by Talina Norris

Created on: March 28, 2007   Last Updated: April 02, 2007

People who obtain an education in music are generally smarter that those without any music education. The internet is loaded with research on the affects music can have on growing children. For example "a research team exploring the link between music and intelligence reported that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills, the skills necessary for learning math and science." (Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennis and Newcomb, "Music training causes long-term enhancement of preschool children's spatial-temporal reasoning)

Music teaches you to use many different parts of your brain, it helps you develop self-esteem, critical thinking skills, it teaches cooperation, leadership and many other personal development skills. Music education improves abilities in reading, writing, math, and science. Music education can keep kids out of trouble and it gives a sense of community in schools. Music can also be an emotionally rewarding, interpretive and enlightening activity. Musicians have the opportunity to get to know themselves through the music they play and they get to reach out to those who witness their music. Music lifts the spirit and can make life more enjoyable for everyone who is involved.

Did you know that "The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry are, nearly without exception, practicing musicians"? (From "The Paradox of the Silicon Savior, by Grant Venerable, " as reported in "The Case for Sequential Music Education in the Core Curriculum of the Public Schools")

So in response to the question "Why you should learn a musical instrument?"- I say why not learn a musical instrument? You have nothing too loose and you could gain so much!

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