Relationship between Music Learning and Language Reading? Review of Literature

This paper reviews literature in the past 60 years about the relationship between music experience and language reading. Results of the literature review fall into three categories: the first group of studies (group I) indicates that music experience benefits language reading due to six transfers of learning--prediction skill, whole-to-part strategy, awareness of rhythm, rhyme and phonological awareness, learning between two similar symbol systems, and eye span and movement. The second group of studies (group II) suggests music experience neither benefits nor undermines language reading. The third group of studies (group III) demonstrates that the learners' socioeconomic status, intelligence, or social capital are better indicators of language reading experience than music experience. It concludes that music experience does not hamper language reading, but whether music experience facilitates language reading and the extent to which music experience aids language reading remains nebulous. (Contains 51 references, a table, and a figure illustrating the relationship between aspects of music and aspects of reading.) (Author/RS)