The Importance of Music in Education

By: Thomas Ploskonka 

April 17, 2020

Music plays an important role in the lives of many people. Many of us listen to music in the car and on our devices while driving to and from work everyday. Others choose to listen to music as a way to relax or to help us push through a strenuous workout. As a musician and educator, I know first hand the benefit that playing an instrument can have. Music has been a part of my life ever since I began learning the flute in 5th grade. While playing, I have always found my concentration to be much greater in addition to the feeling of a sense of relaxation. Just as music plays a part in our daily lives, it should play a part in the lives of students as part of their education. There have been many studies indicating that learning to play an instrument offers many benefits including but not limited to: an increase in coordination, efficiency of the brain, and better spatial and visual awareness.

One study found that students involved in their school music programs had an average improvement on their SAT scores by 63 points on their verbal and 44 on their math scores. This is directly linked to the fact that playing a musical instrument requires and engages many parts of the brain simultaneously. Studies also have shown that musicians are also able to maintain concentration better than non-musicians since playing an instrument requires the performer to be actively engaged in what they are playing, (coordinating finger movement, breathe support) while looking ahead at what is coming next in the music. This process engages many different parts of the brain at the same time leading to the brain becoming more efficient in performing tasks. All of these gains from playing music directly benefit students academically.

Whether you are young or old it is never too late to pick up a new instrument and start learning. Playing an instrument is a skill that will continue to enrich your life over and over as well as strengthening your mind. So choose your instrument and start learning today!

Cited Soures

Campbellsville University. “3 Benefits of Music Education.” CU Online, 29 Aug. 2016, online.campbellsville.edu/program-resources/benefits-of-music-education/.

Sapega, Sally. “Playing an Instrument: Better for Your Brain than Just Listening – PR News.” Playing an Instrument: Better for Your Brain than Just Listening – PR News, 30 Jan. 2017, www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2017/january/playing-an-instrument-better-for-your-brain-than-just-listening.