Hi all,
I've also heard about the effect of Mozart Music. Though it might not be affirmed but no harm trying if you don't mind classical music. Hubby bought a Mozart CD and we enjoyed the music each time he drives me to work.
Anyway, here's some info I've found on the web, for interest purposes.
Twinkle, twinkle little genius
If you happen to mention classical music and children in the same sentence, then you're likely to hear someone mention Mozart because, as the theory goes, listening to the work of this musical genius will ensure your baby's intelligence. This year would have been his 250th birthday and record companies across the world are releasing various versions of 'Mozart for your baby' CDs. Read on to find out if Mozart really can brighten your child.
Magic Mozart
Bopping Bumps
And the band plays on
Baby IQ Boosters
Magic Mozart
In 1993 a small research study concluded that listening to only ten minutes of a Mozart piano sonata temporarily raised the intelligence of 36 college students in a test of mental ability.
While any parent with an older child (or indeed anyone who cares to remember back to their own college days) will no doubt tell you this isn't necessarily anything that impressive, nevertheless from this study the Mozart Effect was born.
The theory claimed that playing classical music to babies boosted IQ, improved health and even produced the occasional child prodigy and since that time, people have taken every opportunity to make use of this theory in an attempt to promote children's mental ability along with record sales for various classical compositions.
The research, however, is controversial as Classic FM GP Dr Rob Hicks explains. "Other scientists have not been able to reproduce the findings of this initial research, and replication of research is important if it is to be properly established as fact. "However, the possibility that Mozart's music can boost IQ has gained huge support and is still practised and talked about."
Bopping Bumps
Music has always played an important part in human experience. It's instinctive for a mother to sing to her child and, regardless of whether she sings like Vera Lynn or Vera Duckworth, her child will respond to her voice.
Dr Hicks says, "Once a baby is born, music can help the process of bonding. As your child grows, music plays an integral part in games and other activities and in the learning that takes place through these."
But research now believes that music can benefit your baby while you are still pregnant. Numerous studies conclude that playing music to babies in the womb and in the early years helps build the neural bridges along which thoughts and information travel. And research suggests it can stimulate the brain's alpha waves, creating a feeling of calm.
However, if the thought of parading around your living room with earphones attached to your bump doesn't appeal, don't worry.
Dr Alexandra Lamont, a Lecturer in the Psychology of Music at Keele University, says, "It used to be assumed that it was really noisy in the womb but actually it's quite quiet so the baby should be able to hear your stereo at a reasonable volume." In other words, playing some harmonious music on your stereo while you sit back and relax will have much the same effect on your baby.
Babyworld midwife Hannah Hulme-Hunter agrees. "From 28 weeks onwards, a baby's hearing is well-developed. Babies can hear external sounds, although these are muffled by the amniotic fluid and the muscles of the uterus and abdomen."
And the band plays on
Dr. Lamont found that if you play the same piece of music every day for the last three months of your pregnancy, and play it back to your child at one year old, he will recognise it. The study does not say, however, if your one year old will enjoy hearing it again. As many adults know, you can only hear the same song so many times before it changes from a favourite tune to one much less favourable. Perhaps a more vocal one year old would be able to say 'Not that tune again. I've only just got it out of my head!'
Nevertheless, there is no doubting the abundance of research that says music is good for your child.
For example, music playing in the background at nursery schools can help these children to have more positive and better social interactions. Research has also found that playing background music within a classroom environment helps children perform spatial skills as well as improving attention span and concentration. And despite the name, the music does not have to be Mozart to be of benefit. Other classical composers such as Bach and Haydn have proved just as effective as background music.
So strong is the debate for the benefit of classical music that in Florida, all state-funded pre-schools are required to play classical music by law, and many US hospitals give classical CDs to new mums.
Baby IQ Boosters
So what is the best music to play to your baby?
Whilst pregnant, Dr Lamont suggests, "Any kind of music that you like, although bass frequencies will travel through fluid better and be more audible to your unborn baby." Dr Hicks recommends some appropriate classical tunes to fit in with your child's day but stresses, "With regard to the child, let them listen to whatever they like."
Getting up - to start the day off well, play something cheerful by Chopin or from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Playtime - a great way for your child to burn off energy is by jumping around to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture or Haydn's The Seasons: "Autumn"
Creative time - aid your child's concentration with calming music, such as Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.6 - 2nd movement.
Concentrating time - avoid becoming too relaxed and falling asleep by playing something with a moderate tempo like in Offenbach's "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffman.
Avoiding sickness - classical music has a recognised stimulating effect on health and listening to cheerful music such as Delibe's Coppelia can stimulate production of the body's antibodies to fight infection.
Sleep time - slower pieces will of course help settle your baby and for many years, tunes such as Brahms's Lullaby have been used to settle and lull a child at bedtime.
Whilst the Mozart Effect remains controversial, the same cannot be said for the general benefits if playing music to your child, even your unborn baby. Research has proved on many occasions the positive effects of music which is not all that surprising considering the apparently inbuilt response that most of us have to it. But if you want more proof regarding the Mozart Effect, you may want to hear what one baby Mozart CD has to say.
"We know one baby who listened to the music on this CD all through his early, formative years and he grew up into a genius. His name? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."
Where to next
Have you tried the Mozart effect before or after birth? Enjoy the debate on our forums
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