Research has long shown that music helps "unlock" language abilities in the brain. My experience teaching my son in Sound Beginnings has shown this to be true.
I wasn't really worried about him, but he didn't offer much verbally. After a semester in classes it was like a switch just turned on and we couldn't believe what he was able to communicate. I had friends and neighbors comment on how well (and suddenly) he could communicate. Other moms of young Sound Beginnings students have made similar comments.
From the article: "In addition to stimulating their brains, when you sing songs with your children, they are learning to hear the similarities and differences between sounds (also known as auditory discrimination), which is important for language learning and pre-reading skills. You are also teaching them new vocabulary, modeling phrase and sentence structure, exposing them to the concepts of rhyming and alliteration, and strengthening their memories. Music provides repetition, which is important for learning new concepts, and it breaks words down into sounds and syllables so that your child is better able to process them."
Her list of activities that build language includes many activities we do in Sound Beginnings. Fingerplays, social skills in songs ("We Use Our Manners"), music in transitions, and of course using music to teach music and other important preschool concepts are all a part of class. See my post (here) for some ideas on some simple home-made instruments.
Of course, these activities aren't limited to toddlers. In Let's Play Music classes we learn new vocabulary, use music in transitions, and use all of our music to teach important concepts.
Isn't it nice to read an article and know that you are doing something great for your kids?
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