12 Proven Benefits of Music Education

Taking music education seriously in our public school system is well overdue. It has passed the point of "We think there are some benefits, and the students seem to like it" to "We have proof of many measurable benefits as a direct result of a through music education. Our students love it.". In just the past decade, there has been a massive influx of studies performed by notable research companies and distinguished scientists in regards to music education. These studies are all pointing at the same general conclusion. Music education is good for us. The end goal is not to have every student pursuing a career in music. The end goal is to have the most intelligent and educated population possible. In public education, music should be viewed as an amplifier with applications across almost all areas of study. We now have facts, not opinions, proving the dozens of cross over benefits of music education from a very young student age. Music education changes how our brain learns other subjects. A student that has grown up with a firm understanding of basic music theory will be more prepared to tackle certain areas of math at a young age. A student that has been given the opportunity to express themselves through music will write differently in english class. A student who has participated in group music endeavours such as a school orchestra, or jazz band will have strong experience in working with a team. There are so many benefits to music education. Here are just 12 of some of the more significant benefits a music student will encounter. 1. Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after birth. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain's circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds. 2. There is a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). This kind of intelligence, by which one can visualize various elements that should go together, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything, from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack a book bag with everything that will be needed for the day. 3. Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions while rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have just one right answer. 4. Recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests. They also achieve higher grades in high school. 5. A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of [...]

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