There is a plethora of research on the topic of music education advocacy, a few of which have been included below as most relevant to our project. Piano Six – New Generation strongly believes that the integration of arts and music lessons into schools can help children reach their full cognitive and emotional potential, while allowing them to envision a future reality that propels societies forward.

Plato already affirmed the importance of music education 2400 years ago, when he said: “Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.”

Here is a selection of recent hand-picked research studies on the importance of exposing children and young adults to quality music experiences:

• Beyond the “village” rhetoric: Creating healthy communities for children and adolescents

  PL Benson, N Leffert, PC Scales, 2012

   

• The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people

  S Hallam – International Journal of Music Education, 2010

   

• The psychological functions of music in adolescence

  S Laiho – Nordic Journal of music therapy, 2004

   

• Assessing the positive influence of music activities in community development programs

  S Dillon – Music Education Research, 2006

   

• Sound Links: Exploring the social, cultural and educational dynamics of musical communities in Australia

  BL Bartleet – International Journal of Community Music, 2009

   

• The many ways of community music

  KK Veblen – International Journal of Community Music, 2008

   

• What is music, health, and wellbeing and why is it important

  R MacDonald, G Kreutz, L Mitchell – Music, health and wellbeing, 2012

   

• Returning music education to the mainstream: Reconnecting with the community

  PM Jones – Visions of Research in Music Education, 2006

   

• WHY MUSIC? Essays on the importance of music education and advocacy: Why does our profession need advocacy?

  ML Mark – International Journal of Music Education, 2005