In some communities, Music continues to be dismissed as “not important” rather than recognised as a serious, rigorous academic subject. This attitude is not only outdated — it actively undermines students’ development.

Music is a valued skill set. It develops discipline, fine motor control, cognitive flexibility, resilience, communication, and cultural literacy — the very attributes consistently found in highly successful individuals, including doctors, lawyers, CEOs, engineers, and leaders across industries.

Music does not make someone a doctor or a lawyer. Neither does Maths, Science, or English. What matters is how students learn, what skills they develop, and who teaches them how to think, practise, communicate, and persist. In these areas, Music education is second to none.

The Dangerous Myth of “Important” vs “Not-important” Subjects

Parents are often reassured by subject labels:

“Maths is important because it’s Maths” or “Science is important because it’s Science.”

This belief ignores a fundamental truth of education:

If a teacher cannot communicate clearly, inspire confidence, or engage students, then the subject label is meaningless. Knowledge that cannot be transferred, understood, or applied is not education — it is information.

A strong Music teacher routinely achieves what weak teaching in any subject cannot: - sustained student focus - active engagement - visible progress through practice - confidence built through mastery.

Music classrooms demand participation, not passivity. Students must listen, analyse, act, self‑correct, and repeat — continuously. This is deep learning.

Music, Maths, and Science Are Not Separate — They Are Entwined

Music, Mathematics, and Science are not distant disciplines. They are structurally and conceptually linked.

In Music, students engage daily with mathematical thinking through:
– Fractions (semibreves, minims, crotchets, quavers — whole, half, quarter and eighth beats)
– Ratios and proportional reasoning (rhythmic groupings, time signatures)
– Decimals and percentages (tempo changes, duration, timing accuracy)
– Patterns and sequences (scales, chord progressions, musical form)

At the same time, Music is grounded in core scientific principles. Students experience sound as vibration, explore pitch through frequency, and encounter amplitude, resonance and acoustics in real, physical ways. These scientific concepts are felt, heard, and observed long before they are encountered abstractly in Science lessons.

For many students, Music is where both mathematical and scientific ideas finally make sense. Abstract concepts become concrete when they are performed, heard and experienced physically. Music turns theory into understanding.

Transferable Life Skills Music Develops Exceptionally Well

Music is unique in that it integrates cognitive, physical, emotional, and social learning simultaneously.

Discipline and Consistency
Musical progress is impossible without regular, structured practice. Students learn that improvement is earned, not given — a lesson essential for academic achievement and professional success.

Fine Motor Skills and Precision
Instrumental study develops hand‑eye coordination, timing accuracy, and refined motor control. These skills directly support fields such as medicine, surgery, laboratory science, engineering, and technology.

Resilience and Emotional Strength
Music normalises mistakes as part of growth. Students learn to receive feedback, self‑correct, and persist through challenge. This builds resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation — traits strongly linked to long‑term success.

Communication and Listening
Music is a language. Students learn to listen deeply, respond to others, collaborate, and communicate ideas clearly and confidently. These are foundational skills for leadership, law, medicine, and business.

Why the Most Educated and Influential Groups Value Music

It is no coincidence that orchestras, opera houses, and concert halls are consistently supported and attended by highly educated communities.

Children from elite educational pathways are often exposed to Music early because it: - builds cultural capital - supports social mobility - develops confidence in formal and professional environments - teaches discipline without coercion.

Music has never been a distraction from success. Historically, it has been a gateway to it.

The Teacher Matters More Than the Subject Label

Students do not succeed because a timetable says “Maths” or “Science”. They succeed because a teacher can: - communicate clearly - inspire belief - build confidence - demand consistency - teach students how to learn.

In music classrooms, students frequently learn: - confidence in their abilities - how to practise effectively - how to perform under pressure - how to persist when learning is difficult. 

These are not optional extras. They are life skills.

Conclusion: Music Is Education, Not Enrichment

Music is not an alternative to academic rigour — it is academic rigour.
It develops the exact qualities parents want for their children: - discipline - resilience - precision - communication - confidence.

A truly strong education does not ask: “Is this Maths, Science, or Music?”

It asks: “What skills is my child developing, and who is teaching them how to think, practise, and persevere?” - Music answers that question powerfully. 
 

Miss Stoddard - Music and Performing Arts Lead and Creative Arts Lead