While music has value all by itself, researchers have long noticed that musicians also tend to be better at learning languages and show other improved reading and math abilities. Now a new study from the University of Washington by Christina Zhao shows that rhythm is an important bridge between music and speech as early as nine months of age.

Researchers randomly placed babies into two groups of 20 each, and each group played at the lab with their parents for a dozen 15-minute sessions over a month.

In one group, researchers played recordings of songs with a waltz rhythm and showed the parents how to help their babies tap out that 1-2-3 beat in time with the music on boy drums or with their feet. In the other group, children played with typical toys and no music.

The babies in the music group were better able to detect random mistakes in that rhythm when they heard it within two weeks of the last session. They also showed a stronger brain response to disruptions in the rhythm. For example, researchers would sometimes alter the timing of syllables(音节) by slightly shortening the middle sound of a word like bibbi to make it bibi—and the babies with music training were more likely to notice it.

In other words, music training not only improved the babies’ ability to notice when a musical rhythm skipped a beat, but also improved their ability to notice when the rhythms of speech changed unexpectedly, an important skill for learning to talk.

The study reflects Zhao’s personal experiences as a pianist who music in college, and as someone who speaks both Mandarin and English. She noticed that a lot of her fellow musicians were also good at learning other languages. “That really got me wondering how these two are related, “Zhao said.

Steven Brown was 85 years old. He became well-known last September after his son Edward had recorded his two-minute piece from four notes — F natural, A, D, and B natural — and posted it on Twitter.

Edward posted the piece online to show how musical ability can survive memory loss and Steven won the hearts of the British nation when he played the piano from his home in Sussex live on the television.

To mark a year since he played his composition, Steven was invited to conduct the BBC Philharmonic orchestra (管弦乐队) playing two of his compositions at the studio in Salford. He spent an emotional afternoon with the orchestra, during which he conducted both Four Notes, while his son Edward played the piano, and an older composition of his called Where’s the Sunshine.

Steven, a former music teacher and classical pianist, said, “It was magical, and it was very, very special to work with such wonderful musicians. It made me feel alive. I couldn’t believe that an orchestra was playing my music and I was standing in front of it conducting them.”

Five years ago, Steven moved into sheltered accommodation as part of his dementia (痴呆症) care.

Edward joined Steven on the trip organized by Music For Dementia and had seen his dad “come alive again” since the video of him playing piano went online.

Edward said, “His short-term memory is generally shot to pieces but when big events like this happen it’s like a branding iron on his brain. From my experience with dad, the right piece of music at the right time can be absolutely incredible. For the first time in years he has got active again. It really brought him back to life again.”

Campaign Director at Music for Dementia, Grace Meadows said, “Seeing Steven performing beyond his dementia and having the contact with the musicians was a wonderful thing. It was very emotional.”

What’s On

The art of generosity

Mr Rong Geng’s Great World, an exhibition at the National Art Museum of China until January 3, unpacks the world of the learned scholar, offering a look into his generosity in sharing his findings with people. On show are nearly 300 objects, including paintings, calligraphy works, carved seals, letters and books once owned by Rong.

11:30 am~7:00 pm, closed on Mondays. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-6326.

A key performance

Famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang will give a recital (独奏会). The pianist released a new recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, featuring both a studio and live version of the same piece, in Beijing on September 4. In support of the new album, he’s touring nationwide.

7:30 pm, on Sunday, December 27. National Center for the Performing Arts. No. 2 West Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-65-0000.

An artistic journey

Artist Xie Nanxing gives an exhibition, which will run through January 31. It exhibits a dozen paintings including A Theater of Waiting. Hung on blue and red walls, the works offer a glimpse of the spiritual theaters of romance and novelty in Xie’s mind.

9:00 am~6:30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. D10, 798 East Street, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5762-6051.

A cure for the blues

Penicllin, a famous Chinese independent rock group, will give a concert. Founded in 2012, the band is made up of leading vocalist (主唱) Zhang Zhexuan, bassist (贝斯手) Zhao Zhao and drummer Yang Yuhao. All in their early 20s, they started playing in front of fewer than 10 people, and now they have about 1 million followers on Sina Weibo, a microblogging website and app in China.

8:00 pm, on Thursday, December 24. Hangzhou OoEli Space, No. 398 Tianmushan Road, Xihu district, Hangzhou. 400-188-6980.