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Preschool Prodigies
LESSONS FOR THE YOUNG MUSICIAN
The Reasearch
There is a large body of research to suggest that musical skills are internalized faster and more thouroughly at a young age. There is also an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows musical training positively affects your childs development.
Research suggests that there is a critical period for learning a language. WABC's Dr. Kay Adlersberg writes that,
When adults learn a language, the brain utilizes an area seperate from your primary language.
When children learn a second language, the brain stores the information together in paralell.
By storing the information in paralell and by receiving it in the early critcial years, both languages seem natural to the child and there is little interpertation happening; the second language is second nature.
Music and language share many similarities. They are both complex forms of expression built upon a relatively small group of sounds. They are both received by the brain as auditory signals, and they both have an oral component (speaking & singing). In fact, there are several cultures whose children seemed more blessed with elusive musical ability of perfect pitch, because their language is rooted more in tones and pitch than in syllables.
When a child learns music from an early age, the same sort of primary-language-understanding occurs and, tah dah; music becomes second nature.
"The key to be fluent in second languages is to make sure they start to learn when they're still in diapers. All over the world, young children effortlessly pick up whatever language or languages they're exposed, but once children reach about the age of 7, it becomes much harder."
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