Comments on: Can classical music make you smarter?

By: W3~Itachi

W3~Itachi — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:28:24 +0000

I think just about any music you like can help you concentrate – depending on who you are and how you are………

I listen to music I enjoy and it helps me with homework.

By: greenstrawberries

greenstrawberries — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:38:50 +0000

I find that if I’m not listening to music while doing something else I get distracted. I listen to music whenever possible, and generally speaking there is a visual that I associate with the music. For example, I was flying a 12 hour flight when I read the latest Harry Potter, and listening to a CD- the same one over and over b/c my MP3 player broke, so now when I listen to that same CD, I get Harry Potter images in my mind. I see the words on the page in my mind’s eye (to some extent), and I see what I visualized when I was reading the book. It’s not always books or written word that comes back to me, I listened to one CD the summer before last a bunch of times when I was visiting people in the States, and now I get images of that particular area in the US when I listen to that CD. But there are songs I grew up with, for example, “Born in the USA,” that my mom had on tape when I was younger (we’re talking 15 years ago now). Whenever I listen to it now, I get a specific section of highway in New Jersey in my mind, because we took that section of highway home a lot, and my mom wouldn’t change her tapes too often.
I have used this to my advantage when taking tests and stuff. I listen to the same music over and over while reviewing material, and then when I’m taking the test, I simply start the song in my mind and I remember stuff better. (or if it’s really tricky stuff, I listen to the music right before I take the test)

By: Miki Davis

Miki Davis — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:53:43 +0000

P.S. I believe the photo of with the earphones on the newborn is just a photo op and a very momentary thing for illustration purposes.

By: Miki Davis

Miki Davis — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:23:00 +0000

Can’t quote sources, but have heard/read several studies that declare that teaching music in school helps improved math and reading scores in young children. Also have had friends who are teachers and who teach a second language to very young children — and they all declare that the kids learn quickly and end up speaking both languages without accent of any kind.
I studied piano, clarinet, saxophone from a very early age and have always done extremely well in math and music. My favorites to listen to while working — and believe me, bookkeeping requires great concentration and focus — is still classical music and someetimes jazz on Pandora.com … all of which, of course, is instrumental. Like several previous entries in this comment section, lyrics disrupt my thinking process and I too pause to sing along.

By: Jena

Jena — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:08:33 +0000

My youngest daughter listens to music every day with my husband (we’re talking everything from Sirius Kids channel to heavy metal that sounds like the noise of hell). She is 1 1/2 years old and sings the words to many songs, even stuff that comes on the car radio. She’s best at the ABC song, Elmo’s World and Frere Jacques.

I have to believe that this early interest in music is helping her cognitive skills. Her recall and her verbal skills are very superior to those of her classmates in daycare.

We’re not all that interested in classical music, but we do believe that music helps with a child’s IQ. Our daughter is a perfect illustration.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:03:17 +0000

PeteRepeat- thank you for mentioning Pandora.com. I logged on and have been loving it! I was listening to the indie station on MTV Radio- it’s OK, but terribly repetitive (granted I only have begun at Pandora)
Thanks!

By: Elisa

Elisa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:55:37 +0000

Ok, I’m rather…erm…musically inclined, to say it without being a jerk, and trained in classical and modern theory and composition and all that, but whenever I study I listen to heavy metal. Grunge, industrial, death, mostly grunge. When I would do my homework in high school, my brother would have it playing on the other side of the wall every night. It became a sort of comfort object. Except, you know, one that’s not tangible.

By: Debb

Debb — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:32:44 +0000

I like jazz so that tends to be my music of choice. I also listen to Scottish music (Old Blind Dogs, Tannahill Weavers). Up tempo seems to keep me going, particularly when it’s an onerous job, like balancing the checkbook or paying bills. I just got my first Joshua Bell CD and enjoy that in the car. I think it helps calm the nerves when other drivers do stupid things or it’s an hour from point A to point B. I think any appreciation of the arts adds to your IQ, making you a more well-rounded person and that can’t be a bad thing.

By: RJ

RJ — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:44:07 +0000

Back in college I would listen to Gaming FM while studying. The background music of old NES classics helped me focus on accomplishing tasks as if I was saving Hyrule.

By: David

David — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:39:48 +0000

Point #1: Why do so many people assume that the music of classically trained composers is supposed to be “relaxing”? Ever heard of Stravinsky? Bartok? Beethoven?
Point #2: If you’re trying to make your baby smart, do you plan to teach that child to read yourself? Odds are, he or she won’t learn to read in school.