The Harris Poll reports that the more time one spends in a music program, the more likely they are to say it has been influential in contributing to their current level of personal fulfillment. Music education has the ability to provide various skills that people may need for success in a job or career outside of music. In fact, over half of those involved in a music program say music education was extremely or very important in providing them with the skills of working towards common goals (54%) and striving for individual excellence in a group setting (52%), while half (49%) say it provided them with a disciplined approach to solving problems.

The skills music education can provide

Music education can provide more than just learning how to sing and/​or play an instrument. It also has the ability to provide various skills that people may need for success in a job or career outside of music. In fact, over half of those involved in a music program say music education was extremely or very important in providing them with the skills of working towards common goals (54%) and striving for individual excellence in a group setting (52%), while half (49%) say it provided them with a disciplined approach to solving problems. Almost half of those involved in a music program say music provided them with the skills of creative problem solving (47%) and flexibility in a work situation (45%). What is interesting to note is that all of these are up since these questions were previously asked in 2007. Then, 44% said music education provided them with the skill of working toward common goals and just 36% say it provided them with flexibility in work situations.

Music education prepares people for life

Among all adults, there is also a sense that music education is important. Seven in ten Americans (71%) say that the learning and habits from music education equip people to be better team players in their careers while two thirds say it provides people with a disciplined approach to solving problems (67%) and prepares someone to manage the tasks of their job more successfully (66%). In 2007, two-​thirds (66%) said music education prepared people to be better team players, while three in five said it provided a disciplined problem solving approach (61%) and prepared people to manage tasks more successfully (59%).

About 11% of U.S. adults enjoy playing a musical instrument as a leisure activity. Over 50% of these consumers have children living at home and these children may be interested in signing up for music lessons. In addition, these consumers over-​index in their intent to pay for lessons in a hobby in the next year. Marketers may want to emphasize the sound of music in their ad campaigns and use radio to attract new students. About 55% of this audience notes that they have taken action as the result of an ad they heard on the radio in the past year.

AudienceSCAN data is available as part of a subscription to AdMall for Agencies. Media companies can access AudienceSCAN data through the Audience Intelligence Reports in AdMall.