Music Matters

From my multiple photos and Facebook status updates regarding my daughter’s band involvement over the past three years, from advanced concert band in middle school to summer band camps to marching band now, my friends are well aware that music education matters significantly to me. And I believe it should matter greatly to everyone—whether or not you have children, in fact. It’s a matter of intellectual capital.

You’ve likely seen headlines about the effect of music education on academic performance. For example this Harris Poll showed that nearly “nine in ten people (88 percent) with post graduate degrees participated in music education. Further, 83 percent of those with incomes higher than $150,000 or more participated in music.” And according to studies cited by MENC: The National Association for Music Education,

• Students in top quality music programs scored 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in math on standardized tests mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. (University of Kansas)
• In 2006, SAT takers with coursework in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 43 points higher on the math portion. (The College Board, Profile of College-Bound Seniors National Report for 2006)

As far as where that intellectual capital is being educated today? Sure, many might come from private and boarding schools or homeschool groups—and I highly support those educational choices, but they are not attainable for everyone, particularly in today’s economy. As I had assumed, public school enrollment is growing, likely due to decreased incomes. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, “total public elementary and secondary enrollment is projected to set new records every year from 2009 to 2018.” A lot of bright minds are entering our tax-funded schools; we must give them the tools to be our nation’s next leaders. Supporting music (and arts, I would add) education is critical to enabling these students to reach their full potential.

However, the effect of the still stagnant economy is not only increased enrollment, but also decreased funding of so-called “elective” and extra-curricular classes, programs, and clubs. Schools and their parent support organizations have to get creative to bring in funds. Here comes the appeal: Please make a donation of time, supplies, or money to the music and/or arts program at your area schools. Every bit matters.

“If you want to be a CEO, college president or even a rock star, the message from this [Harris Poll] survey is: take music,” says Dr. John Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC. “As with reading, writing and arithmetic, music should be a core academic focus because it is so vital to a well rounded education and will pay dividends later in life, no matter the career path taken.”

Folks, this is not a political issue, but rather simply a practical issue: Invest in America’s future intellectual capital.