Effects of a music programme on kindergartners' phonological awareness skills 1

Abstract

This research examines the effect of a music training programme on the development of phonological awareness among 104 Franco-Canadian kindergarten children. The experimental group ( N = 51) participated in an adapted version of the Standley and Hughes music training programme, while the control group ( N = 53) took part in the Ministère de l'Éducation du Quebec music programme. The analysis of our data shows that both music programmes contributed similarly to the development of tonal and rhythmic perceptive skills. However, the experimental music training programme proved to be more effective when it came to developing phonological awareness skills. In conclusion, this article argues that auditory perception, phonological memory and metacognitive abilities play an essential role in the development of musical and linguistic skills.