The Multiplier Effect of Music Education

Music brings a certain invaluable benefit to a child’s education that cannot be overstated. Heaps of scientific research are available that prove a music-rich education is not just critical for a child’s cognitive function, but also for his academic performance. In other words, a child will learn better for the simple reason that music is part of his school’s curriculum. Beyond academics, however, are benefits that may not always be mentioned when talking about the value of music education, as Katherine Damkohler points out: While there is clear evidence of music education improving student academics, not as much has been written about music's multiplier effect. Music is a powerful tool that can be harnessed for long-lasting benefits that cannot be overlooked in any discussions about education reform. Via Huffington Post Unfortunately, even scientific evidence doesn’t seem to be enough to ensure that music education stays in the curriculum. As education budget pressures increase, music programs are among the worst hit as public education tends more toward narrow curriculums and standardized testing. As educators, we are constantly tasked with doing more with less. In an era of dwindling education budgets, offering music education in schools gives administrators a leverageable resource to gain greater return on their overall efforts. Via Huffington Post The ultimate losers, however, are the students, who become less engaged and are less prepared for the demands of the global economy that require high levels of creativity for success. I have seen firsthand the knock-on effect of an arts-rich education in engaging students. I'm not talking about a one-off music class or short-term residencies but comprehensive, sequential music instruction for all children. This integrated approach takes commitment but the rewards are invaluable reaping a multitude of benefits. Via Huffinton Post So what is this ripple effect that music has beyond the classroom. Well, for one, kids are more likely to develop high self-esteem and self-confidence when exposed to music education. It’s also been observed that music students participate more in extracurricular activities, and are even less likely to drop out of school. And it’s not just the parents and teachers that believe music education improves children’s social, emotional and creative development; the students also see that link. At Education Through Music, we believe that all children should have access to high-quality music education as a core subject in school. We go a step further and align the music curriculum with what is being taught in other classrooms, including math, science, social studies and language arts. The tangible impact of an integrated approach is impressive. The majority of our partner-school teachers agree that music education positively impacts students learning. Our proprietary research confirms that students are more engaged, have higher attendance rates and better academic achievement. Engaged students are more likely to reach their true academic and individual potential. Via Huffington Post I’ll say it again. Music education brings with it so many benefits that it would be detrimental to the value of our children’s education to exclude music from our [...]

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