In our society today, it is almost guaranteed that every person has been involved or influenced by music in some way. Some take pleasure in it, others pursue it as a career, and others center their lives around it. It is not uncommon to meet someone who has taken some form of musical education, learning the art of sound. This includes people like me, a passionate pianist, who have been taking lessons once a week for 9 years. The impact music lessons have on these students is almost limitless, but what about when it comes to the classroom? Is it possible to somehow apply the skills developed through persistent practice and performance to taking tests or writing essays? Perhaps learning an instrument somehow shapes the brain to retain information better. The evidence certainly seems to suggest that yes, there is a correlation between music lessons and academic achievement. Most students who receive music lessons will average one lesson per week, usually 30 minutes to an hour. This is a long moment of sustained concentration on a specific task. These students will have to go home and practice the songs they have learned during the week. It is unlikely that all elements of a piece will be accurate first time, in fact there are often problem areas that need more practice to play successfully. This increases the level of persistence and perseverance in these students. The physical act of playing an instrument increases coordination and fine motor skills, generally of the fingers, and for wind and horn instruments the respiratory system is highly developed. These skills - concentration, persistence, perseverance, motor skills, as well as others, including developed teamwork, confidence and performance skills, are all applied in some way in various subjects through education