Evidence overwhelmingly suggests, "making music makes better students". Research demonstrates music and art education improve student achievement, increase SAT scores, verbal and math skills, improves creative problem solving, team building, self-esteem, self-discipline, and other characteristics of good citizenship. Students involved with music education are less likely to join gangs, and more likely to graduate high school and go on to college. The issue is not music education, but whether we want to optimize our children's potential.
National
Nearly one in five American schools fails to offer music or art classes even once a week.
(The National Assessment of Educational Progress, Department of Education, The Texas Cultural Trust)
The Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, conducted a public opinion survey in 2001 and found the following statistics:
Approximately 95 percent of parents believe the arts are important in preparing children for their future.
More than 90 percent of parents surveyed thought the arts were an important part of a well-rounded education.
About 70 percent of parents felt "someone else" was better suited to ask for more arts education.
A 2003 survey conducted by The Gallup Organization and commissioned by the International Music Products Association (commonly called NAMM), found the following statistics:
Exactly 80 percent of respondents believed that playing an instrument makes you smarter.
More than 95 percent of respondents said music was part of a well-rounded education. Close to 85 percent of respondents believed participating in a school music program corresponds with better grades.
Close to 78 percent of respondents said learning a musical instrument helps you do better in other subjects.
About 96 percent of respondents said that school band was a good way to develop teamwork skills.
Approximately 71 percent of respondents believed that teenagers who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems.
Approximately 93 percent of respondents felt schools should offer musical instrument instruction as part of regular curriculum.
Nearly 88 percent said playing an instrument teaches children discipline.
According to Americans for the Arts, young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours, three days a week for at least one year are:
Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement;
Three times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools;
Four times more likely to participate in math and science fair;
Three times more likely to win an award for school attendance; and
Four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.
