The Importance of Music Education

'The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.'
– Plutarch

Music education teaches creative thinking, self-discipline and cooperation. Children and young people who participate in music classes or lessons are more motivated, enjoy their school week more and tend to be better students. Countless studies have shown that intelligence, test scores, reading ability, mathematical ability and social skills are all greatly improved by the study of music and fine arts.

For advocacy articles on the critical importance of music education specifically and arts education in general, see:

• Why Music? – an article by John Mardirosian (director of Waltons New School of Music) and Gwen Dukes, in ChildLinks, the journal of Barnardos National Children's Resource Centre (2004).
• The Benefits of the Study of Music – a brochure produced by the MENC (National Association for Music Education) in the US.
• Can Music Education Really Enhance Brain Functioning and Academic Learning? – an article by Lisa Chipongian on that looks at studies are cited showing the connection between music and the brain, music and math comprehension and music and reading (2000).
• Music Lessons Enhance IQ – an article by E. Glenn Schellenberg in Psychological Science magazine (2004).
• Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development – a compendium summarizing and discussing 62 research studies that examine the effects of arts learning on students' social and academic skills (2002). 
• Involvement in the Arts and Human Development – a research report from the Imagination Project at UCLA (1999).
• In Tune with Power of Music to Heal – an Irish Times article on how music can be used to open up channels of communication with patients disturbed by a range of conditions (2011).
• 12 Benefits of Music Learning – a more general overview, in the FAQs section of our website.

Links to music-related articles in ScienceDaily, a compendium website of breaking scientific news:

• Childhood Music Lessons May Provide Lifelong Boost in Brain Functioning (20 April 2011)
• Music Education Can Help Children Improve Reading Skills (16 March 2009)
• Adolescents Involved With Music Do Better In School (11 February 2009)
• Music Training Linked To Enhanced Verbal Skills (27 September 2007)
• Music Training 'Tunes' Human Auditory System (13 March 2007)
• First Evidence That Musical Training Affects Brain Development In Young Children (20 September 2006)
• Music Thought To Enhance Intelligence, Mental Health And Immune System (22 June 2006)

Below are some YouTube videos discussing music's effects on the mind, as well as the value of music and music education for all age groups.

• The Case for Music Education – A general advocacy video from the Children’s Music Workshop on the value of music education.
• Why Music Education Belongs in Public Schools – Roger H. Brown, President of Berklee College of Music, argues the case for music education in schools.
• Alzheimer's/The Power of Music – Oliver Sacks, author of Musicophilia, discusses music’s effects on Alzheimer’s patients.
• Music and the Mind – Aniruddh Patel, of the Neurosciences Institute, discusses what music can teach us about the brain, and what brain science, in turn, can reveal about music.
• El Sistema: Venezuela's Youth Symphony – Boston Phoenix classical music editor Lloyd Schwartz on Venezuela's world-famous classical music education system, with performance clips from a visit there in 2005.
• Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale – using audience participation, at the 2009 World Science Festival.

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