When I moved to Minnesota, I had no idea that superb public radio was one of the benefits of living there. I also had no idea that I was crazy about Italian Baroque until I made MPR my companion. Having spent a fair amount of time in rental cars in other parts of the country, I know that not everyone has access to such marvelous programming. 

It’s not just entertainment, however. A well-publlicized study conducted at the University of California at Irvine showed that students performed better on tests after listening to Mozart. Other studies confirm that the power of music goes far beyond what we’ve realized. In Washington state, for example, some community colleges mix English lessons with Baroque music, reducing the time it has taken new immigrants to master our language.

A few years ago, a high school student made news with a science project he put together to study the effect of music on white mice. Some of the mice were left in a room for ten hours a day with classical music playing; another group spent the same time being subjected to heavy metal. Then the mice were sent through a maze.

The mice who’d heard the classics whizzed right through, beating their pre-listening performance. On the other hand, the heavy metal mice seemed disoriented and bumped into walls. While I’m not sure what, if anything, this proves, it does suggest that listening to music that has stood the test of time may have a benefit that goes directly to the brain.

So set your radio dial to your local classical station and give a listen. If  you don’t have access to a good one, build your own library. If you’re a novice, start with a few of the “foolproof” composers. Sample Bach, Mozart, Handel and Vivaldi. They were all prolific musicmakers and remain the most popular of classical composers. With their music playing softly in the background, you may discover your stress level goes down and your productivity goes up…or that you’re just wild about Baroque.

Goethe said, “One ought every day to hear a little music, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words.” Taking advantage of that may begin with turning on your radio. It’s a simple and lovely way to create an atmosphere that supports you in doing your finest work.