The Mozart Effect
Music has the power to inspire, energize and simply make one feel better. Now, some studies are claiming it can increase a person’s IQ too. According to these studies, listening to music, particularly Mozart’s creations and other classical pieces, can increase one’s IQ temporarily and improve other mental functions.1
The theory, dubbed “the Mozart Effect”, was first introduced by French researcher Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis in his book "Pourquoi Mozart?" According to Tomatis, the root of most learning disabilities could be traced to listening problems. By using classical music to correct the way we listen, we also therefore improve our creativity, ability to learn and communication skills, among others.2
The theory was further popularized by studies conducted by University of Wisconsin psychologist Frances Rauscher and University of California physicist Gordon Shaw. In papers they published, the two claimed that listening even briefly to “a Mozart piano sonata produces a temporary increase in spatial reasoning scores, amounting to the equivalent of 8–9 IQ points on the Stanford–Binet IQ scale.” They came to this conclusion after an IQ test they conducted on a revealed an increase in spatial-temporal reasoning among the group of college students they exposed to the first ten minutes of a Mozart composition, the Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major.3
Critisms
The theory has met its share of criticisms. Most common is that the improvements brought about by listening to the works of classical artists is small and does not truly reflect a significant change in IQ.4
Another criticism is that the changes proponents of the theory attributes to listening to Mozart and other classical works is merely the effect of changes in mood brought about by listening to music. Christopher F. Chabris and the group of Kenneth M. Steele, experts doing further research on the effects expounded in the theory, further claim that the Mozart effect is nothing more than ‘enjoyment arousal.’ As proof, he cited a study that showed that listening to Mozart or a recorded excerpt of a Stephen King novel did increase the listeners’ ability to cut and fold paper, but only of those listeners that actually enjoyed what they heard.5
Despite these criticisms though, educators and governments around the world are already working towards incorporating classical music, and just music in general, to the everyday lives of their students in the hopes that this would indeed result to improved intelligence.
- In Georgia for example, Governor Zell Miller in 1998, proposed that $105,000 be allocated yearly to provide every child born in the state with a tape or CD of classical music.6
- There is a regulation in the state of Florida that has been in-place since 1999 that requires all toddlers in public schools to listen to classical music everyday.7
Whether it actually makes one more intelligent or not, the effects listening to Mozart has on one’s intelligence is still being debated upon. But this shouldn’t discourage educators and parents to encourage their child to listen to classical music. After all, a little Mozart, Bach and Beethoven are always good, right?
Did You Know...
Born in Salzburg, Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered to be one of the greatest composers in the world. He wrote a total of more than 600 compositions in his lifetime.8
Sources:
1, 2 Lim, Ronald, “Never Too Highbrow.” http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=
http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/09/20/YTCP2006092074961.html
2-7 Wikipedia, “Mozart Effect.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effect
2 Wikipedia, “Alfred A. Tomatis.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_A._Tomatis
8 Wikipedia, “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart
