children's music review

Review Sections: Product Overview  Dollar Value    

Product Overview
The makers of the excellent baby video series So Smart! have produced a series of audio CDs and cassettes designed to introduce babies to a wide range of classical music. Although performed by symphony orchestras, the music has been selected to be without the drama often found in classical music selections — there's nothing here that will startle your baby or make him/her nervous!

Certainly there are a large number of studies linking exposure to classical music and better brain function, health, and improved spatial reasoning. The effect seems to be even more long-reaching in babies and children, when their brains are still growing and developing. Experts suggest that early exposure to complex musical patterns is highly beneficial. That's where Smart Music comes in!

There are currently 3 titles in the series:

• Smart Music Cartime is upbeat and interesting and the music is selected to keep your kids alert and entertained while traveling in the car (it really works!). This combines lively and more subdued works for variety and interest. Features Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, and more.
• Smart Music Playtime is lively without being overly stimulating. This selection is wonderful to play when kids are at play, but also for kids of all ages during creative play. It may be helpful for stimulating imagination while kids paint, draw, etc. Features works from great composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Dvorak, and more.
• Smart Music Sleepytime contains carefully selected works that have a calming effect and are most appropriate for just before naptime or bedtime. This features relaxing tracks and works from Mozart, Debussy, Schumann, and more.

I remember a nurse at the hospital where I gave birth trying to convince me that I should let my baby sleep in the nursery — she reasoned that babies tended to sleep much better in there. When I asked her why, she told me that the trick is playing classical music. Although I didn't give in to the nurse's urging, I did, however, take up her suggestion and played classical music for my baby during naptime. It really did seem to make for a restful sleep, with my baby waking up cheerful instead of groggy. It just seems to make sense, and if it does work to help make baby happy and well-balanced, then it is well worth it.

These selections are all approximately 50 minutes long each.

Please see our review of the excellent So Smart! video series by The Baby School Company.

Dollar Value
Each CD retails for $15.98 US and the cassettes sell for $10.98 US. If you already own classical music tapes or CDs, they will probably work half-decently well. However, the Smart Music selections are wonderfully arranged, organized, and themed. They are also unique for their emphasis on works that are not over-stimulating.