Parent to Parent: Music education

It's a long list that includes President Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, genius Albert Einstein and even Richard Nixon.

All power players who played instruments as kids.

A new poll finds a link between studying music in school, and success later in life.

John Mahlmann, National Association for Music Education
"Individuals who make more than a one hundred and fifty-thousand dollars a year, more than eighty percent of them had music as an important part of their background."

Vocal teacher Joe Puzzo says music teaches his students important life skills.

Joe Puzzo, vocal music teacher
"They would have to work together. Just in learning their parts, they're working together. They're listening to each other, they're helping each other."

Students say music is fun, but also challenging.

Alison Miller, fifth grader
"I have to learn timing and I have to learn about the different fractions of notes."

Another poll shows music students also have higher attendance and graduation rates, and higher SAT scores.

Rocker Steve Van Zandt, the longtime Bruce Springsteen guitarist and Sopranos star agrees with the importance of music, and has formed a non-profit foundation to get music back into the schools.

Steve Van Zandt, musician, actor & music education activist
"We need balance; we don't live by just math and science."

He says music got him and his friends off the streets

Steve Van Zandt, musician, actor & music education activist
"It absolutely saved our lives. We would have been real Sopranos without it, you know."

Now he wants to return the favor, and help the rock stars of tomorrow.

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