My husband and I are committed to making sure that our students are involved in some type of music lessons. Music is fun but it is also so good for your child’s educational development. One of my favorite studios is Gray School of Music in Dallas. Owner Vicki Gray is so passionate about music education and making sure children and adults alike find a love of music. Vicki shared the following 10 reasons why children should take music lessons.

Did You Know?…

1. Music study can help children understand advanced math concepts. Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time.

2. A McGill University study found that pattern recognition, mental representation scores, self-esteem and musical skills measures improved significantly for students given music instruction over a three-year period.

3. Young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically in early school years.

4. Research shows that piano students are better equipped to comprehend mathematical and scientific concepts.

5. High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers.

6. College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts.

7. A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that music-making improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background, music-making students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who had no music involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.

8. “Music education can be a positive force on all aspects of a child’s life, particularly on their academic success. The study of music by children has been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other learning aptitude tests, and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country. Given the impact music can have on our children’s education, we should support every effort to bring music into their classrooms.” U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM)

9. Later in life, music continues to provide hidden benefits. It even seems to help curb depression and loneliness in older people. A lifetime of music begins in childhood, and your child will never be more ready to learn than in these early years.
10. Adults age slower in later life if they took at least five years of piano where they actively practiced.

By far, the greatest benefit of having music lessons in life is the uplifting effect it has on the spirit.

For more information on classes and lessons, you can reach Gray School of Music at (214) 369-7772 or http://www.grayschoolofmusic.com.