Literacy and Lyrics: Exploring the Power of Music and Sound in the Classroom

Literacy and Lyrics: Exploring the Power of Music and Sound in the Classroom

Music plays a central role in many young people’s lives, shaping how they express themselves, connect with others and make sense of the world. A recent blog from the National Literacy Trust explores how this everyday engagement with music and sound can also support the development of literacy skills in the classroom.

The blog highlights research showing that song lyrics are one of the most common forms of reading for children and young people. More than 60% of 8–18-year-olds regularly read lyrics, including many who say they do not enjoy reading other types of text. Writing lyrics is also a popular creative activity, particularly among younger pupils, offering an accessible route into storytelling, vocabulary and self-expression.

Rather than viewing music and literacy as separate areas, the Trust’s work encourages educators to consider how sound, rhythm and lyrics can help bring stories to life. Examples include using music to explore the mood of a text, composing simple soundtracks to accompany narratives, or encouraging pupils to write their own lyrics as an alternative form of creative writing.

At a time when national data shows declining engagement with reading for pleasure, these approaches offer food for thought—particularly for schools looking to engage learners who may feel less confident with traditional literacy activities.

At Octagon Music Hub, we stay connected to and share research and national conversations that explore how music can support wider learning outcomes . The National Literacy Trust’s work highlights interesting possibilities for future collaboration between music education and literacy development.

You can read the full blog from the National Literacy Trust here:

Literacy and Lyrics: Using music and sound in the classroom