The Mozart Effect

Definition of the Mozart Effect

A study done in 1993 in California appeared to show that college students who listened to Mozart for ten minutes a day improved their ability at spatial reasoning (“The Mozart Effect”).

After the Study

Quickly, the idea of listening to Mozart was transformed from helping college students with spatial reasoning to helping babies and children become more intelligent.

Stanford researchers think they know why everyone leaped to these conclusions (Skapinker).

Infant Determinism

Science has shown that some things can have a permanent effect on a child.

Infant determinism is “the idea that a critical period early in development has irreversible consequences for the rest of a child's life“ (qtd. in Skapinker).

Why did everyone like the idea of the Mozart Effect?

Parents who worried about their children’s IQ jumped on the idea that something this inexpensive would be able to help their children improve their intelligence (Skapinker).

Who else wanted to believe?

Schools with poor teacher pay and poor performing students also wanted to believe that classical music would help.

Classical CDs are inexpensive and it’s easy to play them (Skapinker).

State governments bought the idea

Two states, Georgia and Florida, promoted classical music CDs in schools and day care operations (Skapinker).

Marketing the Mozart EffectAfter the 1993 study, books, and compilation CDs appeared on the market.

One was “The Mozart Effect: Music for Children, compiled by Don Campbell and published by The Children's Group Inc, a collection of three compact discs intended to ‘increase verbal, emotional and spatial intelligence, improve concentration and memory, inspire right-brain creative thinking processes, strengthen intuitive thinking skills, induce relaxation, improve body movement and coordination, and enhance mood, motivation and pacing’ in children ages 2 through 16” (Beynon).

Others marketing the idea

Another was Brenda Adderly who writes about alternative therapy and nutrition. She provided anecdotal information that implied the benefits of the Mozart Effect in babies (Notaro).

But how true is the Mozart Effect?

Researchers at Stanford University and elsewhere have been unable to establish any kind of connection between Mozart (or any classical music) and intelligence.

The Mozart Effect is a scientific legend, much like an urban legend. It’s not true (Skapinker).

Further study

No one has been able to prove that listening to Mozart will help a person raise his or her IQ.

However, listening to classical music appears to help students memorize facts better (Anderson).

Therefore. . .

Studying with Mozart or any classical music in the background may help.

And if it doesn’t help, it still doesn’t hurt.

And, a person may develop an appreciation for classical music.

Works CitedAnderson, Keisha-Gaye. "No More Magic Flute?" Psychology Today 33 (2000): 13. Proquest Education Journals. ProQuest. Karl E. Mundt Library, Madison, SD. 10 Nov. 2006. Keyword: Mozart Effect. Beynon, Carol. "The Mozart Effect: Music for Children." Resource Links 3.4 (1998): 24. Proquest Education Journals. ProQuest. Karl E. Mundt Library, M. 10 Nov. 2006. Keyword: Mozart Effect. Notaro, Gerald A. "Brighter Baby." Library Journal 125.11 (2000): 132. Proquest Education Journals ProQuest. Karl E. Mundt Library, Madison, SD. 10 Nov. 2006. Keyword: Mozart Effect. Skapinker, Michael. "Mozart and Management: Why Companies Fall for Myths." Financial Times 15 June 2005, 1st ed.: 12. Proquest Education Journals. ProQuest. Karl E. Mundt Library, Madison, SD. 10 Nov. 2006. Keyword: Mozart Effect. "The Mozart Effect." Pediatrics for Parents os 21. Proquest Education Journals. ProQuest. Karl E. Mundt Library, Madison, SD. 10 Nov. 2006. Keyword: Mozart Effect.