Introduction “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the wind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” - PlatoSince the he time of Plato, and even before, music had an impact on many people. We find music everywhere we go. This can be played in stores, elevators, while we are on hold on the phone, and on the television shows we watch each evening, just to name a few. Music can affect how and what we feel. Movies, for example, have specific soundtracks. Many of us remember specific theme songs from our favorite movies: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from The Breakfast Club, "Circle of Life" from The Lion King, and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard . of Oz. Music created for these moments creates memories and stays with us. To remember the event, simply through a song, is a great feat. Learning this powerful language called music can be very helpful to children. Understanding how to create sound, particularly how to create music with purpose, children learn a new way to express themselves in ways they never would have done before. By doing it in a school setting, children can have equal opportunities to learn this specific art. Parents should support music programs in schools to help children express themselves in ways that standardized subjects cannot. Academic Research Each year, the opportunity for children to participate in visual arts programs diminishes. Across the country, budgets are suffering from a lack of funds for education. This is particularly evident in the arts, whether it be art, music or drama classes. In New York, between 2006-2007 and 2010, arts programs were cut by 68%. In a specific high school, the...... middle of paper...... Retrieved April 20, 2014 from http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/08/30/music- education -why-don't-have-school-why-should-stay-in-school. Phifer, M. (2011). Despite White House report advocating arts education, budgets face cuts. Retrieved April 20, 2014 from http://abcnews.go.com/OnCampus/cutbacks-white-house-report-advocates-arts-education/story?id=13582683&singlePage=true.Pilcher, J. (2010). What not to wear? girls, clothes and “showing” the body. Children and society, (24). 416-70. Public broadcasting station. (2014). The benefits of music education. Music and arts. Education. | PBS Parents. Retrieved April 20, 2014 from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/Qi, Y. (2012). The importance of music in early childhood education. Educating young children: learning and teaching during the early years, 18(2), 40-42.