Parents who pushed their kids to take music lessons knew what they were doing.

According to a recent survey, people with a background in music tend to have a higher education and earn more.

Harris Interactive, an independent research company, conducted the survey online, polling about 2,500 people.

The statistics from the online poll show that 83 percent of people earning $150,000 or more have had a music education and 88 percent of people with a post-graduate education were involved in music while in school.

There were mixed answers from music Penn State professors when asked if they agreed with the survey.

"I don't know if that's true, I would like to think that is the case," said music professor Michael Broyles.

Stephen Hopkins, assistant professor of music, however, said he was not surprised by the survey's results because a study of music has benefits beyond the study itself.

"I think its true that the passion people have for music motivates them to succeed in their goals," Hopkins said.

Music has also been linked to higher SAT scores, math grades and future success in life, according to a University of Sarasota study.

The study showed that middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and Texas found significant correlation between the number of years of instrumental music instruction and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.

"Part of it is the discipline itself in learning music. It's a rigorous discipline and in an ensemble situation, there's a great deal of working with others. Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life," John Mahlmann, executive director of the National Association for Music Education, said in a recent Reuters article.

Penn State students have also conducted their own research on this theory.

"For English 202, I did a research paper on the whole 'music makes you smarter' idea. The research seems to support the idea that studying music makes students more successful in school," Marisa McCollough (senior-music education) said.

"I believe this is because in order to be successful at learning to sing or play an instrument requires dedication and determination. Both things can be transferred to academics and can help make students more successful," she said.

McCollough also said it makes sense that musicians earn more money.

Whether higher education, income or grades, studies verify that music impacts Americans' lives in many positive ways and is something that most would find hard to be without.

"I love music and I love teaching music," Hopkins said. "I would say it is hard to find anyone that doesn't like music. In my life, I only heard one person say they could live without it. Music is such a fundamental part of being alive for most people."