(March 29, 2000) -- Researchers, say music may actually modify brain activity in children. And it can even improve their cognitive skills. That's according to national research that seems to reinforce studies now underway at Brigham Young University. The story from Science Specialist Ed Yeates:

At Wasatch Elementary School in Provo, children use classical music to polish their skills in awareness, judgement and language. It's music education at its best and one scientists now believe makes a difference in a child's learning abilities later on.

Scientists believe the brain - in theory - is a rhythmic organ. In fact, Jerry Jaccard at Brigham Young University believes it's possible the two hemispheres speak to each other in rhythms within specifially timed intervals - the same kind of rhythms and intervals embodied in many forms of classical music. Researchers in Hungary were among the first to show a change in students.

Jerry Jaccard / BYU School of Music: "CHILDREN WHO LISTEN TO, MOVE TO, SANG READ AND WROTE CLASSICAL MUSIC OR FOLK SONG THAT WAS SIMILAR TO CLASSICAL MUSIC...THAT THOSE CHILDREN WHO WERE ABLE TO DO THAT EVERYDAY HAD SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER SCORES IN READING, WRITING AND MATH."

Researchers now believe infants may in fact hum or vocalize some forms of tunes with certain rhythms - long before they say words.

These students at Wasatch compose their own classical rhythms - then hum them back. Here, they clap and march to the rhythms of Beethoven.

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "AS PART OF THE EXERCISE, ONCE STUDENTS KNOW THE RHYTHM IN THEIR FEET - THEY THEN TAP IT OUT IN THE HANDS OF STUDENT TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT."

Because scientists now believe classical music has an organizing effect on the brain - some toy manufacturers this year will introduce classical music in baby toys. -- Ed Yeates, Eyewitness News