Music Has Power In Language Development by The Talented Roberta Abramowitz Seltzer

There is growing awareness amongst health and educational professionals regarding the benefits that music has on children's development, including language skills.
speech language pathologists and music therapists worldwide are identifying and harnessing the connection between music and language skills. By utilizing music it’s recognized that language development can be supported and improved.

Why is Music Effective for Assisting Language Development?

Music has structure and rules (as does language)
Music ensures that the words are sequenced in a predictable order
Music offers a fun opportunity to learn new words and concepts through repetition (an important factor when helping to improve a child’s language skills)
Music encourages turn-taking behaviours (just like in conversation)
Music has rhythm (enabling actions to be combined with words to reinforce word meanings
Music has rhyme (encouraging children to become aware of words and their sounds, which also assists with developing their literacy skills)
Music assists children to remember new words (particularly once the child has learnt the tune)
Music helps attention and listening skills
Music and movement assists physical development and coordination skills
Music motivates children to socialize, assisting emotional development
Musical involvement is known to enhance self-esteem and confidence

Who Can Benefit?

All children benefit from using music to aid language development. Nursery rhymes, singing and dancing are an essential part of childhood learning,
For children who have difficulty communicating, whether due to a language delay, a language disorder, a syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, brain injury, trauma or bereavement, the benefits of music can be profound.

Learning to play a musical instrument changes the brain, leading to a slew of potential benefits, including improved learning and understanding of language, according to a recent article.
Studies suggest connections made between brain cells during musical training can aid in other forms of communication, such as speech, reading and understanding a foreign language.
"The effect of music training suggests that, akin to physical exercise and its impact on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness," the researchers say.
The studies suggest society should "re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development," and schools should consider boosting efforts to incorporate musical training into the curriculum, the researchers say.