Lifelong Benefits of Learning Music

The study revealed that adults who had music education as children could process speech faster than those who had not.  They found increased activity in the part of the brain that processes sound when they examined people who had music and those who did not. (New York Times:  Long-Term Benefits of Music Lessons)

Something difficult to determine from such a study is whether the ones who had music education had faster ability in processing sound anyway and that's why they were getting the education in the first place.

Hopefully there will be more study of this kind but one fact is obvious:  you'll hear over and over that team sports improve a kid's ability to deal with teamwork in the workplace but you very rarely hear of the good things music will bring, even if you never pick up the instrument again after your early training.  Even if nothing else, music teaches a discipline that goes well beyond anything required for, say, Business 101 or some such.  Most instruments will result in some physical pain while you learn how to play them and it shows a fairly-disciplined individual who will accept that.  Such a worker will stay focused and get things done.  But, nah, go ahead and play football.