Why Mozart Should Be Your Teaching Assistant

Albert Einstein playing his violin.

The secret is out, classical music has a positive impact on focus, learning, and mood. At the Little Digital Schoolhouse we like to call it the “Mozart Effect”.  It truly works. You simply turn on the Pachelbel Canon and the class relaxes and quiets down. As you monitor your classroom you can almost feel the sigh of relief as students are able to focus.

Science backs our experience that classical music can greatly enhance the quality and quantity of learning. Researchers in France have found that students, who listen to classical music during a lecture, scored significantly higher on assessments than students who listened to the lecture without background music. Another study at UC Irvine found that music also enhances memory functions in Alzheimer patients. Even plants seem to grow better with Mozart. In 1973 Dorothy Retallack showed with her experiments that plants grow better when classical music is played to them.

The proof is in the pudding however.  Why not try it? Here are some of our favorite selections for your listening pleasure:

  1. Bach, Suite No. 3 in D Major
  2. Pachelbel, Canon
  3. Schubert, Ave Maria
  4. Kreisler, Liebesleid
  5. Strauss, Blue Danube
  6. Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Itunes also offers classical selections that have been compiled for this purpose.  Nice examples are:

  1. Classical Music for Meditation and Yoga
  2. Start Smart: Learning Tools For Your Child’s Mind
  3. Smart Kids: Invigorating Music for Young Minds

Enjoy!