Music Advocacy
Proof That Music Matters (In Case They Still Need Convincing)
Because fighting for your program shouldn’t be a solo act.
The data? Rock solid. The stories? Unforgettable. Whether you’re convincing a principal or defending your program at a board meeting, you’ve got backup. Music education doesn’t just matter - it transforms.
Higher Academic Performance
Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all subjects.
Source: Arete Music Academy
Enhanced Brain Function
Music training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language.
Source: Educational Leadership
Improved Sound Processing
Children with learning disabilities or dyslexia who tend to lose focus with more noise could benefit greatly from music lessons.
Source: Psychology of Music
Greater Neural
Development
Children who had music lessons showed different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year.
Source: PLOS One
Stronger Reading
& Language
Skills
Children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills.
Source: Arete Music Academy
Increased
IQ
Music lessons appear to enhance general intelligence and improve performance on a variety of tasks.
Source: Psychological Science
Executive Function
Boost
Musicians use both sides of their brain more frequently than the average person, aiding executive function and multitasking.
Source: Journal of Neuroscience
Better Verbal
& Reasoning
Skills
Practicing a musical instrument in childhood is associated with enhanced verbal ability and nonverbal reasoning.
Source: PLOS One
More Satisfied
Students
Students in extended music education programs reported higher satisfaction at school in almost every area.
Source: Music Education Research
Improved Spatial
Skills
Students involved in music scored higher on tests of general and spatial cognitive development—important for math and engineering.
Source: McGill University
Broad Public
Support
Nine in ten adults believe students benefit from having music included in their curriculum.
Source: Harris Poll
Higher Attendance
Rates
Schools with music programs have an average attendance rate of 93.3%, compared to 84.9% in schools without them.
Source: The National Association for Music Education
Strength in Numbers
Students in top-quality instrumental programs scored 17% higher in mathematics than children in schools without a music program and 33% higher than students in a deficient choral program
(Journal for Research in Music Education).
Students in top-quality instrumental programs scored 19% higher in English than students in schools without a music program.
(Journal for Research in Music Education).
Schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools without music programs
(The National Association for Music Education).
Fewer than half of teachers (42%) and parents (46%) say their schools have the musical instruments they need for all students who want to learn to play.
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC)
Just 41% of teachers and 46% of parents say their schools have enough sheet music for every participating child
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC).
More than 80 percent of teachers, and nearly as many parents, say that the time allotted to music education—adequate rehearsal time, class duration, and class frequency—is important for a quality music education program
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC).
Eight in 10 teachers and more than seven in 10 parents believe the number of minutes of music education required every week is an important quality component.
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC)
87% of teachers and 79% of parents strongly believe music education has a positive impact on overall academic performance.
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC)
83% of teachers and 73% of parents say budget cuts in music education are detrimental to students.
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC)
On average, both teachers and parents would be more willing to cut spending in 12 of 15 other programs before they’d cut funding for music and arts education.
(NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC)
Be Part of the Music is a free recruitment, retention, and advocacy resource used by over 16,000 music educators nationwide.
Designed to help teachers at all levels increase and maintain student participation in music programs.
Resources include parent newsletters, website builders, recruitment videos, customizable documents, and a full recruitment blueprint.
Programs using Be Part of the Music report an average annual increase of 18 new students in their ensembles.
Tools are designed to simplify the recruitment process and save educators valuable time.
All resources are available at no cost.
More than Music.
More than School.
From higher test scores to healthier choices, music education doesn’t just change students, it changes lives.
Students who participate in music programs demonstrate remarkable academic and personal benefits that extend far beyond the rehearsal room. According to a U.S. Department of Education analysis, secondary students involved consistently in instrumental music score significantly higher in math by grade 12—regardless of socioeconomic background. SAT scores mirror this trend: students with music performance experience scored 57 points higher in verbal and 41 points higher in math, while music appreciation students outperformed their peers by 63 and 44 points, respectively. Dropout rates plummet for students involved in music ensembles: in Pittsburgh, those with three or more years of performance experience had a dropout rate of 0.0%. Furthermore, music students are more likely to attend college—at twice the national rate—and receive more academic honors than their non-music peers.
Music education also supports emotional health, cognitive growth, and social development. Band and orchestra students report the lowest use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Skills gained through music—concentration, recall, listening, forecasting, and memory—directly impact performance in reading, science, and mathematics. Research even shows music instruction enhances abstract reasoning more effectively than computer training. Ninety-three percent of Americans believe music is part of a well-rounded education, and 81% link it to better grades and test scores. In fact, music majors make up the highest percentage of accepted medical students, and a vast majority of musicians—92%—say they’re glad they learned to play. These benefits aren’t just academic; they’re lifelong.
Music teachers are uniquely positioned to impact students deeply. More minority students identify music teachers as role models than any other subject area. Making music brings families closer together, enriches communities, and fuels the intellectual curiosity industries seek in a competitive workforce. The College Board recognizes the arts as one of six core subject areas essential for college readiness. From a neurological standpoint, dedicated brain regions are activated exclusively by reading music. Clearly, music education is more than enrichment—it’s foundational to student success and human development.
Got questions? Good.
That means you’re paying attention.
Even better?
You’ve got backup.
Leadership is messy, loud, and complicated. If you’ve got questions, good—you’re paying attention. I’ve got answers, straight from someone who’s seen it all and somehow still loves it. I read and respond to every email (after a little coffee, of course), because leadership’s too hard to figure out alone - and you shouldn’t have to.
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