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The Effects of Baroque Music

Are you a person who is easily distracted or finds it difficult to concentrate or learn? Here's
a suggestion... listen to baroque music as you work/study to maximize your learning and
creatie potential.
!A"#$%&'()* Baroque music is a particular kind of music written by composers of music in the 17th and 18th
century only. Their music was composed using specific formulae passed down to them from the music guilds of
ancient times. Some of these composers include Claudio onte!erdi" #ntonio $i!aldi" %eorge &rideric 'andel"
#rcangelo Corelli" Tomaso #lbinoni and (ohann Sebastian Bach. )ater" it was found that this particular kind of
music brings about !ast changes in a person*s cogniti!e and physical abilities. 'owe!er" it was disco!ered that there
are certain Baroque pieces which ha!e the greatest effect. Those pieces ha!ing slow tempo beats of about ++,-+
beats a minute in Baroque concertos are best suited for physiological changes. The instruments used often by
Baroque composers to achie!e this soothing sound include the !iolin" guitar" harpsichord and other string
instruments.
A+A,-($ .A"/0 A!&'/ !A%&1'2 +'0-"*
Baroque music pulses between +. to 8. beats per minute. This stabili/es mental" physical and emotional
rhythms to attain a state of deep concentration and focus in which large amounts of content information can
be processed and learned.
Slower baroques" such as Bach" 'andel" $i!aldi or Corelli" can create mentally stimulating en!ironments
for creati!ity and new inno!ations.
'elp pro!ide structure when played during acti!ities that require organi/ed thinking" e.g. writing reports or
papers" planning art acti!ities" or e!en planning a social e!ent.
#t St. )uke0s 'ospital in Cle!eland" patients who hear Baroque and high frequency music need lower
dosages of painkillers.
1eople who listen to such music for a period of time make do with less sleep" because they now ha!e a
much deeper and concentrated sleep" since the mind and body are continuously being recharged through the
music.
Sub2ects were able to study much more efficiently" learn graphic skills in less than half the actual time
required" were able to dri!e through traffic with less tension" and e!en cut down on alcohol and cigarettes
drastically since their stress le!els reduced.
8- 3 of students sur!eyed en2oyed class more with baroque background music whereas 7- 3 of students
without any music found the class en2oyable
44 3 of students found math challenging whereas 5- 3 in the class without the baroque music found it
challenging.
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/H2 3H40-&5&$-"A5 "HA($20 /& &""'% A./2% 5-0/2(-($ /& !A%&1'2 +'0-"*
16 )owering of blood pressure and slowing of heartbeat.
76 #n 88% monitor displays changes e!en in your brain wa!es. The fast" beta wa!es gradually decrease by about
-3" while the alpha wa!es of rela9ation increase by about -3.
46 Synchroni/ation between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Synchroni/ation of the right and left brain
hemispheres stimulates increased producti!ity of the brain.
56 1ro!ides a calm state" which causes the body to function more efficiently on less energy. This causes more energy
to be a!ailable to your brain. 1eople who ha!e phenomenal memory retention are also able to slow down their
brainwa!e acti!ity to the slower alpha le!el :7,14 cycles a second6.
6HA/ -0 /H2 A53HA 0/A/2? #lpha brain wa!es originate from the occipital lobe of the brain during periods
of rela9ation. #t this point the brainwa!es run at about 8 to 17 cycles per seconds or hert/. #s you rela9 you can
mo!e out of stressors that otherwise impede your creati!ity. ;esearch has found that the ideal state for learning is
when the brain is in a rela9ed" but aware state. This is known as the alpha state" which can be achie!ed by listening
to baroque music. This compares with the 0normal0 state of 14,7+ hert/ which is called the beta state. The beta state
is that of most of our waking moments as we go about our daily lives. #t the other end of the spectrum we find" 2ust
below the alpha le!el" the theta state which is e!en slower than alpha" and an e!en deeper sense of rela9ation. <t is
howe!er more difficult to achie!e" and really requires one to ha!e the ability to meditate deeply.
Brainwave Cycles Per
Second (CPS)
Brainwave Activity
1-4 cps deep sleep state
4-7 cps twilight zone - half awae
and half asleep
!-1" cps rela#ed alertness$ reflection$
cal%$ prepared
1"-"& cps '(sy classroo% activities$
disc(ssion
http://www.soundpiper.com/mln/emotion.htm
!A%&1'2 +'0-" A() /H2 !%A-(* Baroque music" with a -. beats per minute beat pattern" acti!ate the left
and right brain. The simultaneous left and right brain action ma9imi/es learning and retention of information. The
information being studied acti!ates the left brain while the music acti!ates the right brain. <t has been found that
acti!ities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time" causes the brain to be more capable of processing
information.
!A%&1'2 +'0-" A() 52A%(-($* <t was found that some baroque music might be used to enhance
memory. any researches and studies ha!e been conducted to pro!e such as this idea. =*>onnell :1???6 says that
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besides ma9imi/ing learning" simultaneous action of both left and right brain also assists people to keep new
information gained. The brain will also ha!e more capability to process the information. any researchers also say
that the music can strengthen students* memory in classroom. Baroque music creates an atmosphere of focus that
leads students into deep concentration in the alpha brain wa!e state. )earning !ocabulary" memori/ing facts or
reading to this music is highly effecti!e. =n the other hand" energi/ing o/art music assists in holding attention
during sleepy times of day and helps students stay alert while reading or working on pro2ects.
usic helps us learn because it will@
establish a positi!e learning state
create a desired atmosphere
build a sense of anticipation
energi/e learning acti!ities
change brain wa!e states
focus concentration
increase attention
impro!e memory
facilitate a multisensory learning e9perience
release tension
enhance imagination
align groups
de!elop rapport
pro!ide inspiration and moti!ation
add an element of fun
accentuate theme,oriented units
%2"&++2()A/-&(0*7
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Ase Baroque music when a child is doing homework or studying for a test.
Bhile dri!ing in the car.
#s background music at home
Before going to sleep
>o not combine Baroque music with other types of music
C Bill see changes after 71 days of consistent use of baroque music. <t is possible to see changes before" but 71 days
is the ideal amount of time for optimal changes.
0'$$20/2) !A%&1'2 3-2"20 /& '02* :usic period years 1-+.,17+.6
Albinoni@ , #dagio in % inor for String
!ach8 9.0.* , )argo from 'arpsichord Concerto in & inor" BB$ 1.+-" , )argo from 'arpsichord Concerto in C
a2or" , BB$ ?7+" #ir for the % String
"orelli@ , )argo from Concerto Do.1. in & a2or from Twel!e Concerti %rossi" =p. +
:ialdi@ , )argo from Concerto in > a2or for %uitar and Strings" , )argo from Concerto in C a2or for andolin"
Strings and 'arpsichord" , )argo from EBinterE from The &our Seasons
3achelbel* , Canon in >
Handel; music from years 1-+.,17+.
%20&'%"20*
http@FFwww.7..words,a,day.comFalpha.html
http@FFmembers.tripod.comFkGmene/esFbaroque.htm
http@FFbrainbasedbi/.blogspot.comF7..7F.5Fbaroque,music,helps,you,focus.html
http@FFwww.cerebromente.org.brFn1+FmenteFmusica.html
http@FFmyenglish.1.wordpress.comF7..8F.7F78Fin!estigating,feasibility,and,acceptability,of,using,supermemory,music,in,reading,classroomF
http@FFwww.newhori/ons.orgFstrategiesFartsFbrewer.htm
<nformation compiled by@
%riselle Shut/,Cabrera" =T;F)
eredith Cooke" =T;F)