There are those who say they don’t need to go to music school to be able to get ahead in the music industry. Talent, they say, will get them through, so taking music classes would be nothing more than a waste of time and money. Ask such great musicians as Jennifer Batten, Paul Gilbert and Bryce Soderberg, as well as up-and-coming-coming artists Bennie Rodgers II and Sabrina Petrini, and they will beg to differ. Every one of these talented individuals has received professional music education. All of them attribute their success to it.

Music schools give its students more than formal music education. Aside from learning how to properly read notes, sight-read and create compositions based on established music theories, enrolling at a music school provides people with the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the biggest names in the music business. It was through her professional music classes that Jennifer Batten was able to gain a better understanding of her craft, improving her guitar skills significantly. She has since played for such stars as Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck and Natalie Cole. Bennie Rodgers II also got his gig as a drummer for Mariah Carey while he was taking a course in drums. It was through his school, in fact, that he was able to get wind of an audition for the top music icon.

» Read more: Going to a Music School Opens Up a Plethora of Opportunities