Bilingual Advantages
Congratulations!
If you are reading this page is because you care about children, music and the arts!
Why should children be exposed to music and the arts?
We would like to share with you some of the latest findings and research on this important topic.
ON MUSIC
– Learning to play music may cause changes in several sensory, motor, and higher-order association areas of the brain that result in improved attention, sequencing, and processing (Stewart, 2008).
– Music is a good example of a skill builder that can significantly improve students’ academic operating systems. Music training enhances self-discipline, wide brain function, and verbal memory (Chan, Ho, & Cheung, 1998). It has been found to improve performance in the core mathematical system for representing abstract geometry, detecting geometric properties of visual forms, relating Euclidean distance to numerical magnitude, and using geometric relationships between forms on a map to locate objects in a larger spatial layout (Spelke, 2008). In addition, the rehearsal process develops focused attention, which in turn enhances memory (Jonides, 2008). Finally, music enhances student’s long-term will and effort. It takes so long to reach proficiency that students learn the power of persistence, which is more strongly correlated with good grades than IQ itself is (Duckworth & Seligman, 2006).
– …there may be an enduring cognitive advantage afforded by early and extensive music education on adult learning of a new language in an instructional setting. Specifically, musicians showed greater improvement in expressive fluency and competence in their new language than non-musicicans. (Laura-Ann Petitto, Ed. D. University of Toronto 2007).
–In addition, many scientific studies have shown that music does, in fact, lower the levels of stress hormone cortisol and increase antibodies in children ( Lane, D. 1992)
ON MUSIC AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
“Music enhances memory skills, an essential tool for acquiring new words. Music and rhythm allow for better comprehension of concepts, structures and visual content. As the words “flow” it is easier for the child to follow the lyrics and learn new songs. Children will learn words in the context of songs, not as isolated terms, therefore facilitating the assimilation of vocabulary and pronunciation. The traditional and favorite songs used at Musical Kids International , whose text are full of wonder, have a great appeal to the learner.” –Yolanda Borrás
–Through songs, students are exposed to “authentic” examples of the second language. Furthermore, target vocabulary; grammar, routines and patterns are modeled in context. These are but a few of the benefits associated with music use in the second language classroom. (Lalas, J. & Lee, S. (2002)
–When second language learners hear ‘story songs” that is, stories, which have been set to music, it is possible to similarly acquire vocabulary …because of the positive effects which music has upon second language learners, story songs may motivate and captivate the attention of second language learners in ways that oral stories cannot. –Suzanne Medina, Ph.D., Using Music to Enhance Second Language Acquisition: From Theory to Practice
–Extra information provided in music can facilitate language-learning…gestures, might be equally helpful for learning a language. But there is additional evidence suggesting that music plays an important role in language. Similar areas of the brain are activated when listening to or playing music and speaking or processing language. Language and music are both associated with emotions. And, of course, we know that children—especially small children—really like music. This study offers another bit of evidence that the link between language and music may be a fundamental one.” –D. Schon, I. Peretz, M. Besson, M. Boyer, R. Kolinsky, S. Moreno (2008). Songs as an aid for language acquisition.
ON AN INTEGRATED ARTS CURRICULUM
–The arts can improve attention, sequencing, processing and cognitive skills (Gazzaniga, Asbury, & Rick, 2008)
–…evidence that early and sustained education in the arts may afford young students long-lasting advantages in other core cognitive domains—thereby providing a powerful “translational benefit” from scientists to the greater society. (Laura-Ann Petitto, Ed. D. University of Toronto 2007)
–Art-making facilitates the creation of large, strong communities that embody important values. These community values are established and shared through the metaphors of the visual, musical, and kinesthetic arts. (Coe, 1990, Kissayanake, 1988)
–The arts enhance the process of learning. The systems they nourish, which include our integrated sensory, attentional, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities, are, in fact, the driving forces behind all other learning. (E. Jensen, Arts with the brain in mind, 2001)
