Okay I was thinking about this while driving to work this morning....studies were done in asia on the effects of music upon forming ice crystals....an easier way to see the effects of music on molecular structure....
then women in the past few years have found it increasingly important to have their unborn children listen to classical music in utero so as to activate brain function....

well, with that theory in mind and the results of the aforementioned study wouldn't it be just as interesting to see the effects of music on the forming structure of the child from the molecular level all the way up to attempts to enhance brain function and activity, after all god forbid pregnant women have cravings for unapproved food items because it has the potential to affect the developing fetus...

Some parents have succeeded in teaching their children some English in womb. They begin learning evidently at about six months in-utero. Frankly it takes more than music to get a baby's brain to begin to fire. Now strangely children born of a study where in-utero lessons were conducted it appears and the evidence is strongly in favor of it, that babies are actually faster learners if encouraged before birth to learn. The blind study behind this was a comprehension study of a baby's response to yes no type questions. They clearly do show some capacity of answering unlike babies not given in-utero lessons.

Music does help but is not the answer all.

i meant with development physically as well as mentally although that second bit of information is interesting as well, I would like to look up more on that study if you have a site or other reference i could use? Was the study only done in english or could the potential for multiple languages exist/or already been implemented?

More recent studies have shown either A) there was no noticeable difference between those with classical music or B) a specific style of music didn't make a difference, but all kinds could work.

The funny thing I've seen with all of these types of studies is it has more to do with whether parents are ACTIVELY involved with their babies, right from the start, rather then just popping another one out, leaving him/her with a babysitter, sticking him/her in front of the TV, etc.

Music tends to sooth ones soul, so if the mother is more relaxed during pregnancy, then stress hormones would not be there to affect the baby too.

Outside of monitoring what you eat while you are pregnant there is NOTHING music does for a child physically other than accelerate brain function. And what you take in during pregnancy can have detrimental effects as well. I have heard certain "health supplements" are actually quite dangerous for pregnancy. Any meds taken will also have a detrimental effect.

I don't know about 'clasical' music. I used to sing the ABC songs and those silly little addition and subtraction songs to my kids... They learned to talk 'earlier' than other children according to the docs. (not 'noises' but sentence formation at a few months and such).

My daughter also did the same with her children... with the same results.

My folks read to my brother and I right from the get-go. We both were reading and speaking complete sentences earlier then most as well. They also didn't get in to the high-pitched gibberish that so many folks do but did keep things quiet, simple and clear.

And I do think music is helpful. I know I study better, if I have soft background music going, but it doesn't necessarily mean just classical.

That's kind of like the old wives tale that there should always be soft music in a barn to keep the animals settled. And that usually implied classical. My horses didn't really care, but seemed to respond more to rock. LOL!

That study about forming ice crystals being changed at a molecular level was debunked hard core, its bad science . . . end of story.

Quoted for truth. People won't stop talking about it, though.

I absolutely believe that engaging with children enhances their development. Skills get developed early setting up pathways in the brain and allowing for rapid increases, its a domino effect. I also know for a fact that musical vibrations do nothing to the water as it freezes, impurities are what causes drastic changes in the crystals, not music. (erratic temperature change during the freezing process can also cause smaller less drastic changes)