“When you look at children ages two to nine, one of the breakthroughs in that area is music’s benefit for
language development, which is so important at that stage,” says Luehrisen. While children come into
the world ready to decode sounds and words, music education helps enhance those natural abilities.
“Growing up in a musically rich environment is often advantageous for children’s language
development,” she says. But Luehrisen adds that those inborn capacities need to be “reinforced,
practiced, celebrated,” which can be done at home or in a more formal music education setting.
According to the Children’s Music Workshop, the effect of music education on language development
can be seen in the brain. “Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops
the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually
wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint
information on young minds,” the group claims.
This relationship between music and language development is also socially advantageous to young
children. “The development of language over time tends to enhance parts of the brain that help process
music,” says Dr. Kyle Pruett, clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and a
practicing musician. “Language competence is at the root of social competence. Musical experience
strengthens the capacity to be verbally competent.”