Giving children music lessons won't just introduce {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(they) to a world of rhythm and melody(旋律) it could also improve their language skills.

    The study of 74 Chinese children before primary school {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(lead) by scientist Robert Desimone from MIT. In the study, the 4﹣to 5﹣year﹣old children were divided into three groups. One group received a 45﹣minute piano lesson three times {#blank#}3{#/blank#}week, while another received extra reading instruction lessons. The {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(three) group took no extra lessons.

    The lessons {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(last) for six months. Then the children were tested on their abilities to discriminate (辨别)words based on {#blank#}6{#/blank#}( different) in tone (声调)and so on. The test results showed that the children who had taken piano lessons performed better at discriminating between words, when compared {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the children taking extra reading lessons. But both groups did {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(well) than the third group.

    The researchers think that the musical education helped these children perform better in language{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(test),even better than the kids taking extra reading lessons. This should make educators pay close attention. "That means schools could spend more time and energy {#blank#}10{#/blank#} music education and there will be an improvement in children s studies, Desimone said.

    Many schools are giving more extra reading to kids instead of the arts education. In fact, giving children music lessons is no worse than extra reading.