Music Lyrics Article
Music and Intelligence
If you've ever noticed your baby taking an interest in music in its various forms, whether it is a toy that plays music, or music on the radio or a CD, or simply a song that you sing or hum, then you have seen the power of music at work.
Even when no other common bonds seem to exist, music can bring together people of all races, religions, and ethinic backgrounds. But especially with babies and young children, music can provide health, relaxation, and mental growth.
In 1993, a publication released a study on music as it relates to the development of babies' brains. It is called the Mozart Effect, and it was debated as to whether this study did anything to show that music can enhance intelligence in anyone, much less infants and toddlers.
Because of all the controversy surrounding that study, the original professionals continued to search for a link between music and intellect. It was later found that there is a link between the two, that musical exposure in young children can improve cognitive development and exercises the analytical studies such as sciences and mathematics. This was especially true in children under 5 years of age who displayed higher logic and reasoning skills after having participated in lessons surrounding music. The study also proved true for children who learned how to sing and play easy instruments.
Learning how to read music and appreciate its intracacies is very similar to reading and appreciating words and books, which is why music exposure in children has shown to increase a child's interest and proficiency in the latter. Early correlation between the two can been observed when a child learns their ABCs through song and participates in singing their favorite nursery rhyme.
Because music is often a catalyst for expressing one's self, exercising our musical abilities can also work wonders on our self-esteem and self-worth. Children often use music as a way to get their message across before they even learn how to talk.
Unfortunately, it seems that when schools have budget cuts, the music program is one of the first to go. Sports programs, however, generally have much larger amounts of resource pumped into them, which is odd when you consider that sports taught in most schools have very little, if any, intellectual benefit whatsoever.
