A new study from the University of Washington reports that music, “…may help babies learn language better, in part by helping them learn to detect important rhythms.”

According to the study, the ability to recognize and predict patterns and rhythms in music can translate to predicting the patters and rhythms in speech as well, even in babies only nine months old.

Compared to babies in the control group, babies who were subjected to twelve, fifteen minute long music sessions, “showed more brain activity.” Christina Zhao, the researcher who led the study, says this means, “…early, engaging musical experiences can have a more global effect on cognitive skills.”

Patricia Kuhl, head of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington explains, “Music experience has the potential to boost broader cognitive skills that enhance children’s abilities to detect, expect and react quickly to patterns in the world, which is highly relevant in today’s complex world.”

Music is a wonderful tool for entertainment, but also for education.  It not only teaches the musicians who play it, but also the listeners, even those with the smallest of ears!

You can read the full article and more about the study over at NBC News.