IntroductionMusic influences our moods, feelings and energy levels. Music creates the mood and atmosphere in every classroom. Chris Boyd Brewer (1995) states that music is a powerful tool that teachers can use to help children connect emotionally with what they are learning. Much research is currently being conducted to determine how music can be used intentionally in the classroom. In fact, research suggests that music and reading are processed by similar parts of the brain (Georgetown University Medical Center, 2007). These areas store and organize information, both from music and reading. The way phrases are structured is similar to that of music, there is a structure, or rules, for harmony and melody. By knowing that music and reading are processed similarly in the brain, educators could potentially create effective lessons using music to teach core content. Statement of the Problem The National Research Council (Snow, Burns & Griffin, 1998) believes that academic success is easily predictable based on a child's reading ability by the end of third grade. Our Nation faces many challenges with the daunting task of improving literacy skills among our Nation's youth. Andrew Coulson (2011) of the US House of Representatives explains that although there is no evidence of improvements in reading and mathematics scores by family income, there is, however, alarming evidence of continuing discrepancies between students' abilities in based on the educational level of the parents. Even after 40 years, there continues to be a gap between children of parents who did not graduate from high school and those whose parents completed college. The following graph illustrates the amount of federal spending and the impact of using these funds for interventions...... middle of the document ......migration of music in the classroom. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/Arts%20in%20EducationCoulson, A. (2011). The impact of federal involvement in American classrooms. CATO Institute. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/publications/congressional-testimony/impact-federal-involvement-americas-classroomsGeorgetown University Medical Center. (2007). Music and language are processed by the same brain systems. Everyday science. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from www.sciencedaily.comCollege Online. 10 salient studies on the arts in education. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://www.onlinecolleges.net/10-salient-studies-on-the-arts-in-education/Snow, C., Burns, M. S., & Griffin, P. (1998) . Preventing reading difficulties in young children, National Research Council. National Academy of Sciences. Washington, DC.