Why Music Matters

The Importance of Music

Learning any language can be made fun and more memorable through the art of song...

Hatching Dragons employs the basic pedagogical principle of “Talk & Sing” to nurture phonological awareness, language and communicative abilities through something enjoyable and, principally, memorable. We all remember the nursery rhymes of our childhood, after all, and that is because of the cadence, harmony and musicality that embeds the words in long-term memory.

Music interweaves through all areas of learning and development which can be seen throughout our programmes and age groups and we look to identify the four aspects in our practice and how children respond to it to know that we’re achieving the impact we want. Music can be a way of exploring, communicating and responding to experience. Making music with others can be a social experience whether this be parent-baby/carer-baby exchanging coos, or two or more children making music with pots, pans or traditional instruments. This interaction with others, whether this be with one other person or a group, is personal to each individual and is often an expression of feelings. All vocal communication is comprised of musical elements such as pitch, rhythm and timbre, demonstrating that musicality is an intrinsic part of being human. Music should be seen as a core component of children’s learning and should be shared with young children to ensure they have broad, balanced and rounded experiences in early childhood and beyond. For more guidance, see Musical Development Matters and the Hatching Dragons Bilingual Song Books 1 and 2 for resources.

In the realm of early childhood development, music and song emerge as powerful tools for enhancing communicative capacities. Developmental psychologists and musicians have long collaborated to explore how these auditory experiences can bolster young children's listening, understanding, and speaking skills.

One of the foremost proponents of this approach is Dr. Patricia Kuhl, a renowned developmental psychologist from the University of Washington's Speech and Hearing Sciences Department, whose research underscores the critical role of music in language acquisition. Her studies reveal that musical exposure can enhance phonetic awareness, enabling children to discern subtle differences in sounds, which is foundational for language development. This auditory discrimination is crucial for understanding and producing language, as it allows children to differentiate between similar-sounding words and phrases. Here's Dr Kuhl talking about music and baby development in 2017

Musician and educator Dr. Gordon Shaw, a noted Physicist, has also contributed significantly to this field. His collaboration with psychologists has demonstrated that musical training can improve spatial-temporal reasoning, a cognitive skill closely linked to language processing. By engaging with music, children develop a heightened ability to sequence sounds and words, which is essential for both comprehension and expression. His work "Keeping Mozart in Mind" (available here on Amazon) discusses the phenomena in detail - the "Mozart Effect", in Dr Shaw's words, is proof that those exposed to musicality in their early years develop much greater communicative capacity than those without.

Furthermore, the work of McMaster University's Dr. Laurel Trainor, a psychologist and musician, highlights the social and emotional benefits of musical engagement. Her research indicates that group music activities foster social interaction and communication among children, promoting a sense of empathy and cooperation. These social skills are integral to effective communication, as they involve understanding and responding to others' perspectives and emotions.

Incorporating music and song into early childhood education not only enriches the learning environment but also provides a dynamic and supportive framework for developing communicative skills. By nurturing a child's innate musicality, educators can create a compassionate and inclusive space where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Hatching Dragons Music Programme

The Role of Music in Language Development

At Hatching Dragons, we believe that music is a vital element in nurturing speech and language skills. Our music curriculum is designed to integrate music as a core component, recognising its power to enhance cognitive and linguistic development. By incorporating music into daily activities, we create an immersive environment where children can naturally acquire language skills, reinforced by our multilingual nursery teaching team. This approach not only supports language acquisition but also enriches the overall educational experience, making learning both enjoyable and effective, as the above developmental research proves.

Our Dedicated Music Programme

Each of our schools is privileged to have a dedicated music teacher who is proficient in piano. These skilled educators deliver our unique bilingual music programme, which is specifically tailored for children from infancy through preschool. This programme is innovative in its design, ensuring that music is not just an add-on but a fundamental part of the learning journey. By offering an hour of music daily, we provide children with the opportunity to explore sounds, rhythms, and melodies, all of which are seamlessly woven into their educational experience. And this is reinforced by our cultural capital programme, in which we focus on a specific region of the world each month of the year, to uncover their culture and traditions. Music is a huge part of that, where we draw our musical inspiration from the indigenous peoples of the world, to learn their songs and myths to help children develop knowledge of the wider world through the medium of music:

Creating an Engaging Learning Environment

Music at Hatching Dragons is more than just an auditory experience; it is a tool for engagement and interaction. Regular songs are thoughtfully incorporated into various activities, such as initiating play sessions and organising tidy-up time. This strategic use of music fosters an engaging and dynamic learning environment where children are encouraged to participate actively. By integrating music into everyday routines, we create a vibrant atmosphere that supports both social and emotional development, making learning a joyful and holistic experience for every child.