It's no secret that music can play a vital role in improving a child's education. Research has shown that learning to play a musical instrument improves academic performance, teaches discipline, and develops physical skills such as rhythm and coordination. Studies have also shown that children who study music demonstrate increased math scores, better information retention skills, and, perhaps most importantly, learn to become active listeners - not just to the music they listen to and play, but also at home, in class and in everyday life. Bottom line: music is good for our kids.

For military children though, in addition to the academic benefits, music can be a lifeline. Moving an average of once every three years, military kids live in a constant cycle of leaving one home, one school, and one group of friends behind and starting all over again at a brand new duty station. This can cause significant stress in an already difficult time in a child's life. For many military kids, music provides an "in" at each new school.

Victoria Taylor, Navy spouse and mother of three, says, "For my kids, it's been like having instant friends because they already have something in common (with students at the new school)."

Ted Brown Music has been instrumental to families, both military and civilian, for over 84 years in providing instruments and music lessons to students of all ages. With six locations in western Washington - from Seattle to Silverdale - and a knowledgeable staff to assist you, finding the perfect instrument is easy, and with options to either buy or rent, playing any instrument - from banjo to viola - has never been more accessible.

Lauren Cavanaugh, who is both a Ted Brown Music instructor and a military spouse, knows that music can play an especially important role in the lives of military children. "Music can be something solid that they have in their lives, something that they can take with them wherever they go."

Ted Brown Music offers music lessons at five locations with dedicated lesson and recital rooms for private lessons with any of their many talented, certified music instructors all with years of musical experience. Lesson scheduling and cost will depend on your preferred location, the instructor you choose, and their personal availability and price point.

A hurdle in the music education for some military families can be strictly financial. Instruments can be expensive, and private lessons are often outside of their budgetary means. Ted Brown Music is dedicated to making music education available to everyone no matter their financial situation, and the creation of Ted Brown Music Outreach, a non-profit organization, they've taken that dedication one step further. TBM Outreach accepts donations of used instruments and matches them with potential musicians as well as providing music classes for all ages.

With the many added stressors of military life on their shoulders, music can be a great comfort to military families, and Ted Brown Music seems to be dedicated to aiding military families by providing, through music, a much needed continuity, structure, and common bond in our community.