I have always believed how powerful music is in our life. It is like the air that we breathe, the sun that gives us light, food and water that nourishes our body. Imagine an environment without sound. Movements with nothing but silence. Or watching a movie without background music. I’m definite that even if you watch an award-winning film like ‘Titanic’, not one tear would fall from your eyes without the help of a musical scoring. It will not have the same drama as it is supported with the beauty of music. It sets the mood and draws out emotion.
This aspect of music’s importance in our everyday life is just one story from the very many. Music is not merely for entertainment and relaxation.
I have done a lot of research on the effects of listening and music appreciation. Some of you may have come across the Mozart Effect.
If you’re thinking of the genius composer-pianist, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, yes, that is him. His works have been thoroughly used for studies and researches especially for raising intelligence among babies, toddlers, kids and even the unborn.
It’s not surprising that Mozart’s compositions could be helpful in stimulating very young children. With him being a child prodigy, he started playing the piano when he was only two years old and has started composing at a very young age of five. His piano compositions sound very brightly, lively and joyous. The fun-nature of this young boy was translated to his music. Not to mention the free-spirited character possessed by young Mozart. Thus, early childhood can easily relate to his kind of music.
Don Campbell, owner of this trademark, “Mozart Effect”, defines the term as “an inclusive term signifying the transformational powers of music in health, education, and well-being. It represents the general use of music to reduce stress, depression, or anxiety; induce relaxation or sleep; activate the body; and improve memory or awareness. He also added that an innovative and experimental use of music and sound may improve listening disorders, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, autism, and other mental and physical disorders and diseases”.
One contributor also of this research was Dr. Frances Rauscher. He discovered that listening to Mozart produced activity in both hemispheres of the brain. According to him, the activity is not produced with a spoken text and is hypothesized that music strengthens neural firing patterns and enhances spatial-temporal tasks. Spatial-temporal reasoning is the ability to visualize spatial patterns and mentally manipulate them. This ability is important for generating and conceptualizing solutions to multi-step problems that arise in areas such as architecture, engineering, science, mathematics, art, games, and everyday life.
It is also important to note that learning capacities may be maximized if a child is in a happy state or disposition. If children are exposed to good music, specifically classical works like that of Mozart, it will put them in a positive mood. As the brain produces a neuro-chemical called endorphins, this chemical causes a feeling of energy that makes the brain more conducive to learning. Music is a tool to help wire the brain to reach its higher level of thinking.
Some have claimed that Mozart’s music compositions are not clinically proven yet to make young kids smarter. But as a parent, as a musician and as a music teacher, I believe that there is no harm or negative effect if we expose our children to these great compositions. It can only bring positive effects.
Music in general is therapeutic and medicinal for our spirit. It is no surprise if it can contribute a lot more in developing intelligence.
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