The Mozart Effect: An Explanation

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Brain, Society, Culture, Miscellaneous

Ed Hessler

The creation of a myth: the Mozart Effect.

You remember the hype about playing Mozart to a baby will make them smart.

Jonathan Jarry of the Office for Science & Society, McGill University, Montreal, Canada explains 

 

--the creation of a myth: the Mozart effect, 

 

--the tension between the media and scientists, 

 

--its beginning with the publication of a paper in the journal Nature, 

 

--replication studies,

 

--the role of a Georgia governor in promoting the idea in a state funded program (Jarry's summary "a mutation into borderline lunacy"), 

 

--how journalists covered this story over time (early promotion),

 

--the difficulty in putting a legend to rest, 

 

 --the role of some scientists in promoting it in spite of evidence, 

 

 --the use of a composer's music in opposition to Mozart's where "it was denounced as “nonenhancing” and “predictable,” too repetitive, even unpleasant." Early in the essay, Jarry states that  "most importantly, (this story is) about how minimalist composer Philip Glass’ music was unfairly demonized in an attempt to prove a theory."

Jarry closes with the obvious observation that you can play music for your baby and cites several examples from the classical repertoire but that "None of this will turn your progeny into geniuses. But music for the sake of music is good for the spirit."

Jarry includes a box of three take-home messages.

The essay may be read here.

About the history of the OfS&S.