It is believed that this 'Mozart effect' helps to develop a child's spatial temporal reasoning skills, encouraging the ability to think in patterns and pictures.
Beyond its influence on learning, music has also been found to have a profoundly soothing effect on children with hyperactivity or ADHD. While many adults use music to support relaxation techniques such as meditation and Yoga, this soothing effect may also be created for children who find it difficult to control their behaviour.
Individuals with ADHD, ADD, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and other similar concentration difficulties, have a tendency to become more easily distracted by different sights and sounds within their immediate environment. They find it difficult to manage their behaviour and can become frustrated, anxious, and unable to focus on any one activity at a time.
By introducing soothing music into a child's everyday routine, it is thought to alleviate and reduce the number of hyperactive episodes a child may have. The soothing music may mask out any distracting noises, and asks a child to concentrate simply on the one sound. Through concentration on the music a child may regulate their breathing pattern, calm the rush of thoughts in their minds and purely focus on the task of listening.
There are many firm believers in the healing powers of music. International composer John Levine has done some research into brain activity and the influence of music. He claims his soothing music helps calm the brainwaves into an alpha state, therefore bringing a calmer mood to the listener. He believes that alpha waves in the brain can help our moods and our overall health. And he is not alone. Many child psychologists, teachers, and parents are beginning to see the merits of helping children relax, and become calmer in their behaviour through introducing music sessions into everyday routines.
