In the last twenty years educators have been paying more attention to the measurable benefits of music education. It is no longer enough to say that music brings people together, civilizes us, and gives children a means of artistic expression. Teachers today want to see statistical proof that music is a valuable aspect of a child’s development.
Over the past twenty years there have been a wealth of studies that show a strong correlation between improved student performance and music education. The College Board has recently looked into the effects of music education on SAT scores, and found that students who benefit from music education saw their math scores improve by 41 points, and their verbal scores improve by 57 points. Students who studied music for more than four years saw even greater gains, with combined score improvements of 119 points on the SAT.
Music education delivers a vast skill set, so it should be no surprise that students who receive music education outperform their peers later in life. A recent Harris poll found that 83% of people with graduate degrees had participated in music education.
“Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.”
- Bill Clinton, saxophonist, and former President, United States of America
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