By now it is known that the so-called Mozart Effect is a myth. Just listening to music does not have the specific cognitive benefits claimed.
There has, however, been some research suggesting that music training and playing a musical instrument does have cognitive benefits. It is known that lack of phonemic awareness is one of the most important determinants of dyslexia.
Prof. Nina Kraus, Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology, Physiology and Communication Sciences at Northwestern University, recently claimed that music training enhances brainstem sensitivity to speech sounds. She added:
"Playing an instrument may help youngsters better process speech in noisy classrooms and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice."
According to ScienceDaily, her and other neuroscientists' research suggest that music education can be an effective strategy in helping typically developing children as well as children with developmental dyslexia or autism more accurately encode speech. Something to think about for schools who have scrapped music training.
but, a contrary view that came to my attention later:
Music therapy no help to dyslexics.
Related: Children who grow up in noisy homes may have lower verbal abilities.
No comments:
Post a Comment