The Music Advantage Podcast is coming in 2027!
The Music Advantage Podcast explores how learning music shapes the way people think, learn and grow, and what musically trained people bring to every part of working life. Sponsors join a conversation about skills, capability and the future workforce, told through research and real stories.
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Your Hosts
Dr Anita Collins
Dr Anita Collins is an award winning educator, researcher and author who specialises in how learning music shapes the developing brain. She is known internationally for translating neuroscience and music education research for teachers, parents and policy makers. Anita is the author of The Music Advantage (2020), the founder of Bigger Better Brains, and a TEDx speaker on why every child should have access to music education from birth, and the TED-Ed author whose animation How playing an instrument benefits your brain has reached audiences around the world.
Dr Diana Tolmie
Dr Diana Tolmie is a researcher and educator at Griffith University and a transformational skills expert. Her research focuses on how musical training shapes employability, professional identity and transferable skills across careers. She is known for turning research into practical insight about the value of musically trained people beyond the music profession. Diana is also a TEDxQUT speaker (2023).
The evidence behind everything you teach, in one book
From Dr Anita Collins, music educator and creator of the TED-Ed video watched 17+ million times, translating the world's neuroscience research into the case for music education and the strategies to bring it into your teaching.
You already know music changes your students. The Music Advantage gives you the research that proves it. Because Anita explains the science through real-life stories, it reads like a good conversation rather than a textbook. Use it to advocate for your program, win over parents and leadership, and sharpen what you do in the classroom.
WHAT YOU GET
The complete book, 260 pages
Easy to read: the neuroscience explained through real classroom and family stories
Practical strategies you can apply across any age you teach, from birth to the teenage years
CHOOSE YOUR EDITION
Global edition: for readers outside the US
US edition: US terminology and examples
Signed copy: personally signed by Dr Anita Collins [while stocks last]
HOW TEACHERS USE IT
Advocacy: make the evidence-based case to school leadership for funding and keeping your program
Parent conversations: answer "is it really worth it?" with authority at enrolment and parent nights
In the classroom: practical strategies, from clapping to help a struggling reader, to ensemble play for concentration and social skills
Professional development: deepen your grasp of the "why" behind your teaching, or read it as a department
WHY IT WORKS
Written by Dr Anita Collins and grounded in research from leading neuromusical scientists worldwide, so when you make the case for music you are standing on the science, not opinion. And the real-life stories mean you will actually enjoy reading it.
"This book is my bible. I have so many highlights and pages flagged that I can use with parents and for quotes in emails." Kirsten, Music Teacher.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Which edition should I choose? Global for outside the US, US edition for US spelling and examples.
Is it a hard read? Not at all. Anita uses real-life stories to make the science clear and enjoyable.
What ages does it cover? Birth to the 18 years, useful whatever level you teach.
Add to cart NOW. Put the evidence for music behind your program today.
KEEP THE ADVOCACY GOING
BBB+ gives music teachers everything they need to make the case for music all year round:
A new advocacy toolkit every month
A library of 500+ tools and resources
Exclusive student exercises and advocacy materials
Member discounts
Make the case for music, without saying a word
A set of classroom-ready posters that connect each instrument family to the cognitive, social and academic benefits of learning music, so the value of your program is visible to every student, parent and leader who walks past.
This is more than decoration. Each set turns your studio, classroom or foyer into everyday advocacy, translating the research behind music education into something people take in at a glance. Use them to start conversations, win support, and keep the case for music in front of the people who fund and shape your program.
WHAT YOU GET
5 posters per set, sized A3
A free bonus poster with every set
Printed on durable 200gsm stock with a glossy finish
Customisable wording: choose the message that suits your audience when you order
CHOOSE YOUR SET
String set: violins, cellos and more, and how they build focus, memory and emotional growth.
Wind set: flutes, clarinets and saxophones, and their impact on brain development.
Brass set: trumpets, trombones and tubas, and their role in discipline and teamwork.
Percussion set: drums and cymbals, and how they sharpen coordination and concentration.
Contemporary set: how making music builds persistence and resilience.
Early Childhood set: how early music supports neural development and motor skills.
Junior Musician set: how learning music strengthens cognitive connectivity.
Not sure where to start? Start with the set that suits the students you teach.
Want more than one? The Orchestra Set - "This is not..." Posters brings four sets together for $150, saving you $70 versus buying them separately at $55 each. CLICK HERE
HOW TEACHERS USE THEM
On the studio or classroom wall as everyday, passive advocacy
In the foyer, at concerts and on enrolment nights to make the case to parents
In a budget or funding submission, the evidence for leadership at a glance
As conversation starters with students, parents and school administrators
WHY IT WORKS
Decision-makers fund what they understand. These posters translate the research into a single glance, so you spend less time defending your program and more time teaching.
"These posters look so good we have framed them and put them all along the music corridor. Students stop to read them all the time." Jeremy, Secondary School Teacher.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How many posters are in a set? Five posters per set.
What size are they? A3.
Can I change the wording? Yes, choose the message that suits your audience when you order.
Which set should I start with? Start with the set that suits the students you teach. If you want more than one section, the Orchestra Set - "This is not..." Posters bundles four sets for $150 and saves you $70. CLICK HERE
Add to cart NOW. Start turning your walls into your strongest advocate for music.
KEEP THE ADVOCACY GOING
BBB+ gives music teachers everything they need to make the case for music all year round:
A new advocacy toolkit every month
A library of 500+ tools and resources
Exclusive student exercises and advocacy materials
Member discounts
Introducing ‘Imagine a... Parent Handout Digital Download’.
Empower parents with the insights they need to fully appreciate the benefits of music education for their children with our ‘Imagine a... Parent Handout Digital Download’. These handouts are meticulously designed to help music teachers communicate the extensive advantages of learning music, not only within academic realms but also in personal and professional development.
What’s Included?
14 A4 Printable Pages: Each page is crafted to outline key points about how music education positively impacts students. The set includes both color and vibrant black and white options, ensuring they are suitable for different printing preferences.
Comprehensive Content: The handouts cover a range of topics to help parents see the bigger picture, including how music education contributes to:
Improved academic performance
Enhanced professional skills
Development of qualities valued in employees (such as teamwork, persistence, and creativity)
Increased brain function and cognitive capacity
Features:
Ready to Print: Designed for your convenience, these handouts are ready to print right from your own printer or at a professional print shop.
Engaging Design: The handouts are visually appealing, making the information accessible and engaging for parents.
Versatile Use: Ideal for parent-teacher meetings, open house events, music recitals, or as a take-home resource for students to share with their families.
Benefits:
Enhance Parental Support: By providing clear and concise information, these handouts help parents understand the value of sticking with music education and supporting their child’s musical journey.
Strengthen Home-School Connection: These handouts serve as a tool to bridge gaps between school music programs and home, fostering a stronger support system for students.
Promote Music Advocacy: Use these handouts to advocate for your music program, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of music education.
Equip yourself with "Printable Parent Handouts (Imagine)" to effectively communicate the significant impact of music education. Hand these out to help parents understand and support their children’s musical endeavors, ultimately enhancing the educational experience and fostering a supportive community around your music program.
Looking for more instantly downloadable tools to help you advocate for music learning?
Invest in a BBB+ membership today and unlock over 500+ evidence-based resources just like this one for as little as $8 per month, saving you thousands of dollars compared to purchasing these products individually, and saving you countless hours searching for the right tools. Get immediate access to this must-have membership and so much more, all in one smart investment!