¶ … Music Improve Language Skills in Kids," argues that children exposed to music throughout their development have an increased ability to learn language. The premise is that because learning language uses certain regions and requires a multi-sensory process (es), i.e. reading, watching others, listening, etc., those children who have been exposed to music, an activity that uses those same brain regions that are involved in language apprehension and requires a similar multi-sensory process (es), will have a greater capacity to learn language. In short, being exposed to music helps a child learn language.
Explain one research finding described in this article.
The article mentions a study whereby patients wore electrodes on their scalp that measured brain wave activity while the patients listened to a cellist perform and a person speak. The study was comprised of non- musicians and musicians. The test showed that musicians had greater responses in their brains to both music and speech than the non-musicians. Moreover, the study...
The question one has with this study is, is a more active brain a more literate brain? One might argue that it is, but further tests are needed to support this theory.
What is your opinion on this article? Do you agree or disagree with the conclusions of the article?
I agree with the article in theory. It sounds plausible. However, there are certain ambiguities that the article needs to clarify and/or address. For starters, how does brain activity really correlate to test scores and language apprehension? If one has a more active brain does that indicate he/she has a higher acumen for language development? Additionally, does watching Sesame Street have the same impact as learning how to play an instrument? The article presupposes it does, or intimates that listening to Sesame Street is somewhat similar to actually learning music the way a musician does, "Research clearly supports the work Sesame Street has being [sic] doing for…
