A new poll shows that kids who study music earn more as adults. Well, sort of.
The poll, conducted by an independent research company, says that 83% of people making $150,000 a year had an education in music.
John Mahlmann, of the National Association for Music Education, explains:
Part of it is the discipline itself in learning music, it's a rigorous discipline, and in an ensemble situation, there's a great deal of working with others. Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life.
National Association for Music Education? N.A.M.E.? Sounds made-up. Regardless, I think it's important to clarify what this study actually means. I hate to be the one to rain on this musical parade, but this poll doesn't prove much. They asked a bunch of already-rich people whether they studied music, and many did. This doesn't necessarily mean that you can sign up for music theory class and one day become rich. There are plenty of poor people out there who studied music; anyone who's been to a Guitar Center knows this.
Also, what qualified someone as having studied music? Did they have to play an instrument, or did they just have to take a music class at some point? Does it count if someone used to spit rhymes on a street corner? What about a kid who listened to Zeppelin IV like, a million times and studied every note of the "Stairway" solo while getting stoned? Where's the line? Most public schools make you take at least a few music credits, so don't most kids study music in some capacity?
You know what? On second thought, I DO like raining on this parade. In fact, I wish I could get a job where I just dismiss the findings of scientific studies. If someone wanted to conduct a major study, they would first have to come to me, and I would tell them either A) why the study won't really prove anything, or B) why we don't need a study to prove whatever they're saying. Some professor of a big university would come into my office and propose a study on the increasing trend of ADD, and then I would respond in the most condescending way possible, like this: "Really?? You think people are getting dumber? Really? Hang on a second, let me turn off this episode of 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader' and tell my friend on IM that I'll 'BRB'... OK, where were we? Ah yes, get the hell out of my office." Yep, that job would be pretty awesome.
As someone who plays (or once knew how to play) guitar, piano, violin, bass, ukelele, triangle, cowbell, cymbals, tambourine and scraping fish, let me say, musical knowledge can be a great thing. Being in a band a few years ago was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. It does help you learn discipline and dedication -- learning guitar, for example, takes a lot of practice -- and gives you another talent to add to your life resumé. Just don't expect that you'll automatically become a millionaire because you learned the Soulja Boy dance. You still have to grab your career by the reigns and Superman that ho.
