I ask myself this one question about the Mozart Effect: why Mozart? Why not the "Bach Effect"? or the "Brahms Effect"? or any of the other names of composers? The Wagner Effect: now there's a thought... Is it because these researchers have determined that Mozart is the best composer of all? I'd like to see their "scientific" proof of that! Or is it that Mozart works better in their experiments than any other composer? Have they tried them all? Of course not.
I think that what lies behind the Mozart Effect is that the name "Mozart" is bankable. Maybe the most bankable name in all music. Except Elvis maybe; but who would ever believe that listening to Elvis would make you smarter? The name "Mozart" has universal credibility, not just in the commercial music industry, but the academic community, the scientific community, the business community, the medical community and the media. And, as those of an entrepreneurial stripe have always known, you can wrap it up and peddle it to the seminar junkies, and to those whom the peddlars target as therapy junkies. Vivaldi is the only other classical name I can think of with anything like the commercial drawing power of Mozart. Imagine how successful the researchers would have been if their project had been termed the "Ditters von Dittersdorf Effect" or the "Muzio Clemente Effect"! Just doesn't have the same bite somehow as the "Mozart Effect." DR To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
