Music education is associated with those who go on to higher education. In looking at what groups may have participated more in music, education shows the largest differences. Two-thirds (65%) of those with a high school education or less participated in music compared to four in five (81%) with some college education and 86 percent of those with a college education. The largest group to participate in music, however, are those with a post graduate education as almost nine in ten (88%) of this group participated while in school.

Music education is also associated with higher incomes. Three-quarters of people (74%) with household incomes of $34,999 or less and 72 percent of those with incomes of $35,000-$49,999 participated in music, compared to 83 percent of those with incomes of $150,000 or more.

The whole poll (taken among 2,565 American adults in October, 2007) is a fascinating read, but what I found especially striking was the absence of much of a geographic (music participation in school was slighty higher in the east), gender (women study music a little more then men), and most notably, racial divide in the findings:  In fact, 80% of the African-Americans surveyed they had taken some sort of music instruction in school, compared to 75% of Whites and 73% of Hispanics.    The Music Educator’s National Conference’s (MENC) (“No Child Left Behind Act is Leaving Music Education Behind,
Despite Proven Benefits”) take on the study can be found here.

First, with organist Gerre Hancock:

And then we’ll check out how Bobby McFerrin does it with Bach:

And maybe listen to the Jeff Hellmer Trio:

And some images: