Music is vital to the development of language and listening skills. Both music and language arts consist of symbols and ideas; when the two content areas are used in combination, abstract concepts become more concrete. This article provides information that shows the role of music in helping children meet early learning standards, including those in literacy and mathematics. Moreover, the most important role of music in education is what it offers children "aesthetically"--that is, the development of an appreciation for beauty. For young children, experiencing music is not limited simply to the auditory sense, as evidenced even by infants' whole-body response to music. The author suggests that movement, another topic too often eliminated from the curriculum, also must be a part of a child's education.