Benefits of music education are reinforced in a new publication
"Compelling evidence" for the benefits of music education are revealed
in a new research review by internationally renowned Professor Susan
Hallam MBE, UCL Institute of Education.
Commissioned by the Music Education Council (MEC) and published by the
International Music Education Research Centre (iMerc), The Power of
Music - a research synthesis of the impact of actively making music on
the intellectual, social and personal development of children and
young people brings together the vast amount of quality research
evidence that has built up over recent years.
It provides the basis for the argument that every child and young
person should have access to quality music making opportunities and
supports calls for schools to ensure that all pupils receive a
thorough, broad and high quality music education.
Professor Susan Hallam, MBE said: "The research shows there is
compelling evidence for the benefits of music education on a wide
range of skills including: listening skills which support the
development of language skills, awareness of phonics and enhanced
literacy; spatial reasoning which supports the development of some
mathematical skills; and, where musical activities involve working in
groups, a wide range of personal and social skills which also serve to
enhance overall academic attainment even when measures of intelligence
are taken into account.
"The benefits are greatest when musical activities start early and
continue over a long period of time. The teaching of music must also
be of high quality for the benefits to emerge. If the quality is poor
then the benefits will not be evident."
Angela Ruggles, General Manager of MEC said: "This important
publication is a cornerstone of MEC's advocacy work. It provides
strong arguments that justify the inclusion of music in the education
of every child and young person. MEC commissioned the updating of
Professor Hallam's earlier research synthesis as part of its drive to
persuade school leaders of the importance of a strong music presence
in their schools"
Notes to editors:
1) For further details, e-mail admin@mec.org.uk or phone 07735 368846
2) The Power of Music - a research synthesis of the impact of actively
making music on the intellectual, social and personal development of
children and young people is available for purchase from here or can
be downloaded as PDF files. Download the Executive Summary (12 pages)
or Full document (178 pages).
3) This publication builds on Professor Hallam's earlier work The
power of music: its impact of the intellectual, personal and social
development of children and young people (2010) with analyses of
significant new research carried out in the last five years.
