BY KINDERMUSIK
Sound First – Symbol Second
It’s how we acquire any language – sound first – symbol second. We learn to speak before we learn to read. Music is the same way – we mimic what we hear before we can read it on the page. We learn by rote before we learn through understanding. Our last post talked about music’s positive impact on language learning. Well…music also has a positive impact on reading skill. Dr. Boyle explores the latest research on music and reading. Think about your musical experiences as a child. Whether you realized it or not, you learned new words through music. In my main profession as a choral conductor, I learn new words through music regularly; poetry drives what I do. I keep a dictionary right by my piano so I am able to look up words I don’t know as I come across them. I am grateful for this extra gift music gives me.
We have shared research many times that point toward music’s role in increasing cognitive skills in children. Cognition, the ability to form and process memory, learn new information, also includes understanding written information. Music is about patterns, particularly music to which young children are often exposed. Lots of repetition is found in this type of music, and regularly singing this music helps kids recognize patterns elsewhere.
Research on Music and Reading
Studies conducted at the University of Toronto and Johns Hopkins have supported the concept that participation in musical activities increases cognitive skill. Drs. Nina Kraus and Samira Anderson of Northwestern University produced a study that indicated the ability to keep a steady beat related to reading readiness. In the study, subjects were separated through assessment into two groups: those who could keep a study beat (synchronizers) and those who found it challenging (non-synchronizers).
“The synchronizers also had higher pre-reading skills (phonological
processing, auditory short-term memory, and rapid
naming) compared with non-synchronizers. Overall, the results
supported the idea that accurate temporal processing is
important for developing the foundational skills needed in order
to learn how to read.”
– Beat-Keeping Ability Relates to Reading Readiness/Kraus and Anderson
What does this mean?
Developing musical skills early has a positive impact on reading ability. The reality is this: those non-synchronizers? It is completely possible to improve their rhythmic ability through regular musical activity. This then has a clear effect on cognitive skill and all that that encompasses.
When is the right time to start?
Now! Start now! Get those kids involved in musical activities – and Kindermusik is a perfect place to start. In a recent article, Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, Dean of the USC Thorton School of Music, lays it out plainly:
“There is a growing (and convincing) body of research that indicates a “window of opportunity” from birth to age nine for developing a musical sensibility within children. During this time, the mental structures and mechanisms associated with processing and understanding music are in the prime stages of development, making it of utmost importance to expose children in this age range to music.”
– PBS Parents/Robert A. Cutietta
From birth to age nine! Don’t wait. Get them involved as soon as you feel comfortable doing so and your son or daughter will reap a host of benefits from their involvement, setting the stage for a lifetime of musical appreciation. Not everyone will go on to be the principal violinist of the New York Phil, or sing at Lollapalooza, but the stronger the musical foundation a child has, the more enjoyment will be found in the vast world of music.
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All Categories 10 reasons to be a music major 3 daily music activities for neurodivergent learners 3 ways music-based rituals help alleviate back-to-school change 3 ways of creativity 3 ways to build grownup social-emotional growth 3 ways to enhance phonemic awareness with music 3 ways to teach creativity to young kids 4 ways to help your baby rest with music 5 big benefits: the social learning domain and kindermusik 5 creative diys to transform playtime at home 5 simple and easy ways to enjoy musical fun indoors 5 ways child-led playtime boosts learning 5 ways music positively impacts children with hearing loss 5 ways unstructured play boosts learning (plus tips-by-age guide!) 6 ways to prevent summer slide 7 benefits of a group music class for toddlers 7 musical ways to make your holidays less stressful 7 reasons to give the gift of experiences—like early childhood music classes! 7 reasons to join a music class for toddlers 7 things: harvard psychologists identify positive parenting points 7 tips for making every day a musical day a better organized brain a message from kindermusik: we will not be silent. accolades adhd – an adult perspective on the journey adjusting tone and volume of voice amazing musical moments: #3 will have you sobbing amber galloway gallego – sign language rock star an educator that builds up your confidence and health and one little girl story and sing! apathy vs. empathy: creating compassionate kids app apples and bananas articulation assesing kids for steady beats at home beach activities attend an in-person or virtual kindermusik class. auditory input auditory system autism babble on…it benefits baby! babies can imitate a head voice babies focus better on a head voice babies love music baby brains: music and speech baby in the bedroom: keep that crib in with mom and dad baby speech development? they learn with their mouths… baby’s got the beat! how to add rhythm to your daily routine balance be aware of how close you are to the noise. be aware of how long you’ll be around the noise. be aware of your child’s sound environment. be the proud parent! become a children’s music teacher with kindermusik beethoven still works – over 200 years later bend concepts benefits for adults benefits for babies benefits for older children benefits for toddlers benefits of barefootin’ best music apps for kids beyond babbling big brains! music feeds brain development blend them together with others in order to innovate. bonding bonds book review – the secret life of squirrels: a love story book review: giraffes can’t dance book review: kate the great and the middle c music shop book review: pete the cat – i love my white shoes book review: skippyjon jones by judy schnachner book review: sometimes i like to curl up in a ball book review: triangle book review: your hand in my hand boost early literacy development with just 30 minutes of music per week boost language skills break ideas apart bring attention to mouth shape and tongue position building community through music building your child’s creativity and emotional health through music builds up language and speech cabasa calm your baby by singing can you spoil your baby? probably not cello in the trenches changing lives with music: stephen oliverson childhood development activities childhood music experiences children learn to self-regulate gradually. children’s book review: music is… children’s book review: the wonderful things you will be choose activities you actually like clap classical music myths debunked college-level training is a completely different animal community conduct like no one’s watching confidence consider giving instruments—truly simple gifts for kids! consistent cowbell crazy sounds: what the voice can do creativity skills in music education crucial pre-reading cut down on cell phone babbling dance in sync dancing dear students developing balance and coordination developing fine motor skills developing gross motor skills developing strong relationships develops inhibitory control devotion of activity diy beach in a bottle! do music? yep! you're probably smarter do your research. don’t be scared… don’t forget to play! don’t have preconceived notions about when “real speech” will occur don’t just sit there – move! draw what you hear. embrace your “baby voice” emotional intelligence emotional learning enhance phonemic awareness establish a daily routine for music. everyone can sing everything you needed to know about a kindermusik class explore the three b's expressing ideas expression feeling it fetuses begin to form a connection with their mother’s voice around the 4th month of pregnancy find a calm song find a family class that helps you grow find an affordable program and reduce student debt finding your place in the performing arts follow the child for children with unique learning styles for the love of musik: starting a kindermusik studio four on the 4th: four ways early music classes prepare your child for school… and for life four on the fourth: four reasons to sing the day away free music rituals album freeplay getting grounded getting the rhythm of language development giving gifts group communication skills growing up in kindermusik guiro hang back from the sales frenzy. have a dance party. head voice for kids head voice vs. chest voice hearing hearing it hearing system heavy traffic high-pitched kids hoping to nurture social-emotional wellness in your child? music helps. how can music class help my family regulate noise? how do babies bond? how kindermusik prepares your child for school how loud is too loud? how music affects your mood and your mind how music strengthens emotional development and bonding how music teaches kids to self-regulate how postnatal singing supports secure attachment how pre- and postnatal singing support secure attachment how the voice works how to keep the daily rhythms and routines that matter to your child imaginations impact: music and the differently abled improved happiness levels in your right brain: the mind’s response to music in-person or virtual music class help? incorporate themes. increases literacy and pre-reading skills infant music classes instrument exploration instrument exposure intentional pitch just sing keep learners engaged at home with songs that connect to each lesson. keep learning about creativity kid songs kids beats kids generation kids get it: music is magic kids love music kids need to be kids kids playing kids playlist kindermusik kindermusik and the music city: betsy flanagan speaks at the national head start conference and expo kindermusik blog kindermusik class for toddlers kindermusik classroom instruments and their big brothers kindermusik community kindermusik is the key kindermusik reviews: cutie sue and the darkness kindermusik reviews: the book with no pictures kindermusik reviews: the not so quiet library kindermusik reviews: what do you do with a problem? kindermusik's approach kindermusik’s gift guide lack of attention span needed language and literacy skills language and speech language skills lesson learned: how my son spent $1200 on itunes let kids create their own magic. letter sound let’s play: is it an instrument? listen to instrumental songs. look for a longer shelf life. love and music: a magical connection love for music is the answer lower stress - better health lullabies maintains babies’ attention and stimulates emotional responses (like smiling) master instruments math skills melody magic: music strengthens social bonds memorization motorcycle movement and music: hop moving and the mind music music affects the science of reading music and literacy are processed the same way…through sound! music and memory – helping stroke and dementia patients music and movement music and the bridges it builds music as language music as medicine: good for mental health music builds memory. music can do that? – learning languages through music music can open the door to stronger communication music class for toddlers music education music for neurodivergent music from birth: in it for the long haul music in our lives: imagine a world without it music in the baby’s cry music instruction is all about patience and listening music is everything music is magic music is the answer music kids are scrappy music lessons music listening with your kids: find the center music makes it music makes mettle music makes the moment music matters – but why? music reading music rituals workshop can help music sparks imagination. music teacher music therapy for babies music therapy: music as medicine music to boost phonemic awareness musical activity musical kids are hardy! musical kids know about focus musical science musicians can make a living music—a multi-sensory activity music’s effect on the developmental domains neurodivergent neurodivergent learners neurodivergent learnings newborn bonding: how infant music classes connect parent and baby no surprise: with music involvement nurture creativity nutritional supplements online toys for music joys: google’s chrome music lab our favorite musical activities to get you through your child’s day our favorite “i love you rituals” from dr. becky bailey pairing movement pals parent perspective: why we love kindermusik parenting playlist: music to help children focus pat or tap to the beat. phonemes phonemic awareness phonics phonological awareness phonological awareness literacy screening physiological responses plan ahead. planting seeds that grow: music for a lifetime play allows children to imagine whole new ways of being play invokes laughter play leads children to solve problems with perseverance and creativity! play leads children to sort information in new ways and to seek symbolic representations. play music! play stretches the imagination through fantasy playing instruments power of play-based learning practical at–home developmental strategies praise prenatal and postnatal singing is one of the easiest ways to jumpstart secure attachment. prioritize grownup social-emotional growth anytime. prioritize imaginative play promotes active listening read aloud. reading abilities realizing your child’s musical potential reduce screen time. reflecting on july’s summer camp magic! regulate emotions repeat that sound to a familiar tune repetition repetition repetition research: involving parents increases positive outcome for kids enrolled in head start reserved space: dedicated grey matter for music! reunited: a short film about music and the human spirit rhyme rhythm right choice for family risk and growth: a balancing act rock concerts schedule learning time. science center stage: gratitude science center stage: kids’ brains grow faster with music science center stage: music changes the brain science center stage: music improves brain development in children science center stage: music may boost language learning in babies science center stage: the imaginary friend science of music science of reading science spotlight: how music impacts our mood scientific secure attachment seeing it self awareness and the dragon: a parenting fairytale self-confidence. self-regulation to emotional expression sequencing series of positive and nurturing interactions shape of lips share new school year musical rituals with families before classes begin shoes off simple diy crafts that let kids be creative and expressive simple gifts for kids simple gifts for kids: batteries not required simple toys or props sing sing aloud. sing and dance that stress away sing and sway sing like a pirate! sing throughout the day singing and movement singing dad singing helps grownups self-regulate singing in choir makes you happier singing is the best singing is the way singing mom singing parents sirens and fireworks sleeping infant so social social skills social-emotional growth social-emotional learning soft music solving problems sound sound first – symbol second sound vocabulary sounds speak up. speech skill sports events square peg in a square hole: music in the preschool experience – a natural fit squirm steady beat steady beats for kids steady beats matters story time! reading to kids the right way storytime strengthens the vestibular system stretching them to their limits as we create strong relationship studio kindermusik classes study after study summer camp summer camp on a summer slide summer slide summer slide: what you should know sun’s out support divergent thinking through play support physical distancing and social-emotional development with seated or outdoor musical activities. talk teach creativity teaching kids to become creative the beginning of life is beautifully composed the best gifts are often not the most expensive the best kind of summer school the blues: music and mood the box vs. the toy that came in it: why the box wins the brain looks for patterns. the collaborative for academic the gift of health: music boosts the immune system the gift of love: a parent’s perspective of kindermusik the gift of time: holiday activities for the whole family the neurosciences and music vi: music the power of “i love you” rituals the science behind singing to your child the surprising connections between social-emotional skills and cognitive development the surprising reasons why grownups love kindermusik too toddlers and toys too loud: how to prevent early hearing loss in children tools tools for kids top 5 tips for buying the perfect simple gifts for kids triangle trudel music studio trust trust relevant experts. try to live by this rule of five unique brain patterns universal language: music therapy use a mirror to visualize phonemes using music to address challenging behaviors utero vacuum cleaner we have no earlids. we hear with our brains. we love our kindermusik educators what can i do to prevent early hearing loss? what does it take? becoming a kindermusik educator what kids need what kids want: quality time what kinds of activities should an infant music class include? what makes kindermusik so compelling to children what’s wrong with toddler music lessons? when it comes to your kids investing early pays off whisper white noise for babies who knew? kindermusik changes lives in jordan why barefoot is best why do children need a “music program”? why do you sing? why does music increase literacy development? why is newborn bonding important and when does it happen? why is unstructured play important? why music is better than white noise for babies why shared musical experiences with your child are so important (and ideas to implement!) why singing to your child every day is vital why songs stick in our heads why toddler music lessons aren’t the best idea wiggle will i gain confidence as a parent? with love woodblock worried about partying in college? a music major ain’t got time for that! you can benefit together you know it: kids feel stress young kids