Why Mozart?

Mozart's Genius

2010-02-07T22:36:00.000-05:00

Few classical musicians would dispute that Mozart was one of if not THE greatest musical compositional geniuses that ever lived. First of all, his life was so disappointingly brief. He was born in 1756 and died in 1791. So Mozart only lived to be 35 years old.

In his 35 brief years, he composed over 600 masterpieces, including symphonies, concertos, sonatas, operas, chamber music of all kinds, and a stunningly beautiful final "Requiem." Mozart was a brilliant musician but apprently had a very child-like personality and was never able to manage his finances or personal relationships very well.

How he wrote music that has appealed to and helped so many different kinds of people over the past 250 years, we'll never know, but if you're looking for healing music, you can't go wrong with Mozart!

Mozart Helps Preemies Gain Weight Faster!

2010-01-13T14:44:00.002-05:00

.Playing Mozart music to premature babies seems to help them gain weight faster and become stronger, new research found.

Once a day for two consecutive days, doctors played either 30 minutes of music by the 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or no music, to 20 pre-term babies at the Tel Aviv Medical Center in Israel. After listening to the music, the babies were calmer and so expended less energy than the no-music group. When babies' energy expenditure is decreased, they don't need as many calories to grow, so can gain weight and thrive more quickly – exactly what preemies need.

"It's not exactly clear how the music is affecting them, but it makes them calmer and less likely to be agitated," said researcher Dror Mandel, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University.

Though the sample size was small, the scientists said their findings were statistically significant.

Previous research has shown that music can reduce stress, decrease heart rate, and increase oxygen saturation in preterm infants. Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen carried in the blood relative to the maximum amount the blood could carry. When this number gets low it can be a sign of heart or lung problems.

The researchers didn't try playing any music other than Mozart's, so they don't know whether the effect would hold true for other tunes.

"We want to know if what we found is a Mozart effect, or just music," Mandel told LiveScience. "I think that other composers will also have effects, however it might be that the Mozart music has particular effects compared to other composers."

The researchers decided to try Mozart music because of a 1993 study that found that college students could temporarily improve their performance on spatial–temporal tasks by listening to a Mozart sonata for 10 minutes a day.

"The repetitive melodies in Mozart's music may be affecting the organizational centers of the brain's cortex," Mandel said. "Unlike Beethoven, Bach or Bartok, Mozart's music is composed with a melody that is highly repetitive."

However, the so-called Mozart effect has sometimes been taken too far. A company called Baby Einstein (now owned by Disney) that publishes a series of Baby Mozart videos and music disks offered a refund last year for all Baby Einstein videos, after receiving complaints that the company had falsely claimed the videos were educational.

The Israeli researchers plan to test out different kinds of music soon. One team member suggested that rap music might evoke the same response as Mozart, since it has a similar pulsating and repetitive frequency.

Mandel and his colleague Ronit Lubetzky published their findings in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The Mooozart Effect

2009-11-08T21:26:00.002-05:00

After Playing Mozart at Milking Time, One Farmer Has Seen a Dramatic Shift in Cows' Temperament and Production
By REBECCA LEE

On Hans Pieter Sieber's Priegola dairy farm in Villanueva del Pardillo, Spain, the secret to success is not some newfangled technology or machine. Nor is it a time-tested technique or process handed down from generation to generation. Rather it is the dulcet, layered tones of classical music.

(ABCNEWS.com)And not just any music.

Sieber exposes his herd of approximately 700 heifers to the famous chords, crescendos and cadences of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Once just normal, run-of-the-mill dairy cows, these Friesians now receive the rock star treatment -- listening to soothing music, sleeping on water beds, taking relaxing showers, and even enjoying sessions with an animal psychologist.

Believe it or not, since sending Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp in D Major soaring through their stalls at milking time, Sieber has seen a dramatic shift in the temperament and production of his Daisys and Besses.

Now his herd quietly lines up to be milked, seeming not to mind the poking and prodding that comes with being a dairy cow, and, most notably, producing anywhere from 1 to 6 more liters of milk per day than their non-Mozart listening counterparts.

"It is relaxing music for them, but at the same time it is dynamic, it keeps the cows active. The trick is not to have music too relaxing," said Sieber's son, Nicolas Sieber, the head of marketing for the Priegola farm. But Sieber believes it's simpler than that. "If you give the cows comfort they are more disposed to help out," he said.

Originally discovered by monks in Brittany, the effect of Mozart on cows' milk production is not a totally new concept.

Did Mozart believe in Lullabies?

2009-09-13T13:43:00.004-04:00

There is a never-ending circle that connects Mozart with Dr. Alfred Tomatis with myself and Don Campbell and with new mothers and infants. The thread than runs through all of this is the time-honored lullaby. Of course mothers have lulled their babies to sleep for eons with lullabies of all kinds.

Mozart was very fond of a French folk song called "Ah, Je Vous dirai-je maman" and it's the tune we now know as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Mozart wrote a famous set of variations for piano on this now internationally know tune. Dr. Tomatis was huge proponent of the health benefits of Mozart's music and an expert on the development of the ear in the unborn child. Don Campbell and I both studied with Dr. Tomatis and Don subsequently wrote "The Mozart Effect" and I subsequently produced a "Lullaby CD." You can buy the lullaby CD with Mozart's lullaby on it now!

What did Mozart really die from?

2009-08-22T21:51:00.005-04:00

European researchers investigating records of deaths in Vienna around the time of Mozart's death at the age of 35 on 5 December 1791 suggest that the composer may have died from a streptococcal throat infection that led to a fatal kidney syndrome.

The study is the work of first author Richard HC Zegers from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and colleagues Andreas Weigl from the University of Vienna in Austria and Andrew Steptoe from University College London in the UK, and is published online in the 18 August issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The early death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has fascinated people all over the world for over 200 years, with some believing he was poisoned by a rival, while others have suggested he died from kidney failure, Henoch-Schönlein purpura (a condition where blood vessels become inflamed), trichinosis (a parasite disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork), and many other causes.

For the study, Zegers and colleagues examined the official daily register of deaths in Vienna and compared it to what witnesses said at around the time of the composer's death.

They analyzed all deaths recorded in Vienna during the three months from November 1791 to January 1792 and then also during the same three months in 1790 to 1791 and 1792 to 1793.

According to eyewitness accounts at the time, Mozart's body was very swollen before he died, suggesting he had severe edema (swelling caused by excess fluid in bodily tissues).

After analysing the records and comparing them to the eyewitness accounts, the researchers found that:
5,011 adults (3,442 men, 1,569 women) died in total in Vienna over the 3 periods.

The mean age of death for men was 45.5 years (standard deviation SD, 18.5) and for women it was 54.5 years (SD, 19.9).

The most commonly recorded cause of death was tuberculosis (TB) and related conditions.

The second most common was cachexia (wasting syndrome) and malnutrition, and the third most common was edema.

Deaths from edema were significantly higher among younger men the weeks surrounding Mozart's death compared with the same period in preceding and following years.

This minor epidemic may have started in the city's military hospital.
Zegers and colleagues concluded that their analysis was:

"Consistent with Mozart's last illness and death being due to a streptococcal infection leading to an acute nephritic syndrome caused by poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis."

Streptococcal infection is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria of which there are many strains, including some that cause a scarlet fever rash.

In the throat the infection ranges from mild to very severe and can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever and, as the authors suggest in Mozart's case, a rare kidney condition called poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys caused by an immune system reaction to streptococcal infection. The kidney's glomeruli play an essential role in filtering the blood.

Zegers and colleagues also said it was possible that scarlet fever killed Mozart, because it leads to the same kidney complication, but given the evidence from the records they examined, they thought this was less likely.

"The Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: An Epidemiologic Perspective."
Richard H.C. Zegers, Andreas Weigl, and Andrew Steptoe.
Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 151 Issue 4, Pages 274-278, 18 August 2009.

Can Mozart Make you Smarter? Ask the expert!

2009-07-25T21:44:00.002-04:00

Dr. Glenn Wilson, visiting professor of psychology at Gresham College, explains the effect of classical music - specifically Mozart - on the brain...

The next Mozart?

2009-05-29T22:28:00.005-04:00

Mozart is often considered to be one of the greatest prodigies that ever lived. He was performing at age 3 and composing at age 5. But today, there is a little girl named Emily Bear, who is also a piano prodigy and composes as well. What do you think of little Emily and her playing?

Is Mozart's music the most healing music of all?

2009-03-26T15:35:00.004-04:00

What do you really know about "The Mozart Effect?" It seems to me that many musicians are a bit "up in arms" about the whole premise. I, as a musician and a therapist, truly believe that the whole idea has been misunderstood. Neither the woman who did the original studies nor Don Campbell who came up with the idea of trademarking and writing a book called "The Mozart Effect" ever said that the music of Mozart is the most healing of all or that it raises anyone's IQ!! A very good source to look at for information is: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901060116-1147107,00.html.
I also have a recorded program called "Healing with Music: Why Mozart?" that I think you would find very informative and factual...and entertaining! Check it out at www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/products.html

Mozart's Birthday has come and gone!

2009-02-02T11:28:00.004-05:00

Well phooey! Normally, I make a big deal out of Mozart's birthday because I'm a huge fan of his and some of my most sublimely ecstatic musical moments came while performing and listening to his music. The first piano concerto that was ever assigned to me by my dear teacher, Ernestine Smith, was the Concerto in c minor, slow movement. I was so proud that she thought I could do this and I practiced my little fingers to the bone! Later, I heard Mrs. Smith play Mozart's Concerto in G major with the Greenville Symphony and it was such a thrill to see that my teacher could actually practice what she preached!

The reason that Mozart's birthday slipped by me was that Louisville, KY was hit by a huge ice and snow storm and much of the city was without power for most of the week! Even though I kept my power, I had people that had to come stay with me and Mozart's birthday just slipped by.

Nevertheless, I will now offer my annual birthday special to you. Hope you can take advantage of this once a year offer. I'll leave it up for one week!

Enjoy! MOZART'S BIRTHDAY SPECIAL OFFER

Mozart for Christmas

2008-12-24T21:19:00.001-05:00

Hmmmm...do you think Mozart would approve? Actually, I think he would be quite amused! Mozart had a wonderful sense of humor and was very playful, as is this wonderful video!

Interesting Mozart Research

2008-11-11T19:52:00.003-05:00

Mozart versus new age music: relaxation states, stress, and ABC relaxation theory.Smith JC, Joyce CA.Roosevelt University Stress Institute, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. jsmith@roosevelt.eduSmith's (2001) Attentional Behavioral Cognitive (ABC) relaxation theory proposes that all approaches to relaxation (including music) have the potential for evoking one or more of 15 factor-analytically derived relaxation states, or "R-States" (Sleepiness, Disengagement, Rested / Refreshed, Energized, Physical Relaxation, At Ease/Peace, Joy, Mental Quiet, Childlike Innocence, Thankfulness and Love, Mystery, Awe and Wonder, Prayerfulness, Timeless/Boundless/Infinite, and Aware). The present study investigated R-States and stress symptom-patterns associated with listening to Mozart versus New Age music. Students (N = 63) were divided into three relaxation groups based on previously determined preferences. Fourteen listened to a 28-minute tape recording of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and 14 listened to a 28-minute tape of Steven Halpern's New Age Serenity Suite. Others (n = 35) did not want music and instead chose a set of popular recreational magazines. Participants engaged in their relaxation activity at home for three consecutive days for 28 minutes a session. Before and after each session, each person completed the Smith Relaxation States Inventory (Smith, 2001), a comprehensive questionnaire tapping 15 R-States as well as the stress states of somatic stress, worry, and negative emotion. Results revealed no differences at Session 1. At Session 2, those who listened to Mozart reported higher levels of At Ease/Peace and lower levels of Negative Emotion. Pronounced differences emerged at Session 3. Mozart listeners uniquely reported substantially higher levels of Mental Quiet, Awe and Wonder, and Mystery. Mozart listeners reported higher levels, and New Age listeners slightly elevated levels, of At Ease/Peace and Rested/Refreshed. Both Mozart and New Age listeners reported higher levels of Thankfulness and Love. In summary, those who listened to Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik reported more psychological relaxation and less stress than either those who listened to New Age music or read popular recreational magazines. Results suggest the usefulness of ABC relaxation theory in comparing the different effects of music and relaxation techniques.

Mozart Effect Hits a Sour Note

2008-11-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

It sounds too easy to be true. Play Mozart for your child and her or his IQ will jump 8 to 9 points, even while she or he is still in the womb.
These days parents will try anything to help Ashley or Chad get into the best schools, and politicians, teachers, and music marketers have all jumped on the bandwagon.
The state of Georgia now gives a cassette or CD of classical music to the parents of every newborn citizen, more than 100,000 babies a year. A bill recently passed in Florida mandates that all childcare and educational programs that receive state funding play 30 minutes of classical music a day for children under 5 years of age. Hudson Valley Community College in New York has a Mozart Effect Study Area in its campus library, and many music stores boast a "Mozart makes you smarter" section.
It all started in 1993, when a small research study concluded that listening to only 10 minutes of a Mozart piano sonata temporarily raised the "abstract reasoning" ability of 36 college students the equivalent of 8 to 9 points on a standard IQ scale. That provided enough "scientific evidence" for music marketers to sing about.
Other scientists did the same experiment, but most of them didn’t get the same results. Yet the idea that Mozart’s music could boost IQ continued to generate runaway popular support, and the research that produced contrary conclusions received little attention.
Last year, Christopher Chabris, then a graduate student at Harvard University, wondered about the net result of studies on the Mozart effect that had been done over the previous five years. He uncovered 16 studies and analyzed their conclusions.
"The results do not show any real change in IQ or reasoning ability," says Chabris, now a research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. "There’s a very small enhancement in learning a specific task, such as visualizing the result of folding and cutting paper, bu t even that is not statistically significant. The improvement is smaller than the average variation of a single person’s IQ test performance."
His conclusion: "There’s nothing wrong with having young people listen to classical music, but it’s not going to make them smarter."

Who Claims What

Chabris’ results appeared in the August 26 issue of Nature, the same journal that first published claims of the positive effect of listening to Mozart. Another paper published by researchers at Appalachian State University in North Carolina and at two Canadian universities echoes the Harvard conclusion.
Kenneth Steele and his collaborators repeated the original experiment and decided that, "there is little evidence for a direct effect of music on reasoning ability."
Steele’s group included the paper-folding and -cutting test in its experiments. The test requires the reader to visualize a series of folds and cuts that have been made on a sheet of paper, then to select from multiple-choice offerings an image of what the unfolded sheet looks like. The group found no effect on the performance of test-takers after listening to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, the music played in the original experiment.
Steele and his collaborators compared test performances after hearing this sonata, sitting in silence, or listening to either relaxation instructions, relaxation music, or minimalist music. "The Mozart sonata produced no differential improvement in spatial reasoning in any experiment," Steele notes.
"A requiem may therefore be in order," he continues, referring to the title of the last piece that Mozart wrote.
However, the lead researcher on the original experiment is not ready for a funeral. Frances Rauscher, now at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, notes in Nature that she and her colleagues never said that listening to Mozart enhances intelligence.
"We made no such claim," she insists. "The effect is limited to spatial-temporal tasks involving mental imagery and temporal ordering."
Chabris, however, insists that Rauscher did make such a claim. Rauscher’s original 1993 paper reports that, "We performed an experiment in which students were given three sets of standard IQ spatial reasoning tasks." These consisted of paper folding and cutting, plus two other "abstract/spatial reasoning tasks. Each task was preceded by ten minutes of [either] (1) listening to Mozart’s sonata for two pianos in D major, (2) listening to a relaxation tape, or (3) silence. . . . The IQs of subjects participating in the music condition were 8-9 points above their IQ scores in the two other conditions."
This last sentence, Chabris says, "explains why readers of the original article and secondary reports of it believe that the Mozart effect applied to a variety of tasks and reasoning abilities – in other words, to general intelligence."
In the rebuttal published along with Chabris’ and Steele’s critiques, Rauscher claims that four new studies all demonstrate a Mozart effect on not one but three different spatial tasks. The results of these studies, however, are yet to be released. She also noted that rats exposed to the Mozart sonata while in the uterus and for 60 days after birth learned to run mazes faster and with fewer errors than litter mates who had not heard the music.
Chabris calls the study with rats not relevant to the facts. "Even if one limits the Mozart effect to spatial-temporal processing, as Rauscher now insists," he says, "it is still about 75 percent smaller than originally claimed, and not statistically significant."
These disagreements aside, all those involved in the studies now agree on one major fact: listening to Mozart does not enhance general intelligence.
The state of Georgia might spend the $ 105,000 it allocated for classical music tapes and CDs on more important things, Chabris believes. "And parents can help their young children more by reading with them and playing with them than by leaving them alone with classical music CDs," he says. "You can enjoy classical music with your children without believing that it will grow brain cells or boost IQ."
As you might expect, Rauscher still maintains that children will learn spatial tasks better with than without Mozart, so the last note about the controversy has yet to be sounded.
This article first appeared in the Harvard Gazette, 1999

If Mozart Had had Better Healthcare...

2008-10-21T22:28:00.005-04:00

By ANTHONY TOMMASINI NYTimes

POOR Mozart, who died at 35, must have inherited at least the potential for longevity from his parental gene pool.His father, Leopold Mozart, died at 67, a ripe old age in an era when rampant illnesses claimed the majority of European children in infancy. Sadly, Mozart’s indomitable mother, Anna Maria, died at 58 while in Paris, having contracted viral infections and a severe fever during an arduous trip with her rambunctious, opportunity-seeking 22-year-old son. Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, who had also been a musical prodigy, died in 1829 in Salzburg at the impressive age of 78, having well outlived her husband, an officious Austrian prefect and two-time widower with five children, who resented their stepmother.
Mozart’s death in 1791 was probably caused by streptococcal infection, renal failure, terminal bronchial pneumonia and a matrix of other illnesses, some dating from his childhood, when the Mozart family spent years touring Europe to show off the boy genius and, to a lesser extent, his sister.

Music and Stress Management...Try Mozart!

2008-09-09T22:44:00.001-04:00

The latest research, by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and the University of Sussex, had provided new evidence about how music boosts the immune system.

The researchers carried out two studies looking at the effects of music on stress hormones. After exposing around 300 people to happy dance music, the researchers measured levels of immunoglobulin A or IgA and hormones including cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Results show that cortisol levels dropped significantly, while IgA levels went up considerably in those exposed to music for around 50 minutes. Effects on compounds involved in inflammation and behaviour were also seen, and mood improved noticeably in those exposed to music.

These findings provide clues to the understanding the role of music in health. Cortisol is a hormone produced in response to stress and it increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and weakens the immune system. The drop in levels of the hormone in response to music may explain the reduction in blood pressure and risk of infections found by other researchers.

The rise in IgA is also an important finding because it is an antibody that plays an essential role in protecting the body against infections and allergens.

In some cases, music has been effective as drug therapy. At the Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, in Barcelona, doctors compared the effectiveness of music to that of diazepam or Valium in reducing anxiety before surgery in 207 patients. One group had the drug, while the other listened to music on the day and eve of surgery. Just before the operation, heart rate and blood pressure were tested, and there was no difference between the two groups.

How was Mozart's Health?

2008-07-28T13:44:00.003-04:00

Recently one of my clients/patients asked me about Mozart's health. What an interesting question! After all that's been in the news about how Mozart's music can do all kinds of wonderful things, we come back to Mozart's own physical and mental health. Some of the things he is purported to have suffered from include:

depression
mania
addictions (both sex and spending)
narsicism (understandable!)
poor overall physical health (Thus his death at age 36!)
insomnia

One might ask, why didn't the music he was writing help him? Of course that's not an easy question...already, volumes have been written about it. One of his over-riding problems was poverty! He lived in cold, drafty quarters and often spent th money he earned with commissions on more velvet clothes, powdered wigs and fun out on the town! At least that's what "Amadeus" seems to be protraying.

Mozart was one of the greatest musical geniuses that ever lived. Today, no one would deny that. It's too bad he couldn't have benefited from the "Mozart Effect" himself!

Dr. Mozart: Mozart Comes to the Surgery Suite

2008-07-15T09:44:00.003-04:00

The operating room of a hospital is a highly stressful place. Surgeons and assistants have to be extremely attentive, moving quickly but carefully. Playing music during surgeries has been shown to relax the staff and the patients. Some of the benefits that extend to the recovery room are lower heart rate, blood pressure and reduced need for pain medication.
Dr. Claudius Conrad, now a senior surgical resident at Harvard Medical School, suggests music can go even further. He’s published a paper suggesting that music can stimulate a 50 percent jump in pituitary growth hormone. The hormone is associated with stress but, paradoxically, can help exert healing. Dr. Conrad is also a classically-trained pianist with a doctorate in music theory.
Also, the study of music therapy has evolved in the United States for the past half a century, and there’s growing evidence that music is as good for the body as it is for the soul.

Mozart's Power Music!

2008-06-17T21:52:00.002-04:00

Katia Eliad, a Paris-based artist, was stuck in a rut. She felt blocked in her creativity, out of touch with herself and for some inexplicable reason unable to use green or blue in her abstract paintings. So last spring, she started an unusual treatment: daily two-hour sessions of Mozart's music for three weeks at a time, filtered through special vibrating headphones that sometimes cut out the lowest tones. The impact, she says, was dramatic. "I'm much more at ease with myself, with people, with everything," says Eliad, 33. "It feels like I've done 10 years of psychoanalysis in just eight months." Blue and green are back in her palette. As for Mozart, "he's become like a grandfather who calms you when you wake up in the middle of a nightmare."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born 250 years ago, on Jan. 27, 1756, and lavish celebrations are being planned around the world to celebrate his anniversary. This year will be filled with his music, but it will also be a time to re-examine the contradictions and conflicting interpretations of his brief 35-year life. He has been cast in many roles: the infant prodigy paraded around European courts by his father, Leopold; the foulmouthed brat whose letters attest to a fondness for off-color practical jokes. One widespread misconception has him buried in a pauper's grave in Vienna's St. Marx Cemetery. Another unproven legend, given widespread credence thanks to the hit movie Amadeus, depicts him as the victim of his jealous court rival Antonio Salieri. Fervent admirers have argued that he was divinely inspired, but some modern psychologists detect an infantile-regressive personality. And if he were alive today, says Herbert Brugger of the Salzburg tourism office, he would be "a pop star — somewhere between Prince, Michael Jackson and Robbie Williams."

There's little new about such typecasting. But over the past decade, Mozart has increasingly been placed in a role that is perhaps the most controversial of all: as healer of mind and body. In this New Age interpretation, Mozart is the ultimate composer-therapist whose music can help treat ailments ranging from acne to Alzheimer's disease and even, it is claimed, make you and your kids smarter. Some of these claims are based on science. One neurosurgeon in Chicago has conducted studies that show certain Mozart pieces can reduce the severity and frequency of epileptic seizures in some patients, while researchers in Irvine, California, have found that some people with Alzheimer's are better able to perform mental tests after listening to Mozart for 10 minutes.

But much of the supporting material is anecdotal. French actor Gérard Depardieu says Mozart helped to cure his childhood stutter. Eliad, the painter, received her treatment at an institute founded by a Paris physician named Alfred Tomatis, who pioneered the use of Mozart's music to treat all sorts of childhood disorders as well as adult ailments including depression. Few national authorities officially recognize the treatment, and traditional music therapists are deeply skeptical. Still, Poland is currently introducing Tomatis' methods nationwide in centers that help children with learning difficulties. And in the London suburb of Richmond, Jackie Hindley credits it with helping her 6-year-old son Lawrence. He was a slow developer and hyperactive, Hindley says, with a particular language difficulty: whenever people spoke to him, he would stay quiet for half an hour before coming back with an answer, she says. After several sessions of listening to Mozart, "he's now a very active speaker who responds immediately to whatever is said to him," Hindley says. "He's taken very profound steps forward."

By far the most widespread — and most disputed — recent claim is that Mozart can enhance your brain power. That notion was first given scientific support in a 1993 article in Nature, which found that college students who listened to the first movement of Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos performed better on a spatial reasoning test that involved mentally unfolding a piece of paper. The study's main author, Frances Rauscher, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin who is also a cellist, went on to do a similar test using laboratory rats. They were exposed to the same piano sonata in utero and for two months after birth, and then let loose in a maze. There they navigated their way out far quicker than three other groups of rats, which had been exposed to white noise, silence or a highly repetitive piece by American composer Philip Glass.

In the decade since, these studies have sparked an academic storm, with many of Rauscher's peers either refining or debunking her findings. Other researchers have had mixed success in replicating her results. But her work received widespread media attention and gave rise to a pop-psychology trend known as the "Mozart effect." Dozens of Mozart compilation CDs that promise to enhance intelligence are now on the market, with titles such as Mozart for Mommies and Daddies — Jumpstart Your Newborn's IQ. The claims have had social-policy repercussions: in 1998, the U.S. state of Georgia began handing out classical-music CDs to the parents of all infants, and there are similar but less official programs in Colorado, Florida and elsewhere.

Benefits of Mozart in Surgery...scientific and empirical!

2008-05-24T16:28:00.003-04:00

For Claudius Conrad, a 30-year-old surgeon who has played the piano seriously since he was 5, music and medicine are entwined — from the academic realm down to the level of the fine-fingered dexterity required at the piano bench and the operating table.
“If I don’t play for a couple of days,” said Dr. Conrad, a third-year surgical resident at Harvard Medical School who also holds doctorates in stem cell biology and music philosophy, “I cannot feel things as well in surgery. My hands are not as tender with the tissue. They are not as sensitive to the feedback that the tissue gives you.”
Like many surgeons, Dr. Conrad says he works better when he listens to music. And he cites studies, including some of his own, showing that music is helpful to patients as well — bringing relaxation and reducing blood pressure, heart rate, stress hormones, pain and the need for pain medication.

In a paper published last December in the journal Critical Care Medicine, he and colleagues revealed an unexpected element in distressed patients’ physiological response to music: a jump in pituitary growth hormone, which is known to be crucial in healing. “It’s a sort of quickening,” he said, “that produces a calming effect.” Accelerando produces tranquillo.
The study itself was fairly simple. The researchers fitted 10 postsurgical intensive-care patients with headphones, and in the hour just after the patients’ sedation was lifted, 5 were treated to gentle Mozart piano music while 5 heard nothing.
The patients listening to music showed several responses that Dr. Conrad expected, based on other studies: reduced blood pressure and heart rate, less need for pain medication and a 20 percent drop in two important stress hormones, epinephrine and interleukin-6, or IL-6. Amid these expected responses was the study’s new finding: a 50 percent jump in pituitary growth hormone.
No one conducting these studies had yet measured growth hormone, whose work includes driving growth, responding to threats to the immune system and promoting healing. Dr. Conrad included it because research over the last five years has shown that growth hormone generally rises with stress and falls with relaxation.
“This means you would expect G.H., like epinephrine and IL-6, to go down in this case,” Dr. Morley, of St. Louis University, said of growth hormone. “Yet here it goes up.”
He added, “The question is whether the jump in growth hormone actually drives the sedative effect or is part of something else going on.”
Dr. Conrad argues that the growth hormone does have a sedative effect. In his paper he cites a 2005 study showing that growth hormone releasing factor, a chemical messenger that essentially calls growth hormone to duty, reduced activity of interleukin-6. This suggests, he said, that growth hormone itself may reduce the interleukin-6 and epinephrine levels that produce inflammation that in turn causes pain and raises blood pressure and the heart rate.
This explanation gets a mixed reception among stress researchers. “The two dynamics aren’t necessarily the same,” said Dr. Keith W. Kelley, an endocrinologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an expert on inflammatory responses. “I personally don’t buy the particular cellular mechanism he’s proposing.”
Yet Dr. Kelley and other stress-response experts, including Dr. Morley and Dr. Bruce S. McEwen of Rockefeller University in New York, say Dr. Conrad’s study clearly suggests that a rise in growth hormone may somehow dampen inflammation and stress responses.
“This is a really intriguing possibility that bears a closer look,” Dr. McEwen said.

Music and Genetics: What creates a Mozart?

2008-05-06T14:44:00.002-04:00

Music under the microscope: the relation between biology and genetics and human music, its peculiarities and reasons. These are the main themes of the International Workshop on the Biology and Genetics of Music, to be held in Bologna, May 20 to 22, with leading scientists currently involved in researching the mysteries of music, invited to explain their recent findings to the audience. The meeting is organized by the European Genetics Foundation and the Fondazione Pierfranco e Luisa Mariani, in collaboration with the Orchestra Mozart, the Municipality of Bologna and the University of Bologna. It is part of the agenda of the second edition of the Festival of Music and Genetics, taking place from May 12 to 22, 2007 (http://www.musicagenetica.it/).
The topics of the meeting are various: from the research of genes responsible for our becoming great pianists (or, on the contrary, being completely tone-deaf), to the evolution of music in the history of mankind through the comparison with other animal species; from the role played by music in children's education, to the study of children to understand the musical mind. Why do infant prodigies exist? Why haven’t we all become one? Are there any types of music that are objectively better suited to be more appreciated than others? And especially what is the purpose of music? These and other questions will be addressed by geneticists, psychologists, biologists, but also anthropologists and musicologists during the open conferences hosted in the Palazzo del Podestà. “All this is not just caused by curiosity: studying the way music is read, interpreted and appreciated by our brain enables us to understand many things about the workings of the mind – adds Maria Majno, Executive Director of the Fondazione Pierfranco e Luisa Mariani. For example, it opens the way to research certain pathologic conditions or track and even modify children’s cognitive development. Also, it leads to imagining possible applications for patients with different medical problems as well as potential treatments based on listening and producing music”.

Do cats like Mozart? Meet "Meeow-zart!"

2008-04-15T11:29:00.001-04:00

I have gotten so many responses to the first Nora video that I knew you'd want to see the sequel. One friend suggested today that the kitty might be a little deaf and really enjoys the vibrations that she creates with her paws. What do you think?

A medical maestro: Can Mozart treat heart disease

2008-03-20T18:29:00.002-04:00

Listening to Mozart can reduce stress, boost intelligence and treat heart disease. Doctors could soon be prescribing his music for epilepsy too, says Roger Dobson
A Mozart effect has also been linked to behavioural and other changes, including stress, depression, arthritis pain, foetal development and performance on eye-test charts. Every treatment had been tried for the patient's severe epilepsy. Seven epileptic drugs, and brain surgery, had failed to have any effect on the seizures and fits he had suffered daily for much of his 46 years. With no sign of any improvement, and with tests confirming a deterioration in learning skills and memory over a nine-year period, surgeons decided that he should be assessed for further brain surgery.
But, shortly before the patient was scheduled for tests, there was a remarkable improvement. The gelastic (or laughing) fits he had suffered up to six times day subsided. Instead of uncontrollable laughing fits, they became six- to nine-second-long involuntary smiles that he was able to control. He had also been having about seven generalised seizures a month, but he had had none in three months.
When doctors investigated, they found that the transformation was down to a lifestyle change. He had started to listen to Mozart for 45 minutes a day.
The case of the 46-year-old man, being reported by doctors at the Institute of Neurology in London, is the latest success put down to the "Mozart effect", which has been linked to benefits as diverse as improved mathematical skills, enhanced foetal brain development, reduced stress, improved learning and IQ, less arthritis pain, and improved performance on eye tests. Rats exposed to the music also perform better in maze tests, while fish appeared to be happier and healthier.
The original Mozart-effect research looked at the effects of the K448 piano sonata on the performance of spatial IQ tests. Volunteers had to visualise correctly the unfolded shape of a piece of paper that had been folded several times. The performance of those who listened to the Mozart was quantified as being equivalent to a temporary increase in IQ of eight to nine points.
One theory put forward to explain this performance is that areas of the brain involved in processing music overlap those concerned with spatial perception, which become stimulated, or warmed up. But, while some researchers found similar effects, others found none or proposed countertheories, including the suggestion that the increased performance is simply due to people becoming more aroused when exposed to music. As a result, the concept of a Mozart effect has become mired in controversy.
A Mozart effect has also been linked to behavioural and other changes, including stress, depression, arthritis pain, foetal development and performance on eye-test charts. And it is now attracting attention as a potential treatment for epilepsy.
Some research offers clues as to just why this composer's music seems to have such an effect. It suggests also that the music does not have to be appreciated, or consciously listened to, to have an effect. Only a small number of studies have been carried out on the Mozart effect and epilepsy, but most of them show a beneficial effect. Neurologists at the University of Illinois found that a child with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, had fewer seizures while exposed to K448 for 10 minutes every hour. A second study at the centre found changes in brain activity in 23 out of 29 cases when Mozart was played. In some cases the changes occurred during coma, suggesting that any effect is not conditional on the music being appreciated; it appears to have some kind of direct effect.
But what could it be? According to Dr John Hughes of the University of Illinois, it may be that Mozart's complex music has an effect similar to pulsating electrical stimulation, bringing order to malfunctioning nerve cells in the brain. "The architecture of Mozart's music is brilliantly complex, but also highly organised. The organisation of the cerebral cortex would seem to resonate with the architecture of Mozart's music to normalise any sub-optimal functioning of the cortex," he says.
"Part of his genius is to repeat themes in a way that was not boring, but instead was engaging to the listener. A theme would be repeated, not necessarily with the same notes but with different notes and the same interval. Repetition and periodic changes are found in all aspects of our brain function and also of our bodily functions."
It's suggested that the same effect isn't seen with other composers because this technique of musical construction is unique to Mozart, who repeats melodic lines much more often than composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Wagner and Chopin do. According to epilepsy researchers, it is this repetition, acting rather like repetitive electrical stimulation, which may be responsible for the effects being seen.
And some research does suggest that electrical stimulation can work in epilepsy. In a study of nine patients implanted with electrodes, four had a 95 per cent reduction in seizures, and four a 50 to 70 per cent drop. "Electrical stimulation provides improved seizure outcome," say researchers from Hospital General de Mexico. Epilepsy researchers believe it's time for more research: "We report a remarkable improvement in seizure control in one patient with refractory gelastic epilepsy and suggest that it is now time to study further the Mozart effect," say the team from the Institute of Neurology in London.
Increasing research into epilepsy may also trigger more study on other aspects of the Mozart effect. Could the same repetitive stimulation in much of Mozart's work account for the reported changes in behaviour and intellectual performance? The final verdict on the Mozart effect may soon be given, but whether it will be a prelude or a requiem remains to be seen.
Listen to a clip from Mozart's Sonata K448 - courtesy of EMI
Medical notes: the healing power of the Mozart effect
Epilepsy
Research is showing that Mozart may reduce brain activity involved in epilepsy. A study in Chicago found that 23 of 29 patients had a significant drop in the kind of brain activity that is followed by a seizure. In one case, this activity dropped by more than 60 per cent while the patient was in a coma. One theory is that the effects may be due to the repetitiveness of melody and periodicity – wave forms that are repeated regularly.
Intelligence
The first Mozart-effect study showed that spatial reasoning and intelligence increased temporarily after listening to the K448 piano sonata, compared to relaxation tapes or silence. The results of the California University study show that 10 minutes of Mozart's music improved performance on paper-cutting and folding tests. Spatial IQ went up by eight to nine points. The same team found that rats negotiated a maze faster after hearing K448. Other researchers found that children taught a keyboard instrument for six months performed better on spatial tests. The kind of effect found by the California researchers has been shown by some teams, but others have found no effect.
Eye tests
Eye tests are performed more accurately when carried out with Mozart playing in the background. Results were significantly better, with fewer false positive or negative results and greater concentration and accuracy. In the research, 60 men and women either listened to music for 10 minutes, or sat in silence before carrying out the tests. The music was Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D major. One theory is that the music helps to speed up the processing and interpretation of information coming from the eye to the brain. "Listening to Mozart seems to improve performance," say the researchers from the School of Medical Sciences in Sao Paulo.
Heart rate
Mozart soothes the beating heart. A study at Oberwalliser Hospital in Switzerland on the effects of music on heart-rate variability in 23 adolescents showed that listening to music may be helpful in heart disease. The study showed that listening to Mozart or Bach resulted in reductions of heart rate and variability.
Stress
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that listening to Mozart may ease stress in newborn babies. Newborns at the Kosice-Saca hospital in Slovakia are played his music to help them get over the trauma of birth. Now, doctors at Weill Medical College of Cornell University are running a clinical trial to see whether Mozart's music can reduce stress, heart rate and motor activity in premature babies. Mozart is played through a small speaker in the baby's incubator; a monitoring device will record movement, while a video camera will capture the infants' reactions to the music.
Fish
The latest Mozart research is not on humans, but on carp. Researchers at the Agricultural University of Athens played Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik to carp to test its relaxing and antidepressant effects. The music was played underwater to carp for 30 minutes at time. The results show that the fish exposed to music grew more and, in some cases, had less stress.

New Mozart portrait found!

2008-03-18T22:01:00.004-04:00

A British music scholar says he has identified a previously unknown portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that could be worth millions.The 19-by-14-inch oil painting shows the profile of a man in a bright red jacket. Cliff Eisen said Friday that it is only the fourth known authentic portrait of Mozart from his time when the composer was at his professional height in Vienna, Austria.
"This is arguably the most important Mozart portrait to be discovered since the composer's death in 1791," Eisen said in a statement that appeared on the Web site of King's College London, where he teaches music.King's College said the portrait was probably painted by Joseph Hickel, who was a painter at Austria's imperial court. Hickel gave the portrait to Mozart in return for the composition of a serenade for a member of Hickel's family, the college said.Eisen said he was able to authenticate the portrait by comparing it against auction records, archival documents and a letter written by composer to his father in 1782.The description in Mozart's letter matched the portrait down to the buttons, Eisen said.The portrait could be worth several million dollars, the university said.The painting passed to the family of Johann Lorenz Hagenauer, a close friend of the Mozarts. It was purchased by an American collector in 2005.King's College said the collector was unaware of the painting's significance until its connection to the Hagenauer family was established by Daniel Leeson of Los Altos, Calif. (AP)

Le Mozart des Pickpockets

2008-02-24T22:22:00.002-05:00

Tonight I'm watching the Oscars. I was fascinated to hear that a movie called "Le Mozart des ickpockets" had been nominated. I take it to mean that here Mozart's name is being used to signify genius and a child prodigy. Here's what the web says about it: I saw this movie at a special showing by a local film society of all the Oscar nominated Live Action Shorts about a week or so before the Oscars were announced. It's also currently available to watch online at Atom Films. However, I think it has a very small chance to win this year's Oscar because two other films, AT NIGHT and TANGHI ARGENTINI are better films. Now this ISN'T to say THE MOZART OF PICKPOCKETS is bad or didn't deserve the nomination--it is an exceptional and charming little comedy.The film starts with a group of pickpockets working the streets of Paris. Eventually, 3 of the 5 are caught--leaving the two dumbest crooks alone. At the same time, a mute little boy just appears from no where and follows the crooks home. Not knowing what to do, they decide to keep him.The film has so many cute twists and the ending is wonderful. However, I don't want to say more because it might spoil the suspense. Watch this one--it's a nice little film.

Court Recruits Mozart to deter trouble

2008-02-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm sure that you know that Mozarts 252nd birthday was last Sunday and I hope you celebrated appropriately! Mozart's music is possibly the most popular classical music in the world, but did you know it is also being used to deter crime?? A reported for the Sacramento Bee, Christina Jewett, wrote recently that several locations in Sacramenta are blasting a Mozart violin concerto through loudspeakers when they see cars in their parking lots with people just sitting there, loitering and possibly "looking for trouble." Store managers say that when they crank up the classical music, the hoodlums quickly leave! What do YOU think of that kind of strategy?

Happy New Year, Friends of Mozart!!

2008-01-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all the readers of this blog about Mozart and why his music is uniquely healing. First I'd like to mention that Mozart's 302 birthday is coming up on January 27th. Don't you think that it's rather amazing that music written nearly 300 years ago is as fresh, sparkling and entertaining today as it was then? That's why we call it "classic"...it never grows old. I have a feeling that 1000 years from now, if planet earth is still around, people will be enjoying the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. If you haven't heard any Mozart
today, please go to www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/products/healing_with_music/mozart_healing_music.html
Have a happy, healthy, peace-filled holiday!

Will Dr. Cash become an MT-BC?

2007-12-12T23:49:00.000-05:00

On my last post here, I recounted the evening that I spent with the kind and encouraging men and women of the American Music Therapy Association. They were pretty much unanimous in the belief that I could get the Music Therapist-Board Certified credential with no trouble at all and told me that it would really help me to get more exposure for the work that I do and give me more credibility. Tomorrow I'm going down to the University of Louisville School of Music to talk with Dr. BarbaraWheeler who is Chairman of Music Therapy. Keep your fingers crossed for me. It would require me to pull a lot of paperwork together, but I think it's probably worth it. I'll let you know how it goes!

Music Therapy and Mozart

2007-11-17T22:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight I had the extreme pleasure of going to a reception that was a part of the American Music Therapy Associations national conference in Louisville. Many people assume that I am a music therapist but actually I am a clinical musicologist, a concert pianist and a clinical social worker. The music therapists have asked me to go through the credentialing process which for me would consist of an equivalency program. They explained to me that I would have benefits such as the support of their organization and hundreds of experienced music therapists who could greatly enrich the world that I do. I must admit they made it very tempting and I am going to consider it! Thanks so much especially to Lisa Jackert and Judith Pinkerton! I really did enjoy it and appreciate all of the good advice!

Music and Grief: Why Mozart?

2007-10-24T22:16:00.000-04:00

Have you lost a loved one lately? Yesterday I lost my beloved dog Jack. He was almost 14 years and was as much a part of the family as any human member. Today, I have found myself listening to the Mozart Requiem and feel unbelievably comforted by it. The music of Mozart is simply the most beautiful music that has been written to date. Of course that's my opinion. I also love Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy, but Mozart is simply with equal. If you are grieving today I highly recommend the Mozart Requiem. It's helping me to get through my loss.

Does Your Brain Like Mozart?

2007-10-03T12:32:00.000-04:00

No doubt about it! Mozart's music has been well-researched. And what it shows is that more people respond positively to Mozart's music that any other music! Why? Well, my opinion would be that it's because Mozart's music is melodious, varied and yet predictable in a way that promotes calmness and comfort. People who are tense and anxious and want to relax, like to listen to music that is beautiful but not too complex or bombastic or dissonant. Mozart's music definitely fills the bill on that, although there are specific pieces and movements that would definitely be an exception. Parts of the Requiem and Don Giovanni are quite emotional, loud, and not conducive to relaxation. Will any of it raise your I.Q. or make you smarter? No!

Is the Mozart Effect real?

2007-09-02T22:19:00.000-04:00

As former student of Don Campbell who coined the phrase "The Mozart Effect" I often am put in the position of defending "The Mozart Effect." I have discovered that "Wikipdia" often has really good information on a wide variety of topics, so with that in mind, I offer you this:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mozart effect refers to disputed scientific studies that test a theory suggesting that classical music increases brain activity more positively than other kinds of music,[1] and that listening to certain kinds of complex music may induce a short-lived (fifteen minute) improvement in the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatio-temporal reasoning".[2] [3] Two pieces of Mozart's music; Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448) and Piano Concerto No. 23 (K. 488), were found to have this effect. Later research also suggested that K. 448 can reduce the number of seizures in people with epilepsy.[4]

Mozart in the news!

2007-08-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

There is no question that music lessons for young children give them an undeniable advantage over peers who have not studied an instrument and the basics of music making, but do you know how much research has been done that bears this out? The article excerpted below is from London's "The Telegraph" from September 9th of 2006. Enjoy!

Researchers claim to have found the first evidence of musical training being linked to greater attention skills.

After a year, musically trained children performed better in a memory test that is correlated with general intelligence skills such as literacy, verbal memory, mathematics and IQ, reports a Canadian team.
The researchers add that their results will be welcomed by teachers and parents who feel that music should be part of the pre-school and primary school curriculum.
The findings, which are backed by brain scans, are published today in the journal Brain by McMaster University's Institute for Music and the Mind in Hamilton, Ontario, and the Rotman Research Institute of the University of Toronto.
"While the greater improvement that we found in musical tasks is not surprising after one year of music lessons, greater improvement on a non-musical memory task in children taking music lessons is very interesting," said Prof Laurel Trainor, of the McMaster Institute "Furthermore, our research shows that this occurs in children as young as four years of age."
Prof Trainor, who led the study with Takako Fujioka, compared 12 children aged four to six years over the course of a year: six of the children (five boys, one girl) had just started a Suzuki music school; the other six (four boys, two girls) had no music lessons outside school.
The researchers chose the Suzuki method to ensure the children were all trained in the same way, were not selected according to their initial musical talent, and had similar family support.

Can Mozart improve an eye exam?

2007-06-26T19:40:00.000-04:00

Is it possible that listening to 10 minutes of Mozart's Sonata in D Major for two pianos, could improve the results of an eye check? Read a little bit of this article and decide for yourself:
Listening to Mozart helps patients perform more reliably in sight tests, a study has found.
The automated perimetry test checks the peripheral vision of patients with glaucoma or neurological conditions.

Brazilian researchers let 30 patients listen to 10 minutes of Mozart's sonata for two pianos, while another 30 prepared in silence.

The research, in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, found the music improved performance in the tests.
The "Mozart effect" has already been associated with improved mathematical skills, enhanced foetal brain development and improved learning among college students.
The team, from the Santa Casa of Sao Paulo, studied patients who had not taken the AP test before.
In the test, a white shape is projected onto a white background, and the person has to press a button when they can see the shape.
'Priming' the brain
The patients either listened to 10 minutes of music or sat in silence before their tests.
Both groups included a similar mix of men and women and ethnic groups.
The group who listened to music were able to focus better and perform more reliably in tests.
However, in this instance, the Mozart effect was only seen to last around 10 minutes.
Writing in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the researchers, led by Vanessa Macedo, said there was already evidence that the "Mozart effect" improved spatial-temporal reasoning.
They suggest that the effect may also aid the interpretation of information coming from the eye to the brain.
"We could assume that listening to Mozart can either 'prime' the pathways responsible for visual images, possibly shape or colour or improve intention to some extent."
'Enhancing reliability'
The researchers say there is a possibility that it was not the music which caused the improved performance, and it could have been anxiety in the group left in silence which affected their test results.
But they add that 10 minutes is a relatively short period for anxiety to develop to such an extent that it damaged performance, and that their findings fitted in to previous studies showing the "Mozart effect" in other areas.
However Dr Robert Stamper, of the University of California, San Francisco, department of ophthalmology, said: "Despite a large body of evidence that Mozart's music may have a positive influence on a variety of performance tasks, this study does not prove that it was the Mozart that was the causative factor.
"It could have been the headphones, Mozart music in general, or the specific piece that they played."
But he added: "The authors are to be congratulated for proposing a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive procedure for enhancing reliability of one of our least reliable testing methods.
"If some of the questions about the study could be answered satisfactorily, this improvement in our visual field testing process would be most welcome."
And Ian Murdoch, consultant Ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, warned there was potential bias in the study.
"An example of how this might matter might be that only music lovers were selected for the music listening group.
"This has more than just the possibility that they felt more buoyed up by Mozart; there is clear evidence that music prowess is linked to intelligence and thus may well be linked to field performance.
"It is tricky to make any conclusion other than it has a possible effect on medical students."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4920658.stm

Have you seen the Mozart garden?

2007-06-01T21:44:00.000-04:00

So many people love Mozart's music and despite quite a bit of research that casts aspersions on Mozart's special healing or IQ-raising abilties. Recently I was looking up some information on the so-called "Mozart Effect" and I came across a picture of a beautiful garden in Austria where chamber music concerts of Mozart's music are held in the summer. Thought you might like to see this. Enjoy!

Is Mozart better than his contemporaries for healing?

2007-05-10T22:13:00.000-04:00

Is Mozart better than his contemporaries for healing effects? Wow! That's a tough question that came my way recently. Needless to say it is not entirely an objective matter. Many musicologists, music historians, and performers believe that Mozart is the greatest composer that ever lived simply because Mozart was the master of every genre he attempted. No other composer wrote operas, symphonies, sonatas, and string quartets with equal ease. Some of his peers included Haydn, early Beethoven, his rival Salieri and many more. As of this moment I don't know of anyone who listens to these composers specifically for healing purposes. I could certainly be wrong about this. What do you think?

Why Mozart with babies?

2007-04-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

This past week I was speaking at a hospital in New York and the subject was "The Importance ofMusic with Pregnancy, Preemies, and Newborns." The topic arose as to whether playing Mozart was better for unborn children than singing lullabies. My opinion, based on all the research I have read is that the mother singing lullabies or any soft, sweet songs is always the best. Every baby loves his own mother's voice the best because that is the voice that has been with him from the moment of conception. That voice is asociated with safety, security, and nurturing. Please pass this information on to someone you love!

Can Mozart help a pregnant woman?

2007-03-24T22:15:00.000-04:00

I work a lot with pregnant women and they all want to know about the very best music to listen to during their pregnancy. Of course I always tell them that their voice singing to their unborn child is the best. The mother's voice is the one that baby hears first and most often while in utero and therefore that one that makes baby feel safe.

But what about Mozart? Well, many Marketers jumped in on the whole "Mozart Effect" media blitz and said that Mozart would make your baby smarter, happier, sleep better and all kinds of wonderful things. To my knowledge, no research has ever proven or even suggested that, so decide for yourself. Mozart certainly is not going to be bad for your baby but mother's voice softly crooning to baby is undoubtedly the best!

Mozart: Good for Weddings?

2007-03-05T12:48:00.000-05:00

As you probably know by now, I was at a family wedding in Las Vegas this past week-end and was looking for evidence of healing music everywhere I went. Not surprisingly, the only really beautiful healing music I heard was at the actual wedding. The pre-wedding music as well as the wedding music was a medley of famous classical music pieces, including Mozart. Even though the wedding was outside and the weather was a little bit "shivery," the music was beautiful and relaxing. It did truly set the tone for a spiritual and long-lasting commitment. Mozart is always a good choice for weddings. Let me know if I can help you!

Did Mozart Have a Valentine?

2007-02-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/listmailings/love/Valentine's%20Day%2020

Did Mozart celebrate Valentine's Day? Probably not. Mozart was a loving and romantic guy and it only takes a glance at his operas to know that love was on his mind. If you've seen the film "Amadeus" then you know that romance, intrigue, and beautiful music were an integral part of his mind and his life. I would recommend seeing "The Marriage of Figaro" or "Cosi Fan Tutte" if you want to experience a wonderful Valentine's Day treat! Let me know what you think!

P.S. You can cut and paste the link above to get a Valentine's Day ebook as my gift to you

Happy Birthday Dear Mozart

2007-01-27T22:41:00.000-05:00

We've been talking about him, listening to his music and studying his music and it's effect on pople for at least a decade, but for the last year we've been celebrating his 250th birthday. After a glorious year of concerts and tributes of all kinds, it has come to an end today with the celebration of his 251st birthday!

Take a few minutes today or tomorrow and listen to some of this beautiful, melodic and sublime music

Mozart's Birthday is almost here!!

2007-01-24T16:48:00.000-05:00

Well, we been talking about it for a full year now. Talking about what?? Mozart's birthday!! The whole year of 2006 we were celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday. On the 27th of January, two days from now, we'll celebrate his 251st birthday! There will probably not be quite as much celebration about one of his birthday again until 2051, when he will be 300 years old! Wow! And I'll be 103!! Even more amazing to me! But enough of this silliness. Mozart was truly one of the greatest musical geniuses that ever lived and his music makes my life so much richer and more enjoyable. Do you know the piano concertos, the violin concertos or any of his operas? If not, start there; they are so gorgeous and so exciting that you'll forget any troubles you might have. Go ahead and get yourself a new CD or some concert tickets and bathe yourself in some of the most sublime music ever!!

Final days of Mozart's 250th Birthday

2006-12-25T22:11:00.000-05:00

Well, did you enjoy the year of Mozart's 250th birthday?? Some of the most fantastic concerts of the 21st century to date have been played and I was fortunate to hear several of them. Mozart was one of the greatest musical geniuses of all times. If you haven't had a chance to listen to a piece of Mozart's music or read one the many outstanding biographies of this man, take a couple of hours and do so before the end of this awesome year!

http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/NeedSomeLast-minuteGifts.htm

What about Mozart's contemporaries?

2006-12-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

You know Mozart's music has been put forth as the ideal healing music for helping with a variety of medical conditions. I met a psychiatrist a few days ago who was recalling a scene from "Amadeus" in which Mozart's usic was being described by his contemporary and rival Anton Salieri. Even Mozart's contemporaries recognized his amazing genius and unparalleled beauty of his music. But what about the ability of his contemporaries' music to heal? I think that many works by Haydn, Albrechtsberger, even Salieri can be calming, serene and have the organization that is so important to preparing the mind for standardized tests. Luckily, Mozart wrote 622 individual works of music so there's no shortage of this beautiful music, but if you would like to hear some of his contemporaries, I think you'd find their music very pleasing! You might also want to check out www.mozartforum.com.

Dr. Alfred Tomatis and Mozart

2006-11-27T21:18:00.001-05:00

In April of 1991, I was very fortunate to study with Dr. Alfred Tomatis at the Tomatis Center in Phoenix, AZ. I attended a two-week seminar entitled "The Healing Power of Gregorian Chant." I had no idea how wonderful and enlightening this would be! It was Dr. Tomatis who told all of us (including Don Campbell) about the power of Mozart to help autistic children, people with a wide variety of emotional problems and learning disabilities to heal with Mozart violin concertos and Gregorian chant.

One of the things that Dr. Tomatis did so much research on was music and the unborn child. He was a great proponent of lullabies, especially for fussy, cranky babies. The album that I recommend is "Lullabies for Mother Baby Bonding" and includes a lullaby that Mozart himself loved!

Dr. Tomatis work is featured on many websites which I would urge you to check out. Just Google "Alfred Tomatis." His work is still not that well-known but I predict it will be one day.

Does Mozart's music make you smarter?

2006-11-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Many of you have probably heard of "The Mozart Effect." The original research, done in California at UC Irvine, showed that Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos helped highschool students score higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test than students who listend to other music before the exam or those listened to nothing. This was exciting news and was widely reported in the media. Later, some marketers began suggesting that Mozart's music actually raised your IQ and "made you smarter." Not true. Neuromusicologists suggest that Mozart's music may help you to organize your thoughts and may be good to listen before or during a task. It's also beautiful, brilliant music. But it won't make you smarter! Sorry.

Was Mozart an active Healer?

2006-10-24T22:44:00.000-04:00

Many people have asked me this over the past 10 years. It's a fair question, I think. For someone whose music is said to be so healing, you might think that Mozart actually was a healer but there is no evidence whatsoever that he ever thought of himself in those terms.

As a matter of fact, Mozart's life was extremely chaotic and he was always running around at the last minute finishing up the symphonies, concertos, and chamber music that had been commissioned for him. You may or may not realize that Mozart died a pauper...destitute...and was buried in an unmarked grave in Vienna. Such a brilliant man who wrote music that was all of genius quality. So tragic.

Research says Mozart Effect is dubious?

2006-10-09T23:49:00.000-04:00

Scientists have discredited claims that listening to classical music enhances intelligence, yet this so-called "Mozart Effect" has actually exploded in popularity over the years.
Why, no one is really sure. It appears that the more people literally disprove this urban myth, the more people want to believe it. Is the Mozart Effect like Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny? We hope not but the original effects have never really been duplicated.

More about Mozart

2006-09-26T18:44:00.000-04:00

Scientists argued over whether the phenomenon had a relatively simple explanation, such as just improving a person's mood, or if the effect was tied to a unique quality of the Mozart's compositions. One study reported that the particular rhythmic qualities of Mozart's music mimic some rhythmic cycles occurring in human brains.
Now Rauscher and her collaborator Hong Hua Li, a geneticist at Stanford University in California, think they have found the molecular basis of the Mozart effect. Their study used rats, which, like humans, perform better on learning and memory tests after listening to the sonata.
The researchers found that these smarter rats had increased gene expression of BDNF, a neural growth factor, CREB, a learning and memory compound, and synapsin I, a synaptic growth protein, in their hippocampus, as compared to control rats who had listened to equivalent amounts of white noise.

Molecular Basis for Mozart Effect Revealed!

2006-09-26T15:34:00.000-04:00

This article appeared in 2004: 15:10 23 April 2004
NewScientist.com news service
Emily Singer, San Francisco

New research has revealed a molecular basis for the "Mozart effect" - the observation that a brief stint of Mozart, but not other music, may improve learning and memory.
Rats that heard a Mozart sonata expressed higher levels of several genes involved in stimulating and changing the connections between brain cells, the study showed. The team, including the researcher who first proposed the Mozart effect, hope the results will help them design music therapy treatments for people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The Mozart effect first came to light in a 1993 paper in Nature (vol 365, p 611), when Fran Rauscher, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, US, and colleagues showed that college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major for 10 minutes performed better on a spatial reasoning test than students who listened to new age music or nothing at all.
The findings sparked excitement from the general public - specially designed Mozart CDs leapt up the music charts - and some scepticism from the scientific community.

Have you tried playing Mozart yet?

2006-09-22T22:58:00.000-04:00

After my last post, many people emailed me to say that they really wanted to try using Mozart for increased concentration when doing tasks like homework, balancing a checkbook, working on taxes, etc. Many people asked which Mozart pieces were best. According to Dr. Alfred Tomatis, who first observed this cause and effect phenomenon back in the 1950's, the five violin concertos of Mozart are the very best pieces to listen to if you want to experience increased concentration.

For true healing effects you would want to listen to the Mozart that relaxes and calms you best. I would suggest the slow movements of not only the violin concertos but also slow movements of piano sonatas, string quartets and symphonies. There is a beautiful solo piano piece called "Adagio in b minor" that is absolutely exquisite. I would recommend getting a recording of that just for pure relaxation! I may make a recording of it myself!

What is it about Mozart's Music?

2006-09-15T18:46:00.000-04:00

People are always asking me what it is about Mozart's music that is healing or helpful. Why isn't Haydn's music as powerful, or Beethoven's or Schubert's? Actually, I believe that any great composer's music can be healing, keeping in mind our definition of healing. Remember that we define healing as "amelioration of symptoms." Healing is not synonomous with curing!

Starting back in the 1950's, a brilliant French ear, nose, and throat doctor and surgeon with a great love of music, starting treating many opera singers with various physical symptoms that prevented them from singing like they had. This man was Dr. Alfred Tomatis. One of his statements that was someone novel at the time was "the human voice cannot reproduce sounds that it cannot hear." Dr. Tomatis looked at hearing deficiencies that the patients exhibited and discovered that when the patients listened to Mozart's five violin concertos, in particular, that their hearing improved. Dr. Tomatis determined that these particular pieces of Mozart had the perfect range of pitches and the perfect timbre or tone color to heal the voice and the individual.

In the 1990's research was being conducted at the University of California at Irvine in which Mozart's Sonata in D Major for two pianos was being played for high school students about to take the SAT. In each trial, the students were divided into three groups. One group listened to their favorite pop music for 30 minutes before the test, one listened to nothing and one group listened to the Mozart piece. Repeatedly, the students who listened to the Mozart piece scored higher.

These two phenomena constributed to the idea of a "Mozart Effect." I personally believe that the media has greatly exaggerated the power of Mozart however I do believe that Mozart's music is healing, inspiring, beautiful, uplifting and amazing. Many people believe that Mozart was the greatest composer of all time because in his brief life, he was a master of every genre he attempted and he attempted all of the genres of his time: sonatas, symphonies, chamber music, opera, and choral music. If you haven't listened to any Mozart lately, treat yourself to some tonight!

Why Mozart?

2006-09-12T19:27:00.000-04:00

There's been a lot in the popular press over the last 10 years about Mozart and his music as tools for healing, improving test scores, and raising one's IQ. I am very familiar with the reasons and circumstances that led to all of the hype, but is it really hype or is there substance to it?

I would like for this blog to be an investigation into the healing properties of Mozart's music in particular but all the other positive properties of Mozart's music.

Please post your own comments often!