Turn Off the Mozart! Why a Cappella Singing is Best for Baby

I know, it doesn’t seem like something that an early childhood music teacher would say, especially one who plays violin!  BUT, studies have shown that babies learn more from live interaction with their caregivers over a recording (imagine that!).  A cappella singing (without instruments) allows baby to focus on a single sound at a time.  Think about books that were designed for infants:  they are simple, have clean lines and bold colors so that infants can learn to decipher the images and put them into context (this is a dog, this is a story about body parts, etc.)   By singing a cappella, you are simplifying and breaking down the sounds of language into a format in which your baby can more easily relate.  I would compare listening to a Mozart symphony as the equivalent of showing an infant the Sistine Chapel.  It definitely doesn’t hurt, but it’s probably not going to help much either, since your baby is not actively involved. 

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