Language development – Music education advances the early development of the
auditory processing network in the brain.
This is the network used to make meaning of sounds, and learn spoken language.
8
Songs introduce new vocabulary words in
rapid succession and in turn significantly
boost a child’s working vocabulary.
Literacy development – Literacy levels
have been shown to improve by between one
and three grade levels with consistent music
education beginning from birth with activities as simple as singing, musical games,
listening to music, repeating rhythmical or
tonal patterns, and learning an instrument
between the ages of five and seven.
9
Imagination – Music opens up an entirely new world to a child. It enables a child to
gain insights into himself, others and most
importantly life itself. These insights help
to develop and sustain a child’s imaginative
creativity. Because a child hears and participates in some music every single day, it is to
a child’s advantage to understand music as
thoroughly as possible.
10
Four Things to Do
Sing – Sing when you rise, when you make
meals, give baths, brush teeth, and say good
night. Use the higher range of your singing
voice to help your child engage her best sing-
ing voice. Keep music playing in the car, in
the kitchen, and while doing chores around
the house. Even if you think you can’t sing, a
parent’s singing voice is invaluable to his or
her own child’s musical growth.
Move – Wiggle, spin, dip, and twirl!
Movement helps develop the vestibular system including the primary function of the
ear which is balance. Balance must be developed before the ear can move on to fully
develop auditory functioning for focused,
attentive listening.
Engage the senses – Sight, hearing, taste,
touch, and smell invite us to experience the
wonders of God’s creation. Spend time each
day actively listening to sounds in nature
(birds chirping, squirrels scurrying by, the
wind singing through the trees) or in your
home (a steaming pot, the doorbell, run-
ning water). Imitate these sounds with your
voice together with your child.
Be silly with your child – Make up funny dances, say nonsensical words together,
chant silly rhyming words all in a row, and
model improvisation and imagination by
inserting new words into familiar songs,
for example: “Twinkle Twinkle little shoe,
how I wonder what you do, when you run
into the room, jumping like a big balloon,
Twinkle Twinkle little shoe, how I wonder
what you do.”
Three Places to Access Research
Online
• Stages of Musical Development in Early
Childhood.
• What if Every Child Had Access to Music
Education from Birth.
• How Music Education Helps Students
Learn, Achieve and Succeed: Music Matters.
Two Children’s Albums and Parent
Books to Get Started
• Family Music for Babies CD or digital
download (for ages one to five.)
Music education
advances the early
development of the
auditory processing
network in the brain.
