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EYFS Activities - neuro-musical networks: Musical minds

In a new music-based series, Boogie Mites’ Sue Newman considers how involvement in regular music-making from birth can boost brain development, health and happiness

Download a Boogie Mites tapping and drumming song, videos and suggestions for associated activities for free here

Neuroscientists talk about the ‘musician’s advantage’, since they are aware that playing and practising music develops neural networks across the whole brain.

Studies with 3- to 4-year-olds show us that for the brain to process the component parts of language, a huge number of messages need to fire around the brain and they use the same circuit of neural pathways that are developed through regular music practice in early years – developing melodic and rhythmic awareness through playing with pitch, tempo, dynamics, rhythm and keeping the beat with moving, singing, shaking, tapping and banging activities.

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