The benefits of music have been stated time and time again, and it seems that researchers are uncovering new information all the time. Basic academic skills such as reading comprehension have been extensively studied by researchers with a focus on how they can be improved through music participation. One of the main reasons why music and reading skills are so intertwined is the type of brain activity that is needed to accomplish both tasks. Reading and playing music both require a great deal of focus and precision. One particular study followed music students to determine how much their reading skills would improve over the course of a year. At the end of the study, it was determined that the reading scores of the 9- and 10-year-old students remained consistent. On the contrary, students who did not participate in music instruction did not see the same kind of improvement. Instead, a decline in overall scores was observed. Auditory Perception and Other Neural Processes The process of learning to read and to play a musical instrument share similarities. One of the shared requirements of learning to read and to play music is auditory perception. In essence, auditory perception is the way in which we hear things in order for the brain to properly interpret the sounds. Research studies have shown that learning music inevitably improves one’s auditory skills, thus helping to improve reading skills. Additionally, there are other connections between auditory perception skills and changes in the brain that help to facilitate learning. Researchers have concluded that music instruction can initiate changes in the nervous system that facilitate learning. According to a researcher at Northwestern University, after hundreds of high school students in Los Angeles and Chicago public schools were studied, it was determined that learning music vastly improved their memory and overall focus. The results were attributed to improved neural function. At the conclusion of the study, it was noted that those children who participated in at least five hours per week of music lessons did not see any decline in reading levels. This research on auditory perception and its relationship to reading scores was presented to the American Psychological Association for further review. Psychological InfluencesIn line with what the aforementioned studies found, other research has examined how music impacts brainwaves and other psychological processes. Children who see a note on paper are taught to recognize and interpret what they are seeing, much like what is involved in reading words. By taking music lessons, students continuously reinforce these connections, and the brain learns to easily recognize and interpret various forms of information with greater efficiency. Brainwaves were measured by tests that gathered data, then converted it into a phonological awareness score. The phonological awareness score showed a small, yet statistically significant difference in scores between those students who undertook formal musical instruction versus those who did not. The results indicated that not only are music students able to pick up on reading faster, but they also develop a faster response to sounds and have a better ability to distinguish between sounds. Improvements in WritingReading ability is not only positively influenced by music instruction, but writing skills have also shown improvement, as well. Since writing and music both require some level of introspection, it is easy to see how these two are related. Not only has music instruction been shown to improve academic writing skills, but it also has a profound effect on a student’s ability to write music. The complementary effect has been demonstrated through music writing activities, which include at least 10 minutes dedicated to relaxation so that students are able to tap into their creative side. Activities such as writing music help students to develop storylines and learn how to present them to others. Whatever feelings or emotions that students have during the activity are shared in song, and this can be especially beneficial to those who have been bullied (either in or out of school) and can help them to effectively deal with negative emotions. Data Is PromisingWhile researchers admit that there is no definitive connection between music and reading skills, the data so far provides clues on how brain function relates to music and how this impacts reading proficiency. Researchers urge that caution should be used when stating that music heavily influences literacy, since more in-classroom studies need to be conducted before a definitive conclusion can be made.
Despite the fact that the research is still in the preliminary stages, the data so far is promising. The causal link between music instruction and better reading skills is yet another reason to get children involved in music as early as possible. Educators may also benefit from exploring the connection between the two. Comments are closed.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Marina K Caprara