For many of us who are passionate about music, it is more than the soundtrack of our lives—it affirms and celebrates our highest moments, and offers comfort and healing during our lowest. Music helps us understand and process life’s defining experiences, and it can also help us learn.
In an early article from the Cambridge School, the University of Edinburgh conducted research in which “it found conclusive evidence that singing and melody can be a wonderful asset in learning a language.” The article cites that in the experiment, “three groups of subjects were given phrases to memorise in Hungarian, which they would need to repeat 15 minutes later. The first group heard the phrases spoken, the second group heard them to a rhythm, while the third heard them in song form. The third group was able to recall much more of the phrases—and with much greater accuracy—than the other two groups.”
The language-learning app Duolingo also shared an article on three ways studying music can help you learn a new language: first, music tunes your ear to notes and pronunciation; second, it improves your listening skills; and third, early exposure to musical education helps strengthen the left side of the brain, which is responsible for learning words and remembering their meanings.
Get a head start on your musical language learning with our next Hylton Family Series performance from two-time Grammy Award winner Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats (3/7). Kids will delight in this high-energy concert performed in English and Spanish that is a great example of music’s unique ability to engage young minds and foster language growth. As Lucy Kalantari herself puts it, “When we learn through music, our brains are already in a state of joy, and joy is one of the best gateways for learning. Set to melody, language doesn’t just pass through us...it sticks!”
Treat the whole family to an afternoon of music, joy, and discovery with Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats on March 7. Tickets are on sale now!