Beth Mazanec, orchestra and music theory instructor at Helena's two high schools, said music students in general are some of the best students in the school.

So she wasn't surprised to read about a recent Harris Poll that found those with more education and higher household incomes are more likely to have had music education.

Mazanec said music students seem to be most active, take the advanced classes, and frequently have earned college credit prior to their high school graduation.

The Harris Poll conducted this online survey of 2,565 adults nationwide in October.

Three-quarters of American adults were involved in some type of music program while in school, according to the Harris Poll. Sixty-five percent of those with a high school education or less participated in music compared to 81 percent with some college education and 86 percent of those with a college education, the study said.

Students associated with music also have higher incomes as adults. Seventy-two percent of those with incomes between $35,000 and $49,999 participated in music, compared to 83 percent of those with incomes of $150,000 or more.

All elementary students in Helena Public Schools participate in music classes twice a week and Mazanec said in middle school most students are involved in music or band.

By high school, those numbers drop.

There are 381 students of the 1,366 at Capital High School taking music courses. Helena High School has 539 music students within its population of 1,567.

"When students have so many choices and so many college requirements they choose not to take music classes," Mazanec said. "They focus on other areas like visual arts, sports, science, math or foreign language. They are really looking at specialty courses and they only have so many hours in a day."

The study found the more education one has, the more likely he or she thinks music education played an important role in their ability to problem solve, work in groups, and organize.

Mazanec said music students develop critical problem-solving skills.

"Students who are involved in music are constantly working with creative problem solving," she said. "They are working with others in teams and managing their tasks in a timely fashion. A lot of employers have said students with music in their backgrounds have advanced problem-solving methods and are able to take on more responsibility."

The Harris Poll asserts their study and proves even after the lessons are gone, the skill set provided lives on for those who had music education. It therefore suggests music education is a tool not only to get students to stay in school, but to continue their education as well.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com