The science behind learning a language with music

Learning a new language doesn’t have to mean staring at textbooks or memorizing endless vocabulary lists all day. It can be as fun as finding a new favorite artist and turning up the volume. Yes, science says music can help you learn English (or any other language).

How can music help with language learning?

To understand how it is that music can give your language skills a boost, think about how children learn their first language. Songs and rhymes play a huge role — music supports early brain development and strengthens the areas involved in sound processing and memory. There’s a natural overlap between music and language: rhythm and melody help children recognize speech patterns and the sounds that make up words.

While these connections are especially strong in early childhood, research shows that music can be a powerful tool for adults learning a new language, too. Music does more than entertain — it helps with memory, pronunciation, and rhythm, making new words easier to recall and reproduce. It also builds emotional connection and cultural context, which are key to real fluency. Plus, music can boost focus, motivation, and self-esteem — all essential ingredients for successful learning.

Ready to press play on language learning? Here are our practical tips for using music to learn English faster as an adult.

1. Listen in your downtime

Balance some of your podcasts (another great tool for learning a language) with music. Listen to an album on the bus, or fill your workout playlist with tunes that make you feel good — music is a great mood booster! Listening to music can reduce anxiety and blood pressure, and calming melodies or ambient tracks can improve your focus — ideal for supporting your studies.

2. Choose a range of artists

Sure, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter can polish your English, but try to include a broad range of music styles from different backgrounds and genres. From Adele and Rosalía to BTS — there’s a world of culture to discover in music, and you’ll hear how languages adapt to every sound.

3. Start simple

You don’t have to start with nursery rhymes (although they are effective at teaching children sentence structures and rhythms of speech). Pick music that’s easy to follow to build your confidence. Begin with slower folk and pop songs that use common vocabulary, predictable grammar, and repeated phrases. Later, graduate to faster genres like rap — these often play with words and use complicated lyrics that you need to build up to. 

4. Read the lyrics

Following along with the lyrics when you first hear a song can help you get to grips with what’s being said. Search them online, or go eco-friendly and buy retro CDs or records from a local thrift store — many classic albums had lyrics printed on leaflets inside. Then, it’s time to…

5. …Sing along

Listening can only get you so far — you need practical experience! Warm up your vocal cords, practice your pronunciation, experience how your favorite musicians create their sentences, and have fun with it. Perhaps plan a karaoke night with friends. Or if you’re shy, just belt it out in the shower.

6. Repeat

Go back to the same songs or albums over again to reinforce your learning and strengthen your memory. Did you know? The links between music and memory are wild — just the first notes of a song can transport you to a previous time or place that you associate with it.

7. Experience it live

Gigs, concerts, and music festivals can all contribute to your learning. Cultural immersion is a key part of developing strong linguistic skills, and what serves culture more than a local artist performing in the language you’re diving into?

8. Embrace musical theater

The clear storytelling nature of musical theater offers good practice for following conversations. Songs are filled with emotion, drama, and varied vocabulary. Watch shows live (London and New York have incredible theater scenes) or listen to soundtracks. Either way, you can soak up a whole story from start to finish, helping you get to grips with the dialogue faster.

Science shows that music strengthens memory, confidence, and communication — all key ingredients for language learning. So turn up the volume, dive into new lyrics, and let music become part of your daily language practice.