In an article by Larry M. Lynch entitled 'Using popular songs to improve Language Listening Comprehension Skills' highlights the importance of music once more. He lists the following factors which contributes to Listening Comprehension through the use of popular songs:
1.use of new vocabulary,idioms and expressions
2.pronounciation accent of the singer
3.use of new grammar and structure
According to Professor Lynch there is also a criteria for song selection. These are as follows:
1.popular songs must be used
2.songs must have clear and understandable lyrics
3.songs must have an appropriate theme
This is further corroborated in an article 'Music Education can help children improve Reading skills' taken from the ScienceDaily (Mar.16,2009). In this article the authors Joseph M. Piro and Camilio Ortiz from Long Island University,USA conducted a study at two U.S. elementary schools 'to investigate the hypothesis that children who have received keyboard instruction as part of a music curriculum increasing in difficulty over successive years would demonstrate significantly better performance on measures of vocabulary and verbal sequencing than the students who did not receive keyboard instruction. The results did show that the music learning group had better vocabulary and verbal sequencing scores than the other control group.
I have always been an avid reader and thanks to the encouragement of my parents I was also exposed to basic theory in music and enjoyed playing music in the school's instrumental group.There is that connection between the two,in that the discipline of music and the strategies employed to remember musical pieces was easily transferred to learning generally,but more specifically reading. The compact and concise language used in songs,raps and other pieces can be likened to the language used by writers to convey meaning to readers. The composition of language in such ways has also been quite fascinating.
ReplyDeletePriscilla, your blog truly captivated me because like you, I have a keen interest in the way music can enhance literacy development. I have the reputation of being the second music teacher at my school. I am a language arts teacher but I usually assist the music department with calypso competitions and preparation for parang festivals. Over the years I have noticed how musical involvement tends to support both reading and writing. In the case of parang, I have seen where teaching the lyrics have helped the students to recognise, pronounce and understand Spanish words better. A winning performance requires flawless diction and a musical interpretation that reflects good comprehension of the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear to me that music facilitates reading, composition and general language development in both English and foreign language learning. Certainly, some of the French that I learned at school has stayed with me because of the French songs we were taught. This has implications for the retention of vocabulary and expressions taught. An effective way to teach these language components is in song because here, the affective domain impacts the cognitive realm and as such, learning is impacted in a powerful,lasting way. Since I have become a new e-books fan, I can see their potential for integrating the teaching of music and reading. Perhaps Priscilla, you can try teaching theory and songs using e-books of your own making. You can record voiced instructions, melodies and reading/singing of the lyrics to go with the typed words. The students can share these e-books with their parents and perhaps they will see the importance of music in the school curriculum.
Beverly Philip-Le Gendre
What a wonderful idea Beverly!You have given me food for thought.I thoroughly enjoyed working on the e-book and the possibilities are great.Anything to change the mindset of our parents.
ReplyDeleteThis research is simply telling us what we know all along;observe how long it takes for a child to learn a new song and compare that to the time it takes to learn vocabulary. There is a natural interest in rhythm which motivates children to learn effortlessly. Only yesterday I heard my sixteen year old with a biology 'rap' about the organs of the body, this was good but even better, later in the evening my ten year old was singing the same song.
ReplyDeleteMusic is also great for writing, ask your class to create and perform a 'rap' about a social studies or science topic and you will be amazed at the talent which lies dormant in front of you.
learning should be fun and incorporating music in our lessons is one way to make learning fun.