The Miracle of Music &
Your Baby’s Development
A special music program for expectant parents
Thank you to our generous sponsors
Mary Palmer Family Foundation
The Miracle of Music &
Your Baby’s Development
Thank you to our in-kind sponsors
KIND Bars | Orlando Day Nursery | Take5 Massage
Thank you to our Informational Table Providers:
Cord:Use Cord Blood Bank | Florida Blue | Mother’s Milk Bank of Central Florida
UCF College of Medicine: Pediatric Interest Group
UCF College of Education and Human Development: Early Childhood Development & Education
The Miracle of Music &
Your Baby’s Development
Dr. Antonia Novello
Stages of Brain Development
Playing Music to Babies in the Womb
 Ears start to develop after a few
weeks of conception. Auditory
system of brain at 26 weeks.
 Altered sound reaches the womb
at this stage. Response generally
includes change in heart rate and
body movements.
 It's not a good idea to use
headphones on your belly since
the music is up close and may
overstimulate the baby.
The Mozart Effect
 While the “Mozart Effect” has not yet
been validated, it’s still important to
include classical music in a baby’s life.
 Classical music proves better for brain
development because it is more
complex in structure, instrumentation
and harmony. It’s complexity itself
offers brain building benefits, with
pathways needed for cognitive tasks.
Why is Music Important?
Research Findings
 “Singing nursery songs frequently with toddlers will help them stretch their
ability to put words together.”(Honig 2004)
 “Tunes combined with words can promote language development and
the inclusion of music in playtime can help even a shy child warm up and
join in.” (Turvett 2006)
 Sing simple songs to babies, including some with corresponding hand
gestures, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Music and Babies
The Power of Music on Babies
Bonding
• 0-9 months. Babies can pick out their mother’s
voice. Babies actively search out human voices,
especially rhythmic ones
• 9-18mos. Familiar songs help babies feel safe
and secure
• 18-36mos. Toddlers make up songs and dances.
They sing to themselves for comfort
Learning
•0-9 months. Babies respond to singing and
talking by waving their arms, kicking their
feet and smiling
•9-18 months. Children start moving to beat
•18-36 months. Toddlers dance with each
other, which reinforces socialization
Research Findings
 Music provides opportunities for children to practice patterns, math concepts,
and symbolic thinking skills, all in the context of a joyful noise.
 Listening to music facilitates the recall of information, especially recalling
memories.
 Children who took piano lessons for six months improved their ability to work
puzzles and solve their other spatial tasks by as much as 30 percent.
 Evidence suggests that music helps with language development. It helps with
the identification of speech sounds and patterns.
Playing and Instrument and Intelligence
The Miracle of Music &
Your Baby’s Development
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Mary Palmer Family Foundation