Advocating for Music at the School Board? Don’t Forget This Key Message

If you’re heading into a school board meeting to advocate for your child’s access to music learning, you’re already doing something powerful. Parents are essential voices in protecting and promoting the arts in schools. And while many of us feel drawn to talk about the joy, creativity, and cultural value of learning music, all of which are true and vital, there’s another angle that is just as important, especially when you are speaking to decision-makers.

Music learning doesn’t just enrich students’ lives, it strengthens their minds.

When we speak up for music learning as a core part of every child’s education, we need to make it clear that it benefits all students, not just those who already love music or whose families can afford private lessons. Music learning supports equity in education and contributes to the success and wellbeing of the whole school community.

Here are some key points you might want to share:

• Academic outcomes: Music learning has been shown to improve literacy and numeracy results

• Executive function: It helps students develop working memory, self-regulation, and flexible thinking

• Attention and focus: Learning music enhances students’ ability to concentrate and stay engaged

• Resilience and persistence: Music practice builds perseverance and a growth mindset

• Social development: It supports empathy, kindness, and positive peer relationships

• School culture: A strong music learning program fosters a sense of belonging, shared identity, and social cohesion across the school

So yes, speak from the heart about the joy of music. But also speak from the evidence. Make sure you go in with research in hand so you can show that music learning is not a luxury, it is a powerful tool for learning and thriving—for every student.

We also love hearing stories like this from our community, they often spark the ideas we dive into.

This blog was created to support THIS ARTICLE on Parents.com