Building Babys Brain:
The Role of Music
Reasoning. When we listen to classical music, the spatial
pathways are turned on and ready to be used.
This priming makes it easier to work a puzzle quickly.
But the effect lasts only a short time. Our improved
spatial skills fade about an hour after we stop listening to
the music.
Learning to play an instrument can have longer-lasting
effects on spatial reasoning, however. In several studies,
children who took piano lessons for six months improved
their ability to work puzzles and solve other spatial tasks
by as much as 30 percent.
Why does playing an instrument make such a difference?
Researchers believe that musical training creates
new pathways in the brain.
Why Classical Music?
The music most people
call classical works by
composers such as Bach,
Beethoven, or Mozart is
different from music such
as rock and country.
Classical music has a more
complex musical structure.
Babies as young as 3
months can pick out that
structure and even
recognize classical music
selections they have heard
before.
Researchers think the complexity of classical music is
what primes the brain to solve spatial problems more
quickly. So listening to classical music may have different
effects on the brain than listening to other types of music.
This doesnt mean that other types of music arent
good. Listening to any kind of music helps build musicrelated
pathways in the brain. And music can have
positive effects on our moods that may make learning
easier.
What Can You Do?
Parents and child-care providers can help nurture
childrens love of music beginning in infancy. Here are
some ideas:
Play music for your baby. Expose your baby to many
different musical selections of various styles. If you play
an instrument, practice when your baby is nearby. But
keep the volume moderate. Loud music can damage a
baby's hearing.
Sing to your baby. It doesnt matter how well you sing!
Hearing your voice helps your baby begin to learn
language. Babies love the patterns and rhythms of songs.
And even young babies can recognize specific melodies
once theyve heard them.
Sing with your child. As children grow, they enjoy
singing with you. And setting words to music actually
helps the brain learn them more quickly and retain them
longer. Thats why we remember the lyrics of songs we
sang as children, even if we havent heard them in years.
Start music lessons early. If you want your child to
learn an instrument, you dont need to wait until elementary
school to begin lessons. Young childrens developing
brains are equipped to learn music. Most four- and fiveyear-
olds enjoy making music and can learn the basics of
some instruments. And starting lessons early helps
children build a lifelong love of music.
Encourage your childs school to teach music. Singing
helps stimulate the brain, at least briefly. Over time,
music education as a part of school can help build skills
such as coordination and creativity. And learning music
helps your child become a well-rounded person.
About the Author:
Dr. Diane Bales
Extension Children, Youth, and
Families At Risk Coordinator
Department of Child and Family Development
September, 1998
Publication No. FACS 01-7
http://www.fcs.uga.edu/outreach
Part of the Better Brains for Babies Collaboration
