Background: In Hong Kong, many parents encourage their children to take extra music lessons beyond normal school hours. This study investigates parents' perceptions of the benefits of music to children. Aims: To investigate why many parents in Hong Kong encourage their children to take extra music lessons beyond normal school hours, and to examine their perceptions of the benefits of music education. Sample: Questionnaires were sent to 97 parents of children attending weekend classes in 10 music centres. Method: Surveys were conducted. The questionnaire consisting of 16 items was designed to elicit parents' perceptions about music education. The parents responded to each item on a 6-point scale. Results: Music education was perceived by the parents to be advantageous for promoting their children's music-specific interest, and in their mental, motor and academic development but their ratings for interest in music and cognitive and affective development were the highest among the variables. Conclusion: The findings suggested that formal and informal music education programs should provide appropriate curriculum contents to maintain children's interest for lifelong engagement in musical activities. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)