There is no doubt that there is a significant link between early music instruction and cognitive growth in certain other nonmusical abilities, such as math, memory, and spatial-temporal reasoning. Kindermusik makes it easy for parents to learn how to enjoy musical activities with even very young children that help lay the foundation for success in mathematical concepts.
The known connections between music and math go way back. The 17th century German mathematician, Gottfried Leibniz, explained it this way: “Music is the sensation of counting without being aware you were counting.” Centuries later we understand more about the benefits of music on learning, including on the cognitive development in children.
In fact, studies focused specifically on music for young children even suggest that these cognitive gains increase according to the number of years that students engage in active music learning, and even that the younger children are when they begin, the greater the gains will be! “Even early experiences with music that are successful and fun prepare children to be successful in other areas of learning — particularly spatial relationships and math.” – Deanne Kells, M.A.
A quick experiment about the benefits of music
Try this experiment: One, two buckle my shoe. Three, four shut the door. Five, six pick up sticks.Seven, eight lay them straight. Nine, ten begin again. You did it, didn’t you? Before you finished reading that nursery rhyme, you found yourself singing it, instead. It’s okay. You probably do that with the ABCs, too. It’s how many of us learned those building blocks of reading and math—through nursery rhymes, songs, and maybe a few dance moves!
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently published a report:The Patterns of Music: Young Children Learning Mathematics through Beat, Rhythm, and Melody.This report highlights some of the links between music and math and concludes by saying:
“With new understanding about the nature of everyday learning experiences, the key role of patterns in the development of literacy and mathematics, and the need for a stimulating environment in the very early years, the importance of music in the home and in the classroom is becoming clear. Music is children’s first patterning experience and helps engage them in mathematics even when they don’t recognize the activities as mathematics. Music is a highly social, natural, and developmentally appropriate way to engage even the youngest child in math learning.”
April is Math Awareness Month
Kindermusik International took the opportunity in April to share the connection between math and music in this article on their blog “Minds On Music”, which includes three critical math concepts and how music establishes solid foundations in the brain for continued math development. It’s Math Awareness Month includes three musical activity suggestions for families to enjoy at home.
East Printable Resources Guides for Parents
There are two well laid out “Highlight” e-books on how music and math play together for two specific age groups. Each includies information about specific math concepts, how it works in a Kindermusik classroom, and ideas for how to enjoy these music and math activities at home. The concepts presented in both articles include: Geometry, Patterns, Numbers and Measurement. But there is an amazing difference on what children are learning at each of these ages, and the type of musical activities that are presented and recommended.
Music and Math: focused on children ages 1 – 3
Music and Math: focused on children ages 3 – 5
For the FULL research version of the free e-book: The Impact of Music on Mathematics Achievement by Deanne Kells, M.A. click here.
Great thinkers like Einstein and Pythagoras have seen and used the connections between music and mathematics. The good news is that you don’t need to be a genius of those proportions to see and benefit from
the music-math connection! Science shows that by engaging your child in music and movement, you’re giving him or her very beneficial experiences in early space, shapes, patterns, and numbers, all while having a good time moving and making music.
Why Kindermusik Makes It Easier
Our Kindermusik curriculum is written to include the presentation of these ideas in class, to introduce a little at a time, and to practice these skills in such fun ways. The Kindermusik Core Curriculum, as one of it’s main goals, focuses on the musical needs of children at each stage of development, starting in infancy. Yes, even the experiences that babies share with their parents and other adults can build the foundation for their musical skill development. Research shows what children are ready to learn and when. Kindermusik has compiled all that research, and developed materials and class content that introduce what they can learn in a way they learn it best.
Research has shown that the spatial relationships required to read music, and to play instruments has a strong impact on these students’ skills in math and related subjects, such as architecture and engineering.
Contact us to set up a free preview class today, and let music and math flourish in the playground of your child’s mind.
The benefits of music study continue as a child grows.
Fortunately, our Kindermusik classes in Lakeland are located in a full music studio.
InTune Studios,
offers a wide variety of ways to continue a child’s musical education.
Albert Einstein’s fifth grade teacher told his parents that he was ‘stupid’ and incapable of learning. Albert had demonstrated an inability to take tests and to get passing grades. His teacher recommended they place Albert in a workhouse. Sometime later, he began to study the violin. Years later Albert credited his genius to the violin. Whenever he would get stumped while working on a formula, the answer would come to him while playing his violin.
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