WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) — Seven in ten adults in the US think music education has had at least "some influence" on their level of personal fulfillment.

Regardless of where they end up, most people appreciate the role of music education in their lives, according to a survey of 2,565 US adults by Harris Interactive. Those with the longest exposure to music in school were also more likely to have higher incomes.

People with post-graduate degrees were more inclined to say participation in activities such as glee clubs, orchestras or wind ensembles was "extremely or very important" to personal fulfillment than were people with less formal schooling.

"This relationship between music education and better performance in life is not accidental," said the musician and actor Steven Van Zandt, 56, in a statement. "How are we supposed to continue as a creative society without exposing our students to the arts?"

Van Zandt is a member Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and was an actor on "The Sopranos" television series. Van Zandt joined with officials of the National Association for Music Education at a news conference in Washington, showcasing the poll to make the case for improving youngsters' opportunities to learn a musical instrument or sing.