Gallup Poll shows strong support for putting music in every school's curriculum.
According to a new nationwide survey conducted by the Gallup Organization, more than nine in ten
Americans believe music education should be a part of every student's day. In fact, more than three-quarters
of the people questioned feel that states should mandate it.
"American Attitudes Toward Music," conducted for NAMM (the International Music Products Association) also found
that active music making takes place in half the homes in America. Music participation and support for school
music education are both significantly stronger than in an identical poll conducted in 1997. Another significant
finding is the sharp increase in the number of people who believe music education helps students succeed in other
academic areas.
"The results of this national survey leave no doubt that Americans feel strongly about music," says NAMM President
and CEO Larry Linkin. "It's especially dramatic to see the growing clamor for music education in our schools."
General Respondents
- Among more than 1,500 people surveyed, 95% said they feel music is part of a well-rounded education (up from 90 percent in 1997).
- 93% feel schools should offer musical instruction as part of the regular curriculum (up from 88 percent).
- 78% (up from 70 percent) feel states should mandate music education for all students
Among respondents who said they currently play a musical instrument
- 92% feel that music is a very important part of their lives
- 92% said that music brings the family together
- 92% said learning to play an instrument was something they were always glad they'd done.
Among non-playing respondents
- Only 31% said they feel they're too old to start learning.
It appears that recent scientific findings about the broad benefits of music education have had an effect
on people's attitudes. 81% percent of respondents said they feel participating in school music corresponds
with better grades and test scores, up sharply from 69% in 1997. 75% said they believe learning a musical
instrument helps students do better in other subjects such as math and science, and 73% said they believe
teens who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems.
Research
The 1997 study took place just as the new wave of music research was wrapping up. Since then, scientists in
a variety of disciplines have published findings that reinforce the value of music education -- not only for
its own sake, but as a key to intellectual development, physical wellness, and improved academic grades
across the curriculum.
For example, researchers at Michigan State University, led by Dr. Frederick Tims, have found that making music
improves the health of the elderly. At a Miami Veterans Administration hospital, Tims also found that group
music therapy raised the levels of important neural hormones in Alzheimer's disease patients.
A study from the University of California at Irvine led by Dr. Gordon Shaw found that elementary school students
at the 95th Street School in Los Angeles who took piano lessons boosted their math performance. In fact, the
same researchers who conducted the 95th Street study have also found that the neural firing patterns at the most
basic level of brain activity seem to resemble the patterns in music.
PARTICIPATION --
USA Population, 272,690,813 - 1999 estimate
Number of family households: 65,049,428 - 1990
50% of households [65,049,428 x 50% = 32,525,000] have one person age five or older who currently
plays a musical instrument, up from 38% in 1997.
40% of households [65,049,428 x 40% = 26,019,712] have two or more persons who play a musical instrument, up from 34% in 1997.
53% of households [65,049,428 x 53% = 34,476,196] own a musical instrument, up from 43% in the last study.
private lessons (up from 18 to 21% of households that report at least one person participating)
[32,525,000 x 21% = 6,830,250
school instrumental programs (from 23 to 29%) [46,127,000 x .29 = 13,376,830]
other types of instrumental music programs (from 7 to 11%) are all more popular than before.
Survey methodology
The survey consisted of 1504 telephone interviews with participants aged 12 or older from February 5 through 28, 2000. By gender, respondents were 57% female and 43% male; 21% were students; 62% were over age 35, with 29% aged 18-34 and 9% aged 12-17. College graduates made up 64% of the people surveyed. 55% of respondents reported a household income of less than $45,000.
"Across this country, families, voters and school boards are facing tough choices,"
says Linkin. "For some time, researchers have made the case that music has a place in
every person's life. Now, we know the people of America feel the same way. We'll work hard
to translate these sentiments into concrete change."