Dr Rob Hicks explains how classical music, and Mozart in particular, benefits children. He recommends the ideal music to bring out the best in your child, depending on what they are doing.

This year is the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birthday. Responsible for so many brilliant musical works, he is arguably the greatest composer who ever lived and a favourite amongst many people. A consistently popular choice when selecting a piece of classical music to listen to, there’s no doubt that Mozart and his music have truly stood the test of time.

Born in Salzburg on 27 January 1756 and christened Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, it wasn’t long before his musical talent became apparent. Just hours before his fifth birthday he had learned to play his first piece of music. Unlike many of us for whom learning to play a musical piece takes hours and often weeks of practice, Mozart was able to play the piece within only 30 minutes of seeing it for the first time. At the age of five he composed his first work, Andante for Piano, and gave his first public performance in Salzburg. Clearly a child prodigy, he’s often called “the boy genius”, a description that summed him up very well.

The role of music in child development

These days, although most children don’t turn out to be child prodigies, and fewer still could comfortably fulfil the description of genius as Mozart did, music plays an important role in all aspects of a child’s development.
It’s now clear that babies respond to music in the womb. Once a baby is born, music can help you and your baby bond. As you move about with your baby in your arms, they feel the movement and excitement of being close to you. As your child grows, music plays an integral part in games and other activities, and the learning that these can provide.

Throughout the day, music can play a positive role in enabling a child to become aware of the time of day and can help both you and your child maintain, or create, a routine. And we all know how important routine is, particularly when it’s time for bed.
 

The ‘Mozart effect’

There is also the ‘Mozart effect’. In 1993, a small research study concluded that listening to only ten minutes of a Mozart piano sonata (Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major) temporarily raised the “abstract reasoning” ability of 36 college students to the equivalent of 8 to 9 points on a standard IQ scale.

Since that time, those caring for children have taken every opportunity to use this theory to try and enhance their children’s mental ability. In research circles, however, the Mozart effect is not so clear-cut and remains controversial. The reason for this is that other scientists have not been able to reproduce the findings of this initial research, and replication of research is important if it is to be properly established as fact. However, the possibility that Mozart’s music can boost IQ has gained huge support.

In the real world though, what is important is that if something helps, it isn’t harmful, and if parents and carers are not being misled, then why not try it? In fact, it’s not just Mozart that may help. The music of Beethoven, Schubert and Bach, amongst others, may also be helpful. After all, classical music should first be for pleasure and enjoyment – anything additional is a bonus.

It’s time to run and jump, and play

Children love to play, especially when it means they can be active. Whether it’s running, jumping or chasing each other, children seem to have endless energy – I’d like just a small cupful of the energy my daughter has! A piece of classical music such as the Overture from the Marriage of Figaro is perfect for playtime. It will get them going, if necessary, and soon has them laughing and smiling as they career around the room, your garden or the playground.

Another Mozart favourite is the third movement from Horn Concerto No. 4, which most of us love. If you’re feeling a little embarrassed about getting active with the kids then why not play Oboe Concerto in C Major, the third movement, and play follow the leader while hopping around the room?

The affect of music on health and wellbeing

Music has a tremendous affect on health and wellbeing. Lively music with a good rhythm helps toddlers and pre-schoolers by encouraging movement, which is how children learn and perfect their motor skills. It’s fun to listen to and makes them feel happy too.

Think about the benefits of being active, for example. Music is a great way for children to burn off energy and to get into the habit of exercising. And getting into the habit of exercising is very important. We are faced with an obesity epidemic where many children are already thought to be overweight or obese. Being obese increases the risk of a heart attack and developing diabetes. It also puts enormous strain on joints, increasing the risk of arthritis. In today’s image-conscious society, being overweight can also badly affect a person’s self-esteem. Since adult lifestyle behaviours often develop in childhood, it’s important to start off right. So it’s vital to make being active a normal part of a child’s day from early on. What better way to achieve this than with stimulating and energising music, such as the first movement from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik?

Stimulating our body and mind

Much research has shown how classical music has a stimulating effect on the body and mind, which in turn leads to improved physical and emotional health. Listening to cheerful music can stimulate the production of the body’s antibodies, which help fight infection. It may be wise, therefore, to play cheerful music, for example the third movement from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, when many children already have, or will soon have, that cough and cold that’s going around from one child to another.

Research has also found that playing background music in nurseries improves children’s social interactions. And playing background music within a classroom environment improves children’s spatial skills – these include activities such as paper cutting and folding, and intricate puzzles. Musical accompaniment also improves children’s attention spans and concentration, enabling them to answer more questions correctly. The music played to achieve this needs to have a moderate tempo, such as that found in the third movement of Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2.

And so to bed...

It may seem that children are constantly running around and enjoying themselves, but other time, such as creative time, is just as important. The second movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 can best help children concentrate during story-time, while painting or drawing, and during quiet playtime, for example. It is also helpful during mealtimes for food to find its way into their mouths rather than somewhere else.

After a fun and tiring day comes the need for sleep, often the greatest challenge of the day for many parents and carers. It’s when you need tactics, skill, luck and a helping hand. This is where soft, gentle and comforting music such as the second movement from Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet shows its genius. Nine times out ten, another bedtime favourite, Ave Verum Corpus, does the job perfectly in our house.

We have a lot to thank Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for (as he is known these days). His excellent music helps us learn, develop, keep active and relax too. And with his extensive list of musical works, there really is something to suit every occasion and everyone.