Educational theorist Van der Linde explains that there is a link between a child's growing interest in music and her understanding of mathematical reasoning. At the most basic level, the child learns to understand mathematical exercises through sing-along counting, and at a more sophisticated level, music mirrors maths in its structure of fractures as compared with half notes and whole notes.
Through moving to music, children become aware of their embodied selves and improve their coordination. Classroom dancing sessions can be incorporated as a form of exercise, helping children develop muscular strength and gain an enthusiasm for movement. In the gym or outside, musical games can aid a child's understanding of what she can do with her body. She can run, jump, duck and dodge, play with a skipping rope and compete against others.
One of the difficulties of childhood is experiencing emotions, but having no adult vocabulary with which to fully express or describe them. Music enables a child to become aware of and gain insight into his emotional and affective self --- those feelings and sensations that he experiences, which may be reflected by music. Classroom exercises can play "blue" songs, "happy" songs, and "love" songs.
Music can stimulate a child's imagination, unlocking her creativity and helping her capture imaginary worlds through writing, drawing or singing. A good classroom exercise is to take inanimate objects, turn them into musical instruments, and see what sounds and rhythms can be made by playing them. The class can then be encouraged to add words and lyrics. Music can aid literacy development in this way.