Great New Research on Music & Infants

from:   https://www.facebook.com/themusicclass

New research shows the benefit of interactive music classes on infants.

Researchers at McMaster University in Canada found that infants who participated in parent/child interactive music classes had a better understanding of music and improved social development compared to infants who listened to background music only.

In the first study of its kind, researchers assigned 6-month old babies to one of two types of musical experiences. In one group the babies participated in a parent/child interactive music class involving singing, movement, instrument play and a take home CD. (Sound familiar?) In the other group the children listened to music from Baby Einstein CDs in the background while involved in art and play activities, and received the same CDs to take home and listen to. At 12 months, the babies who participated in the interactive music class showed a greater understanding of tonal pitch structure and an enhanced response to music than the babies who listened to background music. In addition, they showed less distress in unusual situations, communicated better and smiled more!

We at The Music Class are, of course, happy to see this new research and encourage you to learn more. There's an excellent summary of the research posted at http://www.newswise.com/articles/babies-brains-benefit-from-music-lessons#.T7RPfJgsER0.mailto

Trainor et al. 2012. Becoming musically enculturated: effects of music classes for infants on brain and behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1252:129-138