Reports that teaching music basics to babes may open their minds to
science and math. Finding of neurobiologist Frances Rauscher, Ph.D.;
Belief that music 'exercises' basic inborn neural connections related to
abstract reasoning; Music as a sort of prelanguage; The linear and
patterned format of Mozart's concertos put many people in a mathy frame
of mind; Details.
By
PT Staff, published on July 01, 1993
Math Appeal
Play some toe-tapping tunes to toddlers and it may go straight to
their brains. If University of California researchers are right, teaching
music basics to babes opens their minds to science and math.
When neurobiologist Frances Rauscher, Ph.D., tested the reasoning
ability of three-year-olds, she found them sorely lacking. But after
three months of music lessons, they were snapping together puzzles and
blocks quite adeptly.
Music "exercises" basic inborn neural connections related to
abstract reasoning, Rauscher believes. Meanwhile, her colleagues are
trying to uncover the brain's inherent spatial-temporal firing
patterns.
In her studies, kids from three different schools all tested better
after music regardless of socioeconomic status. They'd upscaled their
brains with rhythmic beats learned on a keyboard-musical push-ups for the
mind. "Consider music as a sort of prelanguage which, at an early age,
excites the inherent brain patterns and enhances their use in other
higher cognitive functions," says Rauscher.
If shaking maracas to "Ba Ba Black Sheep" in diapers paves the way
to acing algebra and winning at chess later on, the effect is continual.
Listening to music can sharpen spatial skills throughout life.
Rauscher recently played some Mozart concertos to Irvine collegians
and, just as predicted, they whizzed through math homework afterwards.
It's the linear and patterned format of his pieces like Eine Kleine
Nachtmusik that put people in that mathy frame of mind. Mozart's musical
passages repeat themselves in a very logical and rhythmic way.
If her musical three-year-olds continue to out-perform their age
mates on tests of intelligence, Rauscher thinks music can help
revolutionize education. At the very least, she'd bump music up from
extracurricular bore to a required part of lesson plans.
PHOTO: Early music lessons for kids might just help them with math
homework, too.
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