Effects Of Pitch- And Rhythm-based Music Training On Executive Function In 3- To 6-year-old Children

The purpose of this study is to understand the development status of the executive function of children aged 3-6 years,and explore the effects of two different short-term music training(pitch training,rhythm training)on the three components of the executive function of children aged 3-6 years(inhibition control,Working memory,cognitive flexibility).The results of this study will help us to understand the impact of basic music element training on each component of executive function,and verify whether the relevant conclusions of previous foreign studies are valid in the local Chinese environment.This study is a longitudinal experimental study.The researchers randomly sampled 60 children from small,middle and large classes in X kindergarten in N city.A total of 180 subjects with normal vision and hearing(the same ratio of male to female)were used.This experiment adopts a 3 × 3 two-factor between-group experimental design,and divides the subjects into 9 groups with 20 people in each group.Each age group has 2 experimental groups(pitch group and rhythm group)and1 control group.The experimental groups received 20-week pitch training and rhythm training 3 times a week,each for 20 minutes.The control group does not participate in any music training.Before and after the experiment,all subjects accepted the measurement of executive function tasks in Early Years Toolbox(EYT).The research conclusions are as follows:1.Short-term pitch training may help improve the working memory level of 3～6year old children to a certain extent,but it cannot significantly promote the three components of executive function(inhibition control,working memory,cognitive flexibility)of 3～6 year old children as a whole.),nor can it significantly promote the development of the three components of executive function of children of a certain age.2.Short-term rhythm training may help improve the working memory and cognitive flexibility of 3～6 year olds to a certain extent,but it cannot significantly promote the development of working memory and cognitive flexibility of 3～6 year olds ’ executive functions as a whole.Nor can it significantly promote the development of working memory and cognitive flexibility of executive functions in children of a certain age.Short-term rhythm training also cannot significantly promote the development of inhibitory control in children of a certain age,but it can significantly promote the development of inhibitory control in children aged 3 to 6years old as a whole.Based on the above conclusions,this study puts forward the following suggestions: 1.Pay attention to the preschool period of 3～6 years old,and actively carry out music activities to promote the development of children’s executive function.2.Rhythm training has a good effect on the promotion of children’s inhibition and control,and music activities that focus on rhythm can be carried out to promote the development of children’s inhibition and control.