In Washington's high schools, an intriguing correlation has emerged between students who actively engage in music courses and their academic success in other subjects. Recent studies have revealed that high school students immersed in music education consistently demonstrate significantly higher scores in exams, particularly in subjects like math and science. This correlation underscores the invaluable role of music education not only in nurturing a love for the arts but also in providing a holistic educational experience that resonates positively across diverse academic disciplines, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
In a comprehensive analysis encompassing over 112,000 student records, it was revealed that a notable 13% of students had actively participated in at least one music course during their high school journey in grades 10, 11, or 12. This statistic underscores the substantial presence of music education within the academic landscape. The diverse pool of students engaged in music courses reflects a significant cohort appreciating and benefiting from the enrichment provided by musical learning during their critical high school years. Qualifying music courses included concert band, conservatory piano, orchestra, jazz band, concert choir and vocal jazz. These findings illuminate the pervasive influence of music education, demonstrating its meaningful integration into the educational experiences of a considerable portion of the student population, according to Gouzouasis and his co-authors, Martin Guhn, PhD and Scott Emerson, MSc, also from the University of British Columbia.
According to Peter Gouzouasis, PhD, of the University of British Columbia, an author of the study of more than 100,000 Canadian students. "In public education systems in North America, arts courses, including music courses, are commonly underfunded in comparison with what are often referred to as academic courses, including math, science and English.” The research was published in the Journal of Educational Psychology®.
He also added that, “Students who participated in music, who had higher achievement in music, and who were highly engaged in music had higher exam scores across all subjects, while these associations were more pronounced for those who took instrumental music rather than vocal music,”
The researchers hope that their findings are brought to the attention of students, parents, teachers and administrative decision-makers in education, as many school districts over the years have emphasized numeracy and literacy at the cost of other areas of learning, particularly music.
Article: “A Population-Level Analysis of Associations Between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement,” by Martin Guhn, PhD, Scott D. Emerson, MSc, and Peter Gouzouasis, PhD, The University of British Columbia. Journal of Educational Psychology. Published online June 20, 2019.
Our Music Team are passionate about taking music students in at all levels of their schooling from Primary School to Senior High School and the HSC.
We see a clear benefit in a student's life where a study-life balance occurs between studying and engaging in playing music for enjoyment. Or for students taking music for the HSC, we are there to support and mentor our students toward achieving their greatest results possible as a HSC music student.