
There are mountains of data showing the benefits of the study of the arts, particularly music. In the document "Why Music," I have listed a dozen quick points which all supporters of arts education (that's YOU!) should be aware of.
This research demonstrates how students who are taking music lessons (classes) earn better grades in their other classes. While this is similar to findings of MANY other studies, what is new about this study is that it eliminates variables of income, preexisting music skills, or other factors which might effect the results.
Purdue grad (and 1st man to walk on the moon) Neil Armstrong
(I WAS going to post a Michigan State Band pic, here, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.)
BOILER UP!
The above picture is the rehearsal hall of the world-famous Purdue University All-American Marching Band, and other Boilermaker ensembles.
There are 303 students in the above picture (yes, I counted!), plus scores of members are not pictured, totaling 392 (Fall, 2017).
70% of them are STEM students.
Neil Armstrong played baritone in this band.
Russell G. Slayter (the inventor of Fiberglass) played tuba in this band. There's even an outdoor performance venue named for him.
Now...what were you saying about
pulling your kid out of band,
so that they could
be an engineer or in STEM?