Why Music Education? Carlene Ruesenberg Plymouth State University March 18, 2010

“Why music education? Music brings us to the intersection of all things temporal and infinite, an expansive place filled with possibilities and hope, a place where potential through creativity and collaboration is realized.” --Andrew S. from New Jersey, in response to the MENC’s Petition for Equal Access to Music Education, 2009.

Ron Cohen, a writer for the Swampscott (MA) Reporter, writes, “Music expresses the inexpressible. It helps to fill our basic needs. It goes beyond intellect, allowing us to understand things with our hearts that we can't with our minds. It is through artistic expression that we discover who we are.”

OK, so why Music Education?

Music helps children succeed in school* children value music activities, music fosters positive attitudes toward school, music results in lower rates of absenteeism, music contributes to the development of creativity, music positively influences social development, and music activities have a positive effect on general intellectual development. *Based on research by Hanshumaker (1980).

Music impacts cognitive ability. “The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling – training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attention skills, intelligence, and an ability for self- knowledge and expression.” Ratey, J. J. A User’s Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain. New York: Vintage Books (2001), p. 206.

Short term savings can have long term consequences By cutting $156,000 from its budget, this school district ended up spending $378,000 over four years in new classroom FTE due to the decline of enrollment in music programs. Retrieved from

Don’t we want children to succeed? “I graduated from high school 29 years ago, but I can still recall songs, lyrics, and facts learned through music in elementary school. I really don't remember anything else from my early years, but the music is still there! I am now an elementary music teacher and I see the impact that music has on my students every day. I can reach kids that others feel are unreachable or maybe even unteachable. Music improves their attitudes, stimulates and increases their brain activity, and gives EVERY child an opportunity to succeed!” - Cindy H., from Arkansas from MENC's Petition for Equal Access to Music Education, 2009

Music is fun!