Skills tests can’t teach

Recent studies have shown that children who take more music lessons tend to have higher IQ scores, as well as increased motor and vocabulary skills. The benefits don’t stop with just piano lessons; including art, theater, and music in a student’s education has shown to increase standardize test scores, mathematics skills, and empathy in children. Music and art centered schools have greater attendance rates, and significant grade improvement. Students are more excited to attend school, and less likely to ditch their classes. For minorities, this also means a greater chance of going on to college after graduation. A musically centered school in the Bronx, New York, saw 24% increase of black students completing college degrees than those in traditional, non musical schools.