Behold . . . the Power of Kindermusik! We know we’re being dramatic, but I’m afraid we won’t apologize . . . because the research about music and children’s development is truly jaw-dropping. In the last couple of years, the eyes of the research community have turned increasingly to music, and the marvels and mysteries they have discovered are nothing short of amazing (though perhaps not exactly surprising to people who’ve regularly witnessed its effect). The bottom line: early, positive, age-appropriate experiences with music—like Kindermusik—can have a remarkable and research-proven impact on children’s learning, including language and literacy skills (e.g., vocabulary, comprehension, listening, expression); social and emotional development; mathematics and pattern-recognition skills; and even ability to plan, guide, and self-regulate behavior. It’s a lot to keep track of, so we’ve summarized the latest research on the benefits of Kindermusik-style music and movement experiences. Take a look . . . Music & Literacy Early music experiences can have a significant impact on literacy and reading. According to experts, learning to read depends on acquiring a variety of skills, including phonological processing, oral language, and comprehension. So when it comes to these literacy-boosting skills . . . how does Kindermusik fit in? Kindermusik Classes: On the Path to Reading “Our Time” - 18 months to 3 years by Suzanne I. Barchers, Ed.D. and Heidi Gilman Bennett Kindermusik Classes: On the Path to Reading “Imagine That” - 3 to 5 years by Suzanne I. Barchers, Ed.D. and Heidi Gilman Bennett Music & Math There is no longer any doubt that there is a significant link between early music instruction and cognitive growth in certain other, “nonmusical” abilities, such as math, memory, and spatial- temporal reasoning. In fact, studies focused specifically on music for young children even suggest that these cognitive gains increase according to the number of years that students engage in active music learning, and even that the younger children are when they begin, the greater the gains will be! Discovering Mathematics Through Music by Heidi Gilman Bennett “Our Time” - 18 months to 3 years “Imagine That” - 3 to 5 years Music & Social/Emotional Development |
