INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON
CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT
(0-5
years)
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT.
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON DEVELOPMENT
OF COGNITION AND MEMORY.
During children’s early years their brain is
developing at an astonishing speed.
Future learning depends on the foundation
that is laid in the first five years of a child’s
life.
Research indicates that children who have
been involved in music activities, or had been
taught to play an instrument, had significantly
higher level of mathematical, cognitive,
language and literacy skills, than those who
did not. In addition, those who participated in
the musical activities or were learning to play
an instrument had significant improvement in
short and long term memory.
Listening to music, exploring sounds by
using musical instruments have a
beneficial effect on brain development and
provide a stimulating learning experience.
Singing songs assist in language and
memory development.
Children need to make sounds and feel
the delight and results that making sounds
brings. Sounds help develop brain
connections that help a child respond to
others.
Try these activities at home:

Show children how to listen to the
sounds when they tap on a bowl
with spoons or on pot lids with
wooden spoons.
Many researchers believe that playing
classical music t children will have a positive
effect on children’s cognitive and memory
development. It is believed that because of the
complexity of its structure , classical music is
more beneficial to the development of the
brain in young children.
Try these activities at home:

Play soothing classical music at bed
time.

Play popular children’s songs and
dance to it.

Play relaxing or classical music
when cuddling with your child.

Learn the names of musical
instruments.

Explore different types of music;
soothing, stimulating, music you
can move and dance to.

Learn the sounds of musical
instruments.

Play ‘guess my sound’ by dropping
objects into a tin box.

Draw attention to mood, tempo, volume
of music.

Play a favourite CD while driving in
the car. Have fun and sing a long.

Play ‘what’s that sound’ when you
are out and about in nature.
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT.
Language allows children to be heard,
understood and accepted. Children develop
receptive language first, followed by
expressive language.
Receptive language involves listening and
taking in what is said, and giving meaning to
what is said.
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
ON FINE AND GROSS MOTOR
DEVELOPMENT.
There are three types of motor development:
1. Gross motor development is the
development and coordination of large
muscles (arms, legs, back, chest and
abdominal).
Expressive language involves talking, using
word to express thoughts, convey
information to others.
2. Fine motor development is the
development and coordination of small
muscles (fingers, hands, toes, eyes and
face).
By exposing your child to music or songs or
singing with them, you are already assisting
them to develop their receptive language. By
singing songs or rhymes you are supporting
their development of expressive language.
3. Perceptual motor development is the
ability to receive the information,
interpret and respond to sensory
information (seeing, hearing and
touching).
Children will often ask you to sing their
favourite song or tell a rhyme using puppets
again and again. Children love repetition. It is
familiar and predictable and therefore
comforting to them. They are also learning
and memorising words in the songs or
rhymes and the ‘structure’ of the song.
Through dancing and movement children have
an opportunity to practice gross and fine
motor skills such as:
Don’t hesitate to sing! Children don’t care if
you have a brilliant singing voice. All they
want is for you to sing to them, talk with them
and spend time listening to music you both
love.
Try these activities at home:




Play and sing your favourite songs
while driving in the car.
Dance and sing to your favourite
songs using scarfs, ribbons, dress
ups.

Stretching

Maintaining balance

Control of large and small muscles

Moving to the rhythm of music

Jumping

Following verbal and non-verbal cues
They practice and develop perceptual motor
skills by:

Listening to the music

Using props for dancing

Exploring musical instruments.
Act out the song or rhyme (swim like a
fish, walk like an elephant).
Go to the park and listen to the
sounds of the birds, the wind blowing
and children playing.
Movement through music is not only a fun way
of learning, it is an important part of the child’s
development as a whole.
WHY MUSIC EDUCATION?
For children, music provides many
benefits. Experts agree there are lots of
good things about letting your child learn
to play an instrument.
Here are 10 reasons why your child
should put down the remote and pick up
a musical instrument.
1. It will their brain power
Music specialist Meredith LeVande of
MonkeyMonkeyMusic.com says, “more
and more studies show a correlation
between higher academic achievements
with children who are exposed to music
… music simply stimulates parts of the
brain that are related to reading, math,
and emotional development”.
2. It will improve their memory
“Further research has shown that
participation in music at an early age
can help improve a child’s learning
ability and memory by stimulating
different patterns of brain development”,
says Eduardo Marturet, musical director
for the Miami Symphony Orchestra.
3. It helps them socially
Eduardo Marturet explains, “ socially,
children who become involved in a
musical group or ensemble learn
important life skills, such as how to
relate to others, how to work as a team
and appreciate the rewards that come
from working together, and the
development of leadership skills and
discipline”.
4. It is a confidence builder
“They find that they can develop a skill
by themselves, that they can get better
and better,” says Elizabeth DotsonWestphalen, music teacher and
performer.
5. It teaches patience
When you are playing in a band or orchestra you
have to be willing to wait your turn to play. This
inadvertently teaches patience.
6. It can help them connect
Psychologist Michael Jolkovski says, “It (music)
can satisfy the need to unwind from the worries
of life, but unlike the other things people often
use for this purpose, such as excessive eating,
drinking, or TV or aimless web browsing, it
makes people more alive and connected with
one another”.
7. It is constant
In music, you can never truly learn everything
you need to know.
8. It is a great form of expression
Music allows children to express their emotions
and personality.
9. It teaches discipline
To improve in music, you have to not only do
well in classes, but devote time to practicing
outside of the lesson too. That requires
discipline.
10. It fosters creativity
Above all, playing music – particularly as kids get
to more advanced levels in it – is a creative
pursuit. Creativity is good for the mind, body and
soul.
REFERENCES
www.MonkeyMonkeyMusic.com
Eduardo Marturet: Musical Director, Miami Symphony Orchestra.
Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen: Music teacher and performer.
Michael Jolkowski: Psychologist.
Developed by: Tatiana Cherbatuik & Cathy Graziani.
Integricare SPSG Child Support Team.
May 2013.