Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show Episode: MORGAN: Why Music Education Matters More Than You Think
Host: Unknown Host
Guest: Kaylee Tol She, Co-Founder of Let Music Fill My World
Release Date: June 22, 2025

Introduction

In this enlightening episode of The Bobby Bones Show, the host welcomes Kaylee Tol She, a passionate change-maker and co-founder of Let Music Fill My World, an organization dedicated to ensuring every student in America has access to music education. The conversation delves into the profound impact of music education on young minds, its role in academic and personal development, and the broader implications for workforce readiness and societal progress.

Meet Kaylee Tol She

[03:05] Host:
"I'm joined this week by Kaylee Tol She. She's another change maker in the world and I've always found it so awesome when people take time out of their life to dedicate it to a cause. And that's exactly what Kaylee has done."

[03:11] Kaylee Tol She:
"Thank you for having me. I'm really good. I mean I'm especially good. I've got this dog right here, Remy."

Kaylee introduces herself as a visionary leader committed to transforming music education in schools across the United States. Her journey into this advocacy began with a collaboration with Grammy-nominated artist John Andrassic in 2023, aiming to redefine the narrative around music education.

The Importance of Music Education

[03:35] Kaylee Tol She:
"We really wanted to transform some of the storytelling so that more Americans could recognize that music education is an incredibly valuable and highly underutilized tool that we need now more than ever."

Kaylee emphasizes that music education is not merely an extracurricular activity but a critical component of a comprehensive education system. It fosters creativity, collaboration, resilience, and critical thinking—skills essential for the future workforce.

[04:36]
Host:
"So you, did you ever have experience in your young life, in your, I guess even just beyond being young, but as you were getting older, that music really played a significant role for you?"

[04:49] Kaylee Tol She:
"Growing up on my mom's side of the family in particular, my mom was one of seven. We always were doing something musical... the creative outlet, the feeling of belonging and the playfulness of that as a young person is so valuable."

Kaylee shares her personal experiences, highlighting how music fostered a sense of community and personal growth during her childhood.

Impact on Academic and Personal Development

[07:25] Kaylee Tol She:
"We want young people to go to school feeling confident, open-minded, curious, and engaged."

She underscores that music education contributes to higher self-esteem, better academic performance, and lower dropout rates. Music programs create environments where students feel safe to express themselves and collaborate with peers.

Notable Quote:
[09:14] Kaylee Tol She:
"The fact that students involved in music education and the arts are five times more likely to graduate high school is mind-blowing."

Implementation Challenges

[07:35]
Host:
"You have to have the confidence to go out on stage and sing in front of all these people you don't know."

[12:45] Kaylee Tol She:
"I think we do what's easy, often, not always what's right... it's an implementation problem, which is to say we already know that music is an incredibly effective tool... but we don't do the best job at implementing that evenly across the US."

The conversation highlights the challenges in implementing music education uniformly across diverse school districts. Funding cuts often target music programs first, despite their proven benefits.

Notable Quote:
[15:08] Host:
"Doesn't that make you just kind of so mad that we do do what's easy often instead of the right thing?"

[15:20] Kaylee Tol She:
"When I get mad, I get really active... That's where the storytelling really comes in."

Kaylee expresses frustration over the prioritization of budget cuts over meaningful educational programs and emphasizes the need for effective advocacy and storytelling to uphold music education.

Let Music Fill My World's Initiatives

[28:43] Host:
"So I'm assuming that's also part of this too."

[28:43] Kaylee Tol She:
"The focus of Let Music Fill My World, as we mentioned, is to ensure that every student in America has access to music education in school. And what we're doing is directly funding, on an annual basis, at least one school for a period of three years."

Kaylee outlines the organization's strategy to fund and support music programs in underserved schools, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact.

[30:59]
Host:
"What have you guys been able to see. Kids who have gotten access to music education and then the difference it made in their life..."

[32:07] Kaylee Tol She:
"At Farragut Career Academy... attendance is up, disciplinary infractions are down, and students are performing better academically."

Initial results from funded programs show promising improvements in student behavior and academic performance, validating the effectiveness of music education.

Music Education and Workforce Readiness

[34:44] Host:
"I've worked with younger people, and there's no shortage of some of them where I'm just like... there's a missing piece."

[35:20] Kaylee Tol She:
"We need to constantly reskill ourselves and reinvent how we show up professionally... Music education helps foster resilience and agility."

The discussion connects music education to essential workforce skills such as adaptability, teamwork, and creative problem-solving, which are increasingly vital in a rapidly changing job market.

Notable Quote:
[36:32] Kaylee Tol She:
"We have to do it together."

Call to Action and Future Directions

[41:03] Kaylee Tol She:
"We don't have to start from scratch. We just have to do a better job at making music education... available to every student in America."

Kaylee calls for collective action to prioritize and implement music education, leveraging existing resources and building strong partnerships to scale their impact.

[47:14] Host:
"Once we know better, we should do better."

[51:11] Kaylee Tol She:
"Visit a new world. You don't need a spaceship. All you have to do is change your mind."

Closing the conversation, Kaylee inspires listeners to embrace curiosity and openness, emphasizing that music education is a powerful tool for personal and societal transformation.

Conclusion

This episode of The Bobby Bones Show powerfully advocates for the integration of music education into every American school's curriculum. Through heartfelt storytelling and compelling data, Kaylee Tol She demonstrates that music education is not just an artistic pursuit but a fundamental component of holistic student development and future workforce readiness. The discussion calls on educators, policymakers, and communities to recognize and act upon the proven benefits of music education, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive both academically and personally.

For more information or to get involved with Let Music Fill My World, follow them on Instagram @letmusicfillmyworld.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• [09:14] Kaylee Tol She:
  "The fact that students involved in music education and the arts are five times more likely to graduate high school is mind-blowing."

• [15:20] Kaylee Tol She:
  "When I get mad, I get really active... That's where the storytelling really comes in."

• [35:20] Kaylee Tol She:
  "We need to constantly reskill ourselves and reinvent how we show up professionally... Music education helps foster resilience and agility."

• [41:03] Kaylee Tol She:
  "We don't have to start from scratch. We just have to do a better job at making music education... available to every student in America."

• [51:11] Kaylee Tol She:
  "Visit a new world. You don't need a spaceship. All you have to do is change your mind."

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting the critical discussions between the host and Kaylee Tol She on the significance of music education in shaping well-rounded, resilient, and capable individuals ready to meet future challenges.