Keeping Mozart in Mind (Book with CD-ROM for Windows & Macintosh)

Rating:
Summary: This will change education as we know it
Review: Far from being the meandering report the Orange county reader called it, this book relates very carefully what has been going on in brain research for the last 20 years, plus it details what has been learned about the brain's own private language. Apparently, Mozart was intuitively expressing pure thought! (this is my conclusion). Shaw's research has demonstrated a clear and uncontradictable connection between music learning and math understanding. His approach, if implemented in schools, will change the way math is taught forever, and bring music back to the core curriculum where it belongs, as a rudimentary human language. Underprivileged kids who learn math and music together in a sequential curriculum experience an evening-out of the playing field which enables them to achieve as high scores on standardized tests as the rich white kids in wealthy districts! THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD! Hurray for Shaw. If this book is hard to read, keep trying and keep trying. Our kids' future may be at stake.

Rating:
Summary: this is FUN--who cares if it makes you smarter or not?
Review: I have been reading neuroscientific books, popular press and otherwise, for a number of years, but this book and the CD Rom with the STAR software was the first fun experience that my 10 year old and I could share. I am usually reading (some pretty dry) material and trying to apply it to her learning and growth. But this combination has something for both of us. I got a copy from the local college to try. Now I am going to buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Now I am confused
Review: Other than the CD rom, I found nothing practical or inspiring in this book. There was no Mozart on the CD and the book showed me nothing practical for me or my children. Over priced. I have a master's degree in music and could not really see what the book was about, other than endless, meandering research. It had little to do with music or Mozart.