The Mozart Effect

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The Mozart Effect
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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).

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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).

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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).

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Why did everyone like the idea of the Mozart
Effect?

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

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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 its easy to
  play them (Skapinker).

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State governments bought the idea

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

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Marketing the Mozart Effect

• After 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).

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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).

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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. Its not true (Skapinker).

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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).

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Therefore. . .

• Studying with Mozart or any classical music in
  the background may help.
• And if it doesnt help, it still doesnt hurt.
• And, a person may develop an appreciation for
  classical music.

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Works Cited

• Anderson, 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.