Fact 1
Students who are involved in instrumental music programs during middle school and high school scored considerably higher than their non-band peers on standardized tests. According to studies in Georgia and Texas, conducted by universities, there is a significant relationship between the number of years of music instruction and the student’s academic achievement in language arts, science and math.

Source: University of Sarasota Study, Jeffrey Lynn Kluball; East Texas State University Study, Daryl Erick Trent

Fact 2
According to a study done by McGill University, self-esteem, musical skills measures, pattern recognition and mental representation scores improved extensively for students under piano instruction.

Source: Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, “The McGill Piano Project: Effects of three years of piano instruction on children’s cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and self-esteem,” presented at the meeting of the Music Educators National Conference, Phoenix, AZ, April, 1998

Fact 3
The percentage of students achieving As, As/Bs and Bs and the amount of academic honors and awards were received more by participants in music programs than non-music students.

Source: National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up (1990), U.S. Department of Education

Fact 4
Scores on both parts, math and verbal, of the SATs were higher for high school music students. In 2001, students with coursework/experience in music performance scored 41 points higher on the verbal section and 57 points higher on the math section compared to students that were not involved in music areas.

Source: Profile of SAR and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, compiled by Music Educators National Conference, 2001

Fact 5
College-age musicians are found to be more emotionally healthy than non-music college age students. 362 students in their first semester at college at the University of Texas were given tests that measured performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. Researchers found that college-aged musicians were more confident in test taking and had less alcohol related problems.

Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998

Fact 6
Countries such as, Hungary, Netherlands and Japan, that stress musical education, are the world’s top academic countries. These countries require students to partake in instrumental and vocal music training in elementary and middle school. The centrality of music education in these top-ranks academic countries seems to contradict the United States’ focus on subjects including math, science, technology, and vocabulary.

Source: 1988 International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IAEEA) Test

Fact 7
After a study in Rhode Island, researchers found that music training helps underachievers. Eight public school classes were separated and half were known as “test arts” groups, which received ongoing music and visual arts training. While in kindergarten this group of classes lagged in scholastic performance and after seven months were given a standardized test. The test concluded that the “test arts” group had caught up to their fellow students in reading, surpassed their classmates in math by 22%, and improved in attitude and behavior. This project was conducted the second year also and the “test arts” students widened this margin even more.

Source: Nature May 23, 1996

Fact 8
“The nation’s top business executives agree that arts education programs can help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for the 21st century.”

Source: “The Changing Workplace is Changing Our View of Education,” Business Week, October 1996

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