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Maddie Moeggenborg
Mr. Gross
English 12B (3)
9 May 2014
Music: A Lifelong Benefit
Ludwig Van Beethoven once said, “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” Beethoven could not have been more accurate. People listen to music for many reasons. Some say the lyrics have meaning, some say it is relaxing, and some say they simply like the way it sounds. What people do not realize is how much music affects humans. Students who place importance on studying music experience many benefits throughout life. For this reason, music education must be required in all high schools in the United States. A few of these benefits include developing higher thinking skills and learning “life values” such as discipline, cooperation, and social skills. Also, students of music have many opportunities to express themselves, and therefore tend to have higher self-esteems, which benefits them throughout life.
Yet another advantage to being involved in music is a long list of both physical and mental health benefits. The reasons to be educated in music are endless. However, even with the benefits, some schools are cutting music programs to reduce costs, even though the only outcomes of this decision are negative. Instead of cutting these programs, states must reform the breakdown of where tax dollars go. Schools all over United States have been hit with budget cuts and this reform would help schools not only keep their arts programs. Neither students nor educators realize how important being educated in music is, even if it is only basic skills.
Throughout life, music education proves to be advantageous.
When most people think about medical school students, they think of science geniuses,

2 of biochemistry majors who spend all of their free time studying in laboratories. What these people may not believe is the fact that 66% of undergraduate music majors who have applied to medical school were admitted, which is the largest of any group. In comparison, 44% of biochemistry applicants were admitted (NAMM). When people are educated in music, they are being educated in many other areas along with it. Scientists have discovered that learning to play an instrument or read music develops higher thinking skills. People who excel in music tend to be good problem-solvers and analytical thinkers. Also, people who learn to read music naturally become better at mathematics because reading music uses the same part of the brain used for mathematical thinking. Because of these developed skills, students who study music along with basic curriculum are proven to do better in all academic areas. High school music students have been shown to hold higher grade point averages (GPA) than non-musicians in the same school
(Malburg 2) . Another very important statistic is that middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music performances scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests (Malburg 2) . With all of the educational benefits of studying music, it seems silly not to require music education in high school.
Along with higher thinking skills, music develops life skills in students. Teamwork is one huge example. When students graduate from high school or college and get jobs in the “real world,” employers do not want to hire people who struggle with working with other people. In music classes, students are forced to work together. When students do not work together, the music falls apart and sounds terrible. Instead, the musicians have to listen to each other and work together to produce beautiful sounds. Focus is taught in a similar way. Valerie Strauss says, “ Keeping a balance between listening and contributing involves a great deal of concentration and focus. It requires each participant to not only think about their role, but how

3 their role contributes to the big picture of what is being created” (Strauss, 3).
In addition to teamwork and focus, music teaches students to persevere. Before coming to the point when a piece of musical literature is played flawless, all bands, choirs, and other musical ensembles have to overcome obstacles. Whether it is finding time to practice, or playing one line of music over and over to play it correctly, musicians must keep trying. Perseverance is a very important quality to have in life. Students of music learn how rewarding it is to finally get something right after hard work, and continue their perseverance and hard work throughout life. If music education was required in all U.S. high schools, many more graduates would have skills that would get them hired later in life.
Students of all levels struggle academically at some times. At these times, it can be hard to keep self-esteem high. Music is a great way to escape the stresses of tough classes and raise self-esteem. Patricia Guth says it perfectly when she states, “For some children, music is their one chance to shine in the middle of a day that’s filled with academic subjects that fry their brain” (Guth 1). Students who are involved in music can go to class and nail their solo or a hard part in a song, causing their mood and self-esteem to rise. Expressing themselves through music is a huge part of what helps students feel good about themselves. This feeling can even carry over to other school subjects and even other aspects in life. Someone who expresses him or herself has reduced stress levels and a greater sense of self-worth, all thanks to music. This is very important to students, as school can be very stressful at all levels. With music education being a requirement, students would enjoy school more which would benefit the whole student body. While being involved in music, students gain confidence which can make life all the more enjoyable.
Contrary to popular belief, the limit to music’s health benefits is not helping the feelings

4 of someone after a bad break up. Music has proven physical and mental health benefits. “The
Mayo Clinic points out that music can have effects ranging from reducing feelings of physical pain to boosting memory” (Chan 1). Memory is a huge benefit from studying music. Taking music lessons is proven to help boost memory. Researcher Agnes S. Chan says, “the more music training during childhood, the better the verbal memory” (Chan 7). According to the journal
Neuropsychology, another large benefit of having training in music is having a shaper brain at an older age. When researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center conducted studies of mental sharpness, they used people ranging in ages 60 to 83; all with varying musical education experiences. The researchers found that the people with the most musical training scored the highest on a brain functioning test (Chan 8). Memory and mental sharpness are two important mental health benefits, but what about physical health benefits? For one, being involved in music is great for the respiratory system. Whether students are in band or choir, they need to use lots of air to produce good sounds. Because of this, they must learn to take deep breaths, and also how to properly exhale. Musicians use many breathing exercises to train themselves. These exercises are fantastic for strengthening the respiratory system. A strong respiratory system is good to have because it allows easier flow of oxygen to all parts of the body, in turn helping blood flow. Along with learning the correct way to breathe, musicians have to learn to read rhythms, dynamics, and notes all at the same time. While using all of these skills at the same time, musicians use both the mathematical and artistic parts of the brain, along with having to physically move to change notes. This multi-tasking develops great hand-eye coordination. This coordination can be used in many other aspects of life like sports and driving. While looking ahead in life, all of these health benefits are extremely important. All it takes to receive these benefits is a little bit of education in music. With all of the health problems in the U.S., requiring

5 music education in high schools would be one step towards improvement.
Music programs are being cut in schools all across America. The primary reason behind these cuts is a deficit in financing. School boards think by cutting music and other arts programs, they will save money. When they came up with this thick-headed plan, they were not expecting problems to arise from the decision. Martin Rayala states, “Within two to three years, every school that cuts arts showed a decrease in morale and attendance and an increase in vandalism and disruptions, and within three years most of them had to add extensive disciplinary staff to account for the problems that were created by not providing the full range of experiences that human beings need” (Hurley 2). Because of new disciplinary problems in the schools, the schools were forced to hire more people, whom they have to pay. In the long run, schools that cut music programs save no money and have increased disciplinary problems. These problems alone show how much music programs benefit the student body, its attitude, and behavior.
Budget cuts in schools in the United States are becoming more and more apparent. In
2013, 26 states spent less money per student than the year before (Keany, 1). As schools decide how to deal with their lower budgets, one of the first answers is to cut arts programs. Music programs are cut without a second thought. Instead of automatically cutting these programs, states need to change the breakdown of where tax dollars go. In 2014, the average breakdown of state spending in the country is 25% in K-12 education, 16% in medicaid, 13% in higher education, 5% in transportation, 5% in corrections, 1% in public assistance, and 34% in all other
(CBPP, 1). All it would take to give schools the money they need to keep their arts programs would be to change what percentage of state spending goes to K-12 education. In order to give schools the funding they need, states need to take away two percent from the “other” category and add it to the K-12 education category. This two percent would be significant enough to give

6 schools the ability to keep arts programs.
Music has been important to people all over the world throughout history. People love music for their own reasons. A long list of benefits that come from music education is unrealized. Not only does training in music help develop higher thinking skills, but it also develops life skills like teamwork and perseverance. These skills are valued highly later in life when students begin a career. Also, music allows students to express themselves and heighten their self-esteem. Yet another benefit of music is being healthier both mentally and physically throughout life. Who would not want to have a clear mind and memory when they grow old? In recent years, it has become more and more common in schools throughout the United States to cut music programs in order to save money because of budget cuts. School boards do not realize that in the end, cutting music programs is pointless, and actually increases schools’ problems. In order to keep music in schools, states need to reform the breakdown of spending. Music is a lifelong gift. Being educated in it, even if it is just learning to read music, comes with many benefits throughout life. When students put importance on studying music in school and throughout life, many good things come of it. All high schools must require education in music.
The benefits are endless.

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