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.

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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.

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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.

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A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.

ChelseaDagger

Yeah I listened to a lot of Mozart as a child. Music for me is not so much a chore as it is a coping mechanism... I realized that I had been using it as a crutch (hence the rut) instead of to widen my horizons. So im trying to change that by pairing it with my chores to jopefullu enhance both the chores and my love for music Oh and I love chores they keep me "sane" (I use that word loosely, as you'll soon discover)....

Thanks for the rec