There are many learning benefits of children engaging with music. Through immersive music and movement experiences, young children begin to gain an understanding of musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch, beat, tempo and tone. They also develop their listening skills, concentration, perseverance, creativity, imagination and memory by engaging with music over time. Working in a group also requires skills such as cooperation, communication and self-regulation.

Music and movement go hand in hand. When the children are totally immersed in music and movement experiences, their mind and body are working simultaneously. Music strengthens the connection between the body and the brain. 

Incorporating music into a child’s life at a young age plays a vital role in language and personal development. It helps children associate sounds of letters with words, and enhances listening skills that will later be useful for interpreting information. In addition, music exercises the left side of the brain, which processes language.

The link between music and effective learning has been highly researched. This research indicates that through music, children construct strong thinking skills when they are predicting, organising, imagining, anticipating, repeating, extending and inventing. A 2016 study at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills. 

For these reasons, along with the pure delight and enjoyment that music brings, music is highly valued within our Early Learning Programs. It has been wonderful to see the children experiencing music and movement in the digital landscape as part of our Learn@Home Program this week.