Why is Music Eduation Important?

Music not only impacts academic achievement, it also shapes the way our students understand themselves and the world around them.  Through music education, students learn to express themselves in multiple ways and become more sensitive to the preferences and feelings of others.  Music is a universal language.  It bridges the mind with the soul, by reflecting on any part of our human experience, whether emotional, mathematical, philosophical, linguistic, physical, historical, or spiritual.  A student stated that "music has affected my life by helping me to relax and really concentrate.  It helps me open my eyes and focus on the task at hand... I really enjoy participating in music classes because I am constantly challenged... Without music, my life would be full of stress, and I would not enjoy things to the fullest."  Statistically it has been found that high school music students have better grades than non-musicians in the same school.  And students in high-quality school music programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the school or school district.  As of 2006, schools with music programs had significantly higher graduation and attendance rates than those without music programs.  More importantly, music performance offers opportunities for students to fail.  Through the creative process, students reflect on failures and successes, and derive a sense of their own interests and challenges.  I feel this is an invaluable life skill for students to learn, especially growing up in our current economy.  Through the toils of failure and success, students learn the value of persistence and of working hard for an uncertain outcome.