What do they all have in common – the universal scholar Hildegard von Bingen, the pianist Clara Schumann, the Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein, the violinist of the century Yehudi Menuhin, the German ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt, and the actress Katja Riemann? They all have experienced how active music-making can enhance the quality of life – Isolated examples? No! A six-year long-term study with children aged between six and twelve years scientifically substantiates: Music-making children and young people- improve their social behaviour- enhance their IQ- get good grades at school- compensate for their lack of concentration, etc. In the present paperback, Professor Hans Günther Bastian, head of the research project, summarizes major results of the 700-page scientific study Musik(erziehung) und ihre Wirkung and provides convincing arguments in favour of the demand for music education to take up a central position at general-education schools.This book helps parents, teachers, music teachers, the young people themselves and politicians on a federal and länder level to see the potential that exists in music and music education. Let us see to it that there will be singing and music-making in our homes and at our schools, in order that those growing up learn to enjoy it. The time has come for this language which goes straight to our soul. (German ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt)