Can Musical Aptitude Predict Language Skills? Exploring the Connection Between Pitch, Rhythm, and Phonological Decoding

Abstract

This study contributes to the body of literature differentiating the effects of innate musical aptitude from those of formal music training.  Few studies have examined how distinct components of music, such as pitch and rhythm perception, are differentially conducted in which a total of 20 individuals were recruited from the MTSU community.  All participants were native English speakers, aged 18-22, and reported no history of hearing or language disorders.  The study found that musical training did not predict awareness and did not demonstrate a transfer effect beyond innate musical ability, and that the relationship between musical rhythm and linguistic rhythm aptitudes shows potential transfer across these domains.