<p>Wed Nov 14, 11:15 AM ET
TORONTO (Reuters Life!) </p>
<p>Those hours practicing piano scales or singing with a choral group weren’t for nothing because people with a background in music tend to have a higher education and earn more, according to a new survey.</p>
<p>The poll by Harris Interactive, an independent research company, showed that 88 percent of people with a post-graduate education were involved in music while in school, and 83 percent of people earning $150,000 or more had a music education.</p>
<p>“Part of it is the discipline itself in learning music, it’s a rigorous discipline, and in an ensemble situation, there’s a great deal of working with others. Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life,” said John Mahlmann, of the National Association for Music Education in Reston, Virginia, which assisted in the survey.</p>
<p>In addition to the practical skills gained from studying music, people questioned in the online poll said it also gave them a sense of personal fulfillment.</p>
<p>Students who found music to be extremely or very influential to their fulfillment were those who had vocal lessons and who played in a garage band. Nearly 80 percent of the 2,565 people who took part in the survey last month who were still involved in music felt the same way.</p>
<p>“That’s the beauty of music, that they can bring both hard work and enjoyment together, which doesn’t always happen elsewhere,” Mahlmann added in and interview.</p>
<p>Did they say whether or not the people making over 150K were actually practicing musicians? LOL (I’m a musician). But I love what I do. I do believe that students who study music develop skills such as discipline, concentration, ability to “perfect” (not just get things right), listening, discernment, memorization, dealing with failure, performance skills, and thinking with both sides of the brain.</p>
<p>The homes where music study is encouraged are likely the same homes where other things that lead to success-- hard work, academics-- are put on the front burner.</p>
<p>I’m not denigrating music or the value of studying it, just playing devil’s advocate.</p>
<p>Well, I for one always thought that music should be a part of a well balanced education. Music plays such a huge part in our lives (it is EVERYWHERE) that we should be ready to experience/understand it the same way we understand
literature or sciences. We all should be able to read music - this is my dream world. But I am making sure that my kids are educated in music, not for the sake of a college application or a future earnings potential , but for the sake of being a more fulfilled human beings.
And yes, we obviously stress academics in our house, and also the need to learn foreign languages. Is it related to income? I think more to the education and upbringing of parents. People who play instruments tend to have kids play them also. Why? We probably think it is worth the effort.
I used to think, when my kids were younger , that all the money I am putting in music lessons are probably going to pay much higher dividents that the money I am putting into a soccer practice. You can most likely still play an instrument into your old age. How long will you play soccer?
(sorry, I do not mean to pick on soccer people:) )</p>
<p>Allmusic - Send the memo to my parents too. ;)</p>
<p>Silicon - I bet you are 95% right. Let’s face it, only affluent families can afford music lessons. Affluent families have affluent kids. No news there. But the other 5% - well it’s too bad all kids can’t study and instrument, because I think it’s a central part of our humanity.</p>
<p>I will point out, though, for those who are not affluent but would like their kids to learn music, that many public middle and high schools, and even some elementary schools, have various music programs, some of which are very high quality. Some of these (like my middle school) also have loaner instruments for kids who can’t afford their own (and vocal study does not require an expensive instrument anyway).</p>
<p>The preceding paragraph is not meant to suggest that the study’s results are valid despite the conflation of correlation and causation, but to point out that if your kids learning music is important to you, there are ways to attain it even without high income.</p>
<p>I don’t agree about only affluent families being able to afford music lessons. My kids’ music programs always have fundraisers to provide scholarships. I also live near Newark, NJ where there are many free private lesson programs for the inner city kids, often run by world class musicians.</p>
<p>I got the impression that this article was not referring to school music programs, but rather, private lessons. I don’t know. </p>
<p>In our city one can access reduced price music lessons at a nice music school (not the best music school, but still very good) on a sliding scale. However, they are still a cost that most poor families simply can’t swing. Plus, of course instruments, upkeep, sheet music, competition fees all add up. (However, the top local musicians often get to sneak in and study with Eastman collegiate faculty - and let me tell you that is NOT cheap. LOL) I have to say too, that in all my time in music with my kids I can’t think of a single family I’d exactly peg as struggling.</p>
<p>Of course some families I know shell out pretty big funds for athletics, but won’t pay for music lessons.</p>
<p>And yeah, it takes very dedicated moms and dads to get their kids through music. All those ups and downs. All that driving and sitting and waiting… And they want to talk about “soccer moms?” Ha.</p>
<p>Edit - Now that I’m thinking about it, I’ve known and heard some darn good jazz musicians, who, with virtually no formal training, beat the pants off many formally trained musicians. So maybe my perspective is screwed up.</p>
I also know families who do the reverse: Give full time & $$ commitment to music, but don’t put time or effort or $$ into sports. I actually spoke up to one mom about how much her son could benefit from the confidence a bit more coordination would bring. (He was unusually uncordinated, and rather than help the son, they complained about the pervasive sports culture.) All their focus was on gifted academic programs & music. Private tennis lessons have had a tremendous impact; he is no longer left out of schoolyard kick ball games, etc. He has more endurance. She is thrilled with the results, and has found a new respect for athletics.</p>
<p>Our local suzuki program held at a nearby university does indeed have some struggling families taking part.</p>
<p>I think elite music absolutely requires significant financial resources; we spend the equivalent of a private school tuition on our son’s lessons, programs and travel, and this doesn’t include instruments.</p>
<p>Allmusic, I am well aware of the costs. I am saying that there are resources that allow needy families to pursue music at a high level. You may not be aware of them because you have no need to access them. I have been solicited by these programs for contributions, my kids have performed in their fundrasers, and I read about them in the paper. Even the Irish music world, which my kids also take part in, offers scholarships for the needy & fundraising for the best kids heading to overseas competitions.</p>
<p>I really admire serious music families. Tried very hard with both my kids. Sought out high-quality teachers. They stayed with it to please me but just never enjoyed it very much. After a while it felt wrong to keep it up. They were doing it for me, not themselves. No real surprise, though. No one in either side of the family tree can carry a tune. We do like being an audience for good music, though. Does that count at all?</p>
LOL! Yes!! With many of the entertainment & cultural & sports events we all attend, our enjoyment is heightened because we’ve participated at some lower level & can thus greatly appreciate the truly talented as they perform for us.</p>