ChelseaDagger

As of late, I've reignited my passion for upbeat classical music, and trying to find something complex enough to boost spatial reasoning performance for when I do math with my kids... I've been recommended to Paganini but would like to explore other options as well, since I'm very rusty in this genre.

Any recommendations??

Frownland

It sounds like you're talking about the Mozart effect, which has been proven to be a myth. Still, it can't hurt to give your children a musical vocabulary by showing them the greats. Here are some of my favourites: Schoenberg, Bach, Mozart, Richard Strauss, Terry Riley, Wagner, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaickovsky, John Cage, and Steve Reich.

Out of the above, Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians is the closest to "thinking music".

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

ChelseaDagger

Actually the Mozart effect is based on the premise that classical music can actually raise your IQ, which is obvious rubbish that was debunked ages ago, I'm not arguing with that.... but the TEMPORARY effects on certain neurological pathways becoming temporarily stimulated has been verified from a neurological approach. That's what in wondering about:

WHICH classical music best ignites the neurons that run along the spatial reasoning pathways of the brain??

Frownland

Schoenberg makes my neurons flood with electricity. Not too sure which in regions though, I'll go get an MRI and get back to you.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

ChelseaDagger

Not necessary . Thanks for the recommendation.

grindy

As far as I know there is no correlation between the complexity of the music and the short-time increase in spatial reasoning. In fact it has been suggested, that every type of upbeat music, not only classical, may have this effect. Although I for one think it's a good thing for children to grow up with classical music.
It would probably be best to find out which music resonates most with your kids. Finding something they actually like and can relate to might have the best effect, instead of listening to things pretentious people like Frownie or me would recommend.

__________________
A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.

Frownland

There have been studies that show that listening to music that you enjoy boosts brain activity, so I second this suggestion.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

ChelseaDagger

Indeed.

They have been exposed to my current rut, which includes a schizophrenic mix of Celtic music, binaural beats, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, rockabilly, Counting Crows, and of course a lot of Collective Soul and Fratellis . It's interesting to watch different sounds bring about different responses from each of them... My two oldest have sensory processing challenges and seem to work better when "primed" with appropriate beats (whatever wavelengths they seem to connect with on any given day, that is)...I play music with teaching strategies in mind (a la "Frames of Mind" by Howard Gardner) because I really want music to help channel their other abilities. That's why I'm open to new suggestions from people less musically rusty than myself, who connect to the same wavelengths that my children and I do, but who have tasted and digested a variety of sounds and artists within these genres.

ChelseaDagger

... If that makes any sense lol

grindy

As a kid Vivaldi's Four Seasons were my favourite, totally blew my mind back then.

P.S.: Try not to make listening to music a chore for them, though.
They should see it as a world of wonder, fun and possibilities.

__________________
A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.