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S3/Ep 8: School of Rock Just Proved Music Isn't Extra—It's Essential for Confidence & Resilience
17 Plays6 days ago
Our final episode of 2025 celebrates what truly matters: giving children tools to discover who they are.
New research from School of Rock reveals stunning outcomes: 96.2% of parents report increased confidence, 80.4% say their kids are happier, and 88.3% see improved resilience in children who participate in music programs.
Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock, discusses how performance-based learning fosters confidence, why collaborative music programs cultivate emotional intelligence, how music serves as a coping mechanism during the youth mental health crisis, and what parents should consider when evaluating music education.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Guardians of Hope' Season 3
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to season three of the Guardians of Hope podcast. We are a community of parents, educators, health, legal, and tech experts dedicated to positively impacting children's lives.
00:00:10
Speaker
The thoughts and opinions of my guests are not my own. This is a platform for sharing. Welcome everyone. When a child picks up an instrument for the first time, they're not just learning to play notes.
00:00:22
Speaker
They're discovering a powerful tool for self-expression, emotional regulation, and connection.
Impact of Music on Children: School of Rock Study
00:00:29
Speaker
School of Rock has just released groundbreaking findings from its social impact study, an independently commissioned analysis of 1,443 parents that reveals how music education programs can transform children's lives in measurable, meaningful ways. The results are striking. 96.2% of parents reported noticeable progress in their child's self-confidence.
00:00:56
Speaker
Nearly 81% saw their children develop better emotional regulation skills. And 88.3% witnessed improvement in how their kids handle setbacks and view challenges as learning opportunities.
Interview with Stacey Ryan: Importance of Music Education
00:01:12
Speaker
Today, we're joined by Stacey Ryan, president of School of Rock, to discuss why music and arts education are essential, not extra, to raising well-rounded children. Stacey, thank you so much for joining me today.
00:01:26
Speaker
Thank you so much for having me, Cynthia. Yeah, i'm I'm excited to talk about this. So let's start about your background. You've dedicated your career to youth enrichment. What drew you to this work and what have you witnessed over the years in terms of how learning music changes children's lives?
00:01:45
Speaker
Yeah, it's interesting. Like you said, I've spent my whole life working with youth. I knew that I wanted to do that from a yet very young age, from influence of of my parents and what my mother did. And I came to School of Rock actually interestingly, trying to convince myself that music education would still have impact on youth's lives. And i remember looking in a mirror trying to convince myself I was still enriching youth's lives when I joined School of Rock, which when I first joined, the intent was for it to be actually temporary.
00:02:24
Speaker
And what happened was I just quickly realized through observation that at School of Rock, I had the most impact on youth's lives than in any other organization that I had been at previously. And, you know, I've seen kids find their confidence and their identity and their sense of belonging and have collected thousands of stories from community members and parents and students themselves and, you know, have firsthand witnessed our students grow emotionally and socially.
00:03:02
Speaker
and academically even in through their music. And what I'm most excited about is that after, you know, over 10 years of being in this organization and seeing it and hearing it from others who participate in it, now our independent social impact study validates it. And it validates that music education truly does change and save kids' lives. Of course, having the data to back up um what you've been saying for a while is always
Group Music: Collaboration and Diversity
00:03:34
Speaker
amazing. When children learn to play an instrument, especially in a group or a band setting, what developmental benefits are they gaining that they may not get from a traditional classroom setting?
00:03:48
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, there's so much that comes with it when the kids are doing it together. it teaches them collaboration. It teaches them communication with each other and accountability to each other, right? They have to show up to their rehearsal prepared with their parts. Otherwise, rehearsal for the entire band doesn't go the way that it needs to.
00:04:10
Speaker
um It also teaches them the idea that their bandmates may look different from them or think differently from them. And and that's okay. And you know one of the results from our social impact study showed that 82.1% of parents observed improved attitudes towards peers from diverse backgrounds and age groups. And that's not something that you get when you're sitting in a room on your own one-on-one working through these parts. And, you know, playing together just gives our kids a sense of belonging that they don't find anywhere else. um
00:04:48
Speaker
Belonging is one of our core values at School of Rock, and it's my most favorite thing about us because we don't care about the differences. We don't care about the color of your skin, the color of your hair, the language that you speak, the clothes that you wear, the pronouns that you prefer. We don't care about any of that. We care about the music that we're playing together and the power of the students getting on stage and working through those issues and collaborating and problem solving together also teaches them those aren't the things that are important. It's the others.
00:05:19
Speaker
Yeah, that's it so important. And it leads me to my next question um about what stands out about School of Rock's approach is the emphasis on performance-based learning. So kids aren't just practicing an instrument in isolation, they're playing together and actually performing on stage. So why does that collaborative real world application matter so much for children's growth and confidence?
Stage Performance: Building Courage
00:05:48
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, getting on stage and performing, i mean, one, it's their reward for all the hard work that they've done together. It's the opportunity for that group that they've been working through, you know, for several weeks now to show off all their hard work and the result of it.
00:06:05
Speaker
um It's also, you know, it's terrifying getting on stage in front of people. So it really, the the confidence shift that happens in our students from being on stage, it teaches them courage and and resilience and how to work through nerves, which everyone has those moments in their life. And this teaches them how to to navigate that in a more controlled manner and to even have fun with it. you know One of my favorite stories at School of Rock is a young young student who you know in her first show sang like this with her her face covered and was terrified. and cried, like so tears, screaming down her face the whole time. And then when it was done, it was, you did so amazing. And she's like, I want to do it again. Because she saw it was something she was so afraid of, but she did it and she was amazing at it. so you know, teaching the kids that the hard things pay off and, you know, just seeing that transformation in our students from being the shy kid towards the back of the stage to a few shows later, they're, you know, at the front and, you know, riling up the crowd and just having the best times of their lives. You know, those become foundational memories that that really shape our students and their their self-belief.
00:07:31
Speaker
Yeah. And Stacey, you know, in recent years, we've seen a lot of emotional challenges that children and teens are facing with rising rates of anxiety and depression in children and
Music as Emotional Outlet for Youth
00:07:47
Speaker
teens.
00:07:47
Speaker
i I have a feeling and I'd like to get your opinion on how music, um both the act of learning it and the experience you mentioned of performing serve as a tool for emotional expression and regulation that kids desperately need now.
00:08:05
Speaker
Yeah, so as you said, you know, our our current youth are facing a a very serious epidemic and are in crisis. And, you know, teen depression and anxiety has has doubled since 2010. Suicide rates for for for preteens to is up a staggering And twenty one percent and er visits for self-harming girls is up one hundred and eighty eight percent And like you said, it is it is a a big issue that is happening right now. And, you know, I'm really proud to report that 76.4% of parents of School of Rock parents said that their children felt more encouraged to be themselves, more comfortable discussing feelings and problems, and more valued and supported since joining School of Rock. And that is the greatest thing i think that we can provide these days for for our youth. And, you know, music gives kids a a safe way to express complex emotions that they may not know how to verbalize. We do songwriting workshops and and and seasons and shows, and it gives them the opportunity to tap into that creativity and to
00:09:22
Speaker
learn how to have that healthy outlet for themselves to reduce stress in and to boost our confidence. And our social impact study showed clear improvements in in kids' moods, in their self-esteem, in their connection with others, and even in their connection with their parents, according to have more meaningful conversations as a family because of these developments and these changes. so you know, we we have to pay attention to what's going on because our our our youth, like I said before, they they are in crisis and they need us to help them. And I'm so humbled and proud to be part of the antidote to this and to really be that that positive component in our students' lives. And i I can't tell you how many times I've heard through my
00:10:18
Speaker
10 plus years here that School of Rock saved someone's life. And the parents say this with deep emotional meaning to them and they will say, I'm not kidding you. I don't know if my child would be here.
00:10:33
Speaker
if they didn't find School of Rock. And that's incredible to be a part of. So rewarding. And i think that it is meaningful. The numbers show the impact, right? And I feel like having an outlet like this, like you said, is so important to children.
Accessibility in Music Education
00:10:54
Speaker
And i was curious, you know, with the thousands of students that you serve, A lot of children don't have access to quality music education, maybe due to cost, geography, or lack of programs in their own schools. How can communities work to make music education more accessible and equitable? What models are working? What is School of Rock doing? Yeah, too many kids still lack access due to school school cuts or cost or geography, like you said. And You know, for us, our mission isn't completed until every student has a School of Rock in their community and ability to participate. And, you know, at School of Rock, we're really proud to be part of youth enrichment brands. And, you know, us along with our sister companies all focus on youth enrichment activities from music education to swim lessons to sports camps and sports leagues. And we're proud to be you know part of Play Without Limits, which is a scholarship program which allows us to give access to these activities and these events and these life-changing opportunities to students who may not have access to it otherwise. We're also constantly looking at ways that we can can broaden our reach. We're proud partners with with Music Will. who goes into underserved communities to provide music education, because every child deserves the chance to experience the growth that ah music can offer. And group and performance-based models really help us reach the widest range of learners most effectively. So this is something that we are very
00:12:45
Speaker
very aware of, we're constantly trying to talk through how we can broaden our reach and bring more into our community. Play Without Limits helps us do that. you know We brought 12 kids through a 12 month scholarship program with School of Rock just in our first year of working with Play Without Limits. So we're really excited to continue to grow on that partnership and expand that to to hundreds.
00:13:12
Speaker
That's amazing. And is it across the nation or is it local to different ah like ah regions of the US? It's actually a nationwide scholarship program. Great.
00:13:23
Speaker
Yeah. Great. um I have one more question for you, Stacey. For parents who are listening and their children have been asking, can I have a lesson? Can I have a piano lesson? Can I learn to play the guitar? but the parent is actually on the fence about it, whether they think the child may not follow through with it the lessons are expensive, et cetera, whatever the reasons are. What would you want parents to know about making a decision to include music education in their children's lives? Sure. Music education, we know now factually, it builds confidence, it builds emotional resilience, focus, social connection, and, you know, just the child's curiosity alone could be reason enough to to explore it because interest often will spark growth. And with everything that kids face today, music provides grounding, joy, and a sense of belonging. And at School of Rock,
00:14:26
Speaker
You shared it when we when we started you know the conversation. 80.9% parents reported that their children are happier since joining School of Rock.
00:14:38
Speaker
And 96.2% of parents reported that their student has experienced more self-confidence. So we're telling you there's a program out there that will make your child more confident and happier. And it does it in the coolest way possible.
00:14:53
Speaker
And it gives them this community and these friendships and these life-changing experiences that they will carry with them through many, many years and growth and enhancement. So, you know, if you're thinking about it, just do it. Go schoolofrock.com, find a location near you, and I know that they wouldn't regret it.
00:15:19
Speaker
Yeah. Stacey, thank you so much for your time today. it was great working um talking through the numbers with you. thank you so Thank you so much for giving me the time to talk about the thing I'm most proud of and um really love so much. So thank you, Cynthia.