Pounding Grime and hip-hop beats could transform schools' music lessons with Mozart making way for the sounds of Stormzy.
National charity Youth Music is calling for an urgent transformation in the way it is perceived and taught, following a major four-year research project.
The study found that more inclusive music-making can help improve levels of attendance among disengaged pupils, while supporting their personal and social development.
It claims genres such as grime, electronic music and hip-hop are still absent from most classrooms, but could transform lessons - with help from music industries.
Published during the charity's 20th anniversary year, the Exchanging Notes research report was produced in collaboration with Birmingham City University and funded by the National Lottery via Arts Council England.
Youth Music invested in 10 new partnerships between music organisations and schools nationwide. By the end of the four-year programme, seven partnerships remained.
Exchanging Notes found that young people at risk of exclusion at the start of the programme maintained consistently higher levels of attendance. There was also an increase in participants performing better than expected in maths and in English.
Matt Griffiths, chief executive of Youth Music, said: "We've seen the benefits of students exchanging Mozart for Stormzy as part of a re-imagined music curriculum.
"Schools can offer an inspirational music curriculum that better supports social and emotional well-being, the music industry talent pipeline grows and is more diverse, and young people's lives in music are completely connected both in and out of school."
Researchers stressed it was not possible to attribute a direct link between participation in Exchanging Notes and improved literacy or numeracy attainment. But they said it helped to open the door for learning.
The charity is now urging the Department for Education to adopt a new model of music in schools that reflects the diverse musical interests of young people today.
