The Music Language Arts (MLA) Program, funded under Elementary Secondary Education Act Title I, was designed for high school students with inadequate English skills for participation in regular content area subjects. Students were selected from the population of English as a Second Language (ESL) students in the schools. Those for whom additional English language instruction through music was deemed most appropriate and whose school schedules permitted, were enrolled. The program operated in four high schools, serving approximately 299 students from grades 9-12. The development and improvement of English language arts, including reading, was the main objective of the program. Music, as a high interest area, was to be used as the vehicle for ESL instruction. It was to serve as the subject matter for instruction. Most frequently, lessons were planned around the vocabulary, concepts, and sentence structures involved in the lyrics of particular songs. Further language instruction was given based upon the teachers' perceptions of the students' needs. Based upon observations, interviews, and analysis of questionnaire responses, it was found that the program was effective in increasing student abilities. Test analyses based upon a one month period of effective operation did not reveal statistically significant results. As a pilot project, the Music Language Arts Program was judged an effective adjunct to other ESL instruction in increasing English language abilities and maintaining interest in school activities. (Author/AM)