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Cyndi Cheney
Dr. Sean George
English 1010D.04
9 December 2016
Is Music Education Important in Public Schools?
I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly
music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning. Plato. As Plato
suggests, music education is important in public schools. One reason is the effect music has on
the brain/mind when listening to music, and the feelings of accomplishment when playing an
instrument or singing. Children, for the most part, do not even realize what happens to their
brain or the chemistry that happens to them when they participate in choir or play an instrument.
Music education can also improve test scores and learning. Are core subjects more important?
Why is it hard to get funding and support for these programs and classes? Music education is
beneficial to students and should not be eliminated. In this essay, I will explore the many reasons
why music education is important and the benefits music education provides to students and
schools.
When a child goes to a music class and participates in music education, they are there to
learn, have fun, and enjoy themselves. They do not realize all the benefits they are getting. The
smile on their face when they finally learn a song for the first time, or memorize a song and
perform it for their peers or family, is priceless. They enjoy the process and do not even realize
the benefits they are getting. They leave class with a satisfied feeling of accomplishment and
satisfaction. Why might this be? Laura Bryan explains, Of all the arts, the one that appears to
affect the lives of children most directly is music. Music is something they can understand,

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participate in, and enjoy. Music leads children into worlds of fantasy and imagination. It has no
barriers of race, ethnicity, or color (par. 3). Music helps to express feelings and create emotion.
When there is too much focus on reading and writing, children can lose that part where they can
create and invent. It gives students a chance to relax and express themselves. Some children are
born with an ability to play sports; others are born with talents to play music. One is not better
than the other, and each child should have the opportunity to pursue what they want and the
talents they are given. So many children are not sure what talents they have and may discover
something they did not even know was there. Schools should always have choices and allow
children to try different things. Music is one of the choices that should be available.
Music education is more than just music; it can help children become smarter. Music has
been linked to increased IQ and tests scores in reading and math; GPA averages are higher;
improved fine motor skills, better vocabulary, and increase in memory; and helps with hand and
eye coordination. It can also provide a sense of belonging. Students in elementary schools with
superior music education programs scored around 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent
higher in math scores on standardized tests, compared to schools with low-quality music
programs, regardless of socioeconomic disparities among the schools or school districts Laura
Brown tells us in her essay (par. 14). Most schools place a high priority on reading and math
scores. Music education is proven to help with learning, even math.
For years, many researchers have said that music can affect the brain and help to
stimulate both sides. Anita Collins says in her essay, The field of neuroscience has continued to
discover, and strengthen, the links between music education and positive brain development
(par.7). When playing an instrument, like the piano, the player has to look at the sheet music and
then look back at their hands and the keys. Going back and forth along with playing and reading

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uses both sides of the brain at the same time. When music is learned, the left side develops
quicker. Laura Brown continues, 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 brains circuits in specific ways (par. 6). Music can trigger
the brain in a way no worksheet can.
There are students that have different learning disabilities, like dyslexia, who have harder
times with assignments and taking tests. When these students take part in learning a new
instrument or singing in a choir, they will be part of something that will build their self-esteem
and confidence. This can help these
students to succeed in all areas of their
life. Music education develops the
whole child as seen in this graph by
Kids Music Company:

If school districts and states really understood the power behind learning music and
playing or singing songs, reading music and the effect it has on the whole body, grades and test
scores would improve. Many people focus on core subjects like reading, writing, and math;
however, the research shows music to be just as important. If school districts and states have this
information, would it make a difference? Students, parents, even teachers know and understand
how important music education is in schools, but some do not understand fully and need more

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evidence or concrete numbers to look at. Education Digest says we need to Educate
administrators and policymakers about the disparities in the quality of music education in
different schools and geographic regions and for different demographic groupsand about how
strongly teachers and parents feel about these disparities (par. 33). What can we as do to
increase awareness to those in higher positions on school boards and state officials? First, we can
present the facts of how music education can effect students. Next, we can become a music
advocate for the community. Learn what is needed and become educated on the subject. Jennifer
Bugos says-. There is a considerable need for schools to get involved in conducting research
in music education that can translate to practical application in the general music classroom
(par. 20). In addition, we can have students of all ages give testimonials about why they love
their music classes and how it has helped them in other academic areas.
Some people may argue that academics are more important than music education. There
is not enough money to support music programs in secondary schools. Education Digest tells us:
Funding could be one of the reasons music education and classes have decreased.
Also, there is a big cost associated with instruments, costumes, and repairs. Not a
lot of money is made to cover these costs and it doesnt bring in a lot of money.
Substantial majorities of teachers and parents believe budget cuts in music
programs hurt students and that music is not as adequately funded as other core
subjects. Most teachers and parents rate the funding for their own school's music
program as average or worse. (par. 20)
If this is something teachers and parents see as important to students, then why isnt it important
to administrators, and school board members, all the way up to the state? Other programs bring
in money and administrators spend their time with the programs that generate more for their

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school. Most parents and teachers would rather have budget cuts in other areas besides art and
music classes. Grants are available to schools and will help with budget cuts. It is more work for
teachers, but the money is out there. Teachers just need to look for those opportunities.
No Child Left Behind, or NCLB, was established by George W. Bush in 2002. He
wanted to improve a students academic performance with a focus on testing, which meant less
focus on art and music programs. In her essay, Alison Klein writes the following:
Under the NCLB law, states must test students in reading and math in grades 3
through 8 and once in high school. And they must report the results, for both the
student population as a whole and for particular subgroups of students,
including English-learners and students in special education, racial minorities, and
children from low-income families. (par.7)
This does help every student to have focus on reading and math and helps all students hopefully
to succeed. NCLB requires all schools get to a certain level every year, which is called
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Schools that do not make AYP for two years will have
consequences and put in school improvement. They can lose students to other schools, lose
funding, and pay to have tutors. If the school continues to not meet AYP, then they can be forced
to have the staff replaced. All of this can really put stress on teachers and administrators and put
their focus on standardized tests. One can see why this is a big focus for schools and districts.
Even the most gifted teachers, who want to do more, are forced to focus on reading and math.
Does this really improve scores?
President Obama started the Race to the Top, which had states compete for grants, and
Every Student Succeeds Act, which took control away from the federal government and gave
more over to state. This act still focuses on standardized tests for reading, writing, and math. No

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matter what act we are working on in the country to try to fix these problems, it just seems we
keep trying the same thing repeatedly with different names. If we put more focus on music
education in the schools, then we would see some changes with scores and attitude, with
increased scores all over the nation.
Children, as they grow to teens and then adults, love listening to music. It is a big deal to
them. Have you ever told a teenager to turn their music down, or turn it off? They almost get
offended. Music is already a big part of their life. It helps with mood and depression. Music also
is a way to express feelings. Why not add to their love and give them a chance to play, sing and
learn? It may not be their focus in life, but it can help in many ways.
President Gerald Ford once said, Music education opens doors that help children pass
from school into the world around them a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and
human involvement. The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete
education that includes music. Parents, teachers, and administrators should not only rely on
core subjects in school to insure a child is ready for life when they leave school. Music education
is just as important in school to help students become academically ready with a greater
knowledge of themselves. If we do not make music education a priority in schools, we may lose
it altogether; however, if we change how it is viewed and how it can help, in ten or twenty years
we could change the world.

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Works Cited
Bryan, Laura. "Play it again, teach: a contingency plan." Education, vol. 126, no. 1, 2005, p. 143.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context, libproxy.dixie.edu/login?
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alsDetailsWindow?
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Accessed 15 Nov. 2016.
Bugos, Jennifer A. "Greasing The Skids Of The Musical Mind." General Music Today 29.1
(2015): 5-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Brown, Laura Lewis. The Benefits of Music Education. PBS Parents.
pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education. Accessed
21 Nov. 2016.
Collins, Anita. "Music Education And The Brain: What Does It Take To Make A
Change?." UPDATE: Applications Of Research In Music Education 32.2 (2014):
4-10. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

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Klein, Alyson. No Child Left Behind: An Overview. Education Week, Vol. 34, Issue 2. 10
April, 2015. edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/no-child-left-behind-overviewdefinition-summary.html?intc=highsearch

"Striking A Chord." Education Digest 81.7 (2016): 52-58. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16
Nov. 2016.
Why Teach Music in Early Childhood Kids Music Company. http://www.kidsmusic.co.nz/whyteach-music-in-early-childhood/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2016