Music Matters: How Music Education Helps Students Learn, Achieve, and Succeed
Beyond the intrinsic value of music to cultures worldwide, education in music has benefits for young people that transcend the musical domain. The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) reviewed an extensive body of research to identify high quality, evidence-based studies that document student learning outcomes associated with an education in and through music. The results show conclusively that music education equips students with the foundational abilities to learn, to achieve in other core academic subjects, and to develop the capacities, skills and knowledge essential for lifelong success.
Benefits of Music Education
Music education prepares students to learn
- Enhances fine motor skills
- Prepares the brain for achievement
- Fosters superior working memory
- Cultivates better thinking skills
Music education facilitates student academic achievement
- Improves recall and retention of verbal information
- Advances math achievement
- Boosts reading and English language arts (ELA) skills
- Improves average SAT scores
Music education develops the creative capacities for lifelong success
- Sharpens student attentiveness
- Strengthens perseverance
- Equips students to be creative
- Supports better study habits and self-esteem