The idea of classical music benefiting children's health and development dates back to the mid-1800s, according to TeacherVision. The Mozart Effect, which came to light in the late 1990s, provided research to prove classical music's benefits. Researchers Francis Rauscher and Dr. Gordon Shaw showed that preschool children performed 34 percent higher on a spatial reasoning test after taking a keyboard lesson than children who trained on a computer. Another study showed that kindergarten students who took keyboard lessons scored 36 percent higher on spatial reasoning tests than the students who did not.
The benefits of playing classical music for children are not so much to guide them into music but to use the music as a tool to enhance memory and other learning functions. As the Rauscher and Shaw studies suggest, classical music helps with spatial reasoning, which is what the brain uses in complicated tasks such as math and chess, and in conceptualizing ratios and proportions. Classical music may also help in the process of learning foreign languages.
Mozart works particularly well for children because it doesn't contain too much emotion and doesn't "overexcite the mind," according to Campbell. Besides aiding in learning, Mozart's music can help a child eat and sleep better. Mozart is not the only type of classical music that benefits children. In fact, too much Mozart can lead to an imbalance. Other good choices are Beethoven's "Symphony #5" and "Fur Elise," Pachelbel's "Canon in D," Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Brahms's "Piano Concerto #1," Mendelssohn's "Symphony #4," Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" and Schubert's "Trout Quintet." Campbell also suggests incorporating different styles besides classical for children, such as folk songs, hymns, children's songs and even rock music.
Music can help to "wire" an infant's developing brain, according to Parenthood.com. High school students benefit from music as it creates a better study environment. SAT scores are up to 52 points higher for students who play an instrument or sing, according to Parenthood.com.
Children become more coordinated from pacing the rhythm of the music with their movements. This coordination aids in sports and other physical activities. Music can help children emotionally by soothing them when they become fearful or anxious.