The Love of Music Can Make Your Child Smarter

Just as the howl of a wolf drifting in the wind communicates with the pack through it's language of yips, barks and howls, so do we through our words and music. Words joined in a sentence produce information and entertainment for all ages young and old. Music is language made up of notes and crescendos creating sound that gives pleasure to the listener. Music and reading are processed in the same way. The love of music can make your child smarter by improving their reading skills.

Music and reading are both means of communicating. When children begin to learn language, it is processed in the brain first as sounds. It's through the learning process children begin to understand what is meant by the sound and it is then translated into meanings. Music is an expression (language) of the composer as reading is music (language) created by the writer. Both are ways of communicating thought and emotion and through the learning process, music can make your child a better student.

In order to appreciate music, you have to get into the beat or rhythm. Language also has a rhythm, a pitch. Certain words in a sentence may have more emphases than others. We get into a beat when listening to music and reading. The pitch, rhythm and beat have to be right in order to create something interesting. No one wants to listen to someone speaking or reading in a monotone. Nor will we enjoy a musical selection written only in two notes; C sharp and B flat. We know when an adventure turns to danger by the infraction in a voice, spoken or written, read aloud or to ourselves. The crescendo in a musical piece portrays the composer's emotional goal. If you want to help your child improve their reading skills, put on some Mozart or Beethoven or a little John Denver or Sting. Help your child discover what pleases them. Then allow them to experiment with a drum set, guitar, piano or violin. Music and reading are processed in the same area of the brain. Therefore, the two forms of language compliment each other.

Reading skills of children who are involved in music lessons (voice or an instrument) are stronger than those who aren't. Learning pitch in music enhances pitch discrimination in the written word. So you want to encourage a child who enjoys music and reading.

A new study from the Institute of Cognitive Science of the Mediterranean took 32 8 year olds and tested them using EEG to test how music and reading interact with each other. As the children's brain waves were monitored, they were tested on their reading skills and pitch discrimination. They were then divided into two groups. One group took music lessons while the other one received painting lessons. After 6 months, the music group had significant pitch discrimination and improved reading skills. The EEG showed a synchronizing of their brains. Music and reading. Both are language.

Babies have a natural love of music. How many nursery songs have lulled a restless infant to sleep. We know how our favorite songs soothe the spirit. Nurturing your child's love of music and reading as they grow can help develop important reading skills that will increase their growth potential and learning abilities. Today's technology requires the ability to understand and process language for a more successful path through life. If your child has no interest in playing an instrument or taking vocal lessons, don't despair. Sitting back and enjoying music has added benefits in building reading skills.

Kids with low reading skills are at a disadvantage. By not being able to process the written word of today's instruction manuals and self learning as they mature, a child with low reading skills are likely to fall behind quickly. The end result could mean leaving school before graduating as well as low self esteem.

If enduring the squelch of a clarinet or sax sends chills up your spine, take heart. Practice makes perfect. Those misplaced fingers on a bow string or piano keyboard are temporary. Soon the bone chilling squawks and nerve grating notes will turn into a melody even the neighbors can recognize. Your child's skills in music and reading will give them a firm foundation to plant their feet as they move from student to adulthood.

Music Makes You Smarter Research, Educational Cyber Playground

Music Tuition Can Help Children Improve Reading Skills, physorg.com