Georgia Gov. Zell Miller said parents should think about turning on the CD player for the baby. Day One, Miller said. A study at the University of California at Irvine in 1993 documented marked increase in test scores, motor skills and cognitive abilities among control groups exposed to Mozart's music. The study was presented at the American Psychological Association convention in 1994. The Mozart Effect points up the profound difference that music can make in a life.
Classical music is an acquired taste, but parents can build children's interest from the cradle.
Miller believes in it so much that this year, with the help of Sony Classical, he has started a program that gives the parents of each Georgia newborn free CDs or tapes of soothing classical music. Bob Brown Puppets, guest performers in Cinderella. Tales and Scales, guest performers, in Medusa.