Mental health and wellbeing column: enrichment from music

Pierre Bourdieu identified three types of capital – economic, social and cultural – that can impact an individual's success and status in society. For young people, possessing all three is critical for life outcomes and wellbeing. Economic capital refers to financial resources; social, to connections and relationships; and cultural, to knowledge and skills acquired through experiences and socialisation. Young people from higher-income families, who clearly enjoy a high level of economic capital, also have social and cultural advantages owing to their families' networks and resources. This month's column investigates the role an instrumental musical education can play in offering young people enrichment in all three types of capital, aiming to improve the long-term outcomes for those from all backgrounds.