T.M.N. (Toy Musical Notes) is an innovative musical method involving reading and playing music with
\na computer program, to develop reading and musical readiness. The explicitly taught reading specific
\nlanguage components are inadequate. T.M.N. completes the general components that implicitly
\nunderlie alphabetical languages.
\nThe 108 pre-school children in the experiment group studied T.M.N. while the 25 in the control group
\nstudied a non-musical program. The experiment group built \u201cfirst reading\u201d schemata through explicit
\ngeneral reading components using the T.M.N. notation system: memory aids, a few easily identified
\nsigns, logical hierarchies, computer-games, promoting creativity through developing reading skills.
\nThe experiment group had significantly higher results in musical and text reading abilities than the
\ncontrol group. The weaker half of the experimental group advanced significantly more in reading and
\nmusical abilities than the stronger half. The gap between the halves has been closed within eight
\nmonths, and the benefits of learning music prior to text reading became evident.<\/p>\n