

2. Music students perform better on achievement tests in reading and math.

- B. Friedman, “An Evaluation of the Achievement in Reading and Arithmetic of Pupils in Elementary School Instrumental Music Classes”

3. College admissions officers cite participations in music as an important factor in making admissions decisions.

- Carl Hartman, “Arts May Improve Students’ Grades”, The Associated Press

4. Music majors are the most likely group of college graduates to be admitted into medical school.

- Peter H. Wood, “The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University”

5. Nearly 100% of past winners in the prestigious Siemens Westinghouse Competition in math, science, and technology (for high school students) play one or more musical instruments.

- The Midland Chemist (American Chemical Society) Vol. 42, No. 1, Feb. 2005

6. Musical training improves how the brain processes the spoken word, a finding that researchers say could lead to improving the reading ability of children with dyslexia.

- From “Playing Music Can Be Good for Your Brain”, SF Chronicle, November 17, 2005 (Article on recent Stanford research study linking music and language)

7. In a 2000 survey, 73% of respondents agree that teens who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems.

- “Americans Love Making Music – and Value Music Education More Highly Than Ever” American Music Conference, 2000

8. Students who were exposed to music lessons scored a full 100% or higher on tests covering fractions.

- Neurological Research (Journal), March 5, 1999

9. Young children who take music lessons show improved memory over the course of the year.

- Dr. Laurel Trainor, Prof. of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behavior at McMaster University, 2006.

10. The very best engineers and technical designers in Silicon Valley are nearly without exception, practicing musicians.

- “The Case for Sequential Music Education in the Core Curriculum of the Public Schools,” The Center for the Arts in the Basic Curriculum, New York, 1989