Keeping Mozart in Mind

by Gordon L. Shaw

The demand for math and science skills in our technology-driven world is at a premium, and yet U.S. students continue to lag behind many other industrialized countries in these areas. This book, based on studies conducted on 8000 elementary school-aged children, proposes that not only is there a relationship between music and math comprehension, but that music can be utilized to heighten higher brain function and improve math skills. The enclosed CD-Rom includes (1) a recording of Allegro con spirito from Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448), by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu, courtesy of Sony ClassicalTM, and (2) a descriptive interactive version of S.T.A.R.TM (Spatial-Temporal Animation Reasoning) software program. While this book's discussion of the breakthroughs in understanding of spatial-temporal reasoning abilities will be of particular interest to neuroscientists and cognitive researchers, the book is also accessible to parents and educators.

* Presents the theory that music exercises higher brain function and can enhance math comprehension
* Details how music training coupled with special-temporal reasoning (thinking in pictures) can dramatically impact a child's ability to understand and master math
* Includes an interactive CD-ROM with math games

411 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2000

Reviews

[David]

Okay, so I never read this book and never will. But a spiral bound photocopy of it was in my room for almost two years when the school pyschologist I worked with asked me to read it so that I could translate the basic ideas for her. I didn't want, put it off, and eventually left and gave it to a mutual friend to give back to her. Sorry!