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Making links between language/s and music

Why link language and music? | Learning ideas | References and resources

Why link language and music?

Societies tell their stories, their histories and their cultural uniqueness through the language of music, with or without words. We make and interpret music using specific literacies. There are particular aspects of music literacy development that have clear synergies with language literacy.

Learning language skills through music
Music and language share many aspects of learning, such as listening, presenting and viewing, and the interpretation of symbols.

Through studying music, language learning skills are experienced and developed. For example:

  • through singing – matching rhythm and language;
  • interpreting new words and new languages through songs;
  • discussing music listened to by using appropriate vocabulary;
  • reading and recording words and musical symbols;
  • sharing personal interpretations and understandings of music from a wide range of contexts.

Integrated learning
The ideas presented in this resource are intended to help teachers integrate music learning with approaches to literacy. In this way, the socially enjoyable, artistic, cognitive and aesthetic aspects of music learning can support language development.

Most importantly, through learning music, personal identity and well-being are enhanced, and the culturally embedded learning of language/s and their contexts are more meaningfully developed.

Learning ideas

References and resources

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