The Importance of Encouraging Participation in Music Courses

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All music credits should count towards graduation to prevent discouraging students from participating. Schools should heavily encourage their students to be involved in fine arts because they have proven mental benefits, improve attendance and graduation rates, and encourage life skills that continue to be an advantage throughout people’s adult lives.
Schools should encourage their students to participate in music programs because of the mental benefits that they produce. In a study done at the University of Toronto by Dr. Glenn Schellenberg, it was found that children’s IQs can be raised by participating in fine arts. Dr. Schellenberg and his team used one hundred forty-four first graders for their research. For one year, they were given either music lessons, drama lessons, or no lessons. In the results, they found that all the groups IQs rose four points, but the children’s IQs that were given music lessons had rose seven (Music). Students’ involvement in fine arts also helps to produce higher test scores. Studies have shown that students involved in higher quality music programs at their schools scored about 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher on standardized testing than schools with lower quality programs (Eat). The reason behind the improvement is believed to be because the concentration needed for musical training and successful standardized testing are found to be similar. I believe that the mental benefits entailed in school music programs are a strong reason to count them as valuable to students.
School music programs are evidenced to have positive effects on attendance and graduation rates. Many students look towards band, orchestra, or choir as the highlight of their school day, serving as an incentive ...

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... discouraging students from participating. Schools should heavily encourage their students to be involved in fine arts because they have proven mental benefits, improve attendance and graduation rates, and encourage life skills that continues to be an advantage throughout people’s lives.

Works Cited

"11 Facts About Music Education." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb.
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"Eat Smart for a Great Start Newsletter."PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
"Music and Drama: How They Fit Into College Applications." Music and
Drama: How They Fit Into College Applications. N.p., n.d. Web. 21
Feb. 2014.
"Music & IQ." - Science Updates. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
"Music for Young Minds." Music for Young Minds. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb.
2014.
"Music Makes the Grade." Music Advocacy Groundswell. National Association for Music Education, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 1923.

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