Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

While my wife was carrying our daughter during the 1999-2000 'season', we made every attempt to expose her to the sounds of classical music - especially Mozart. We weren't certain how much our as of yet unborn daughter was actually absorbing, but the music was soothing and relaxing enough to at least benefit the two anxious parents. Looking ahead, my wife suggested we pick up the interactive video called Baby Mozart from the Baby Einstein company. As a pre-school teacher, my wife had heard nothing but praise from the parents of her school kids about this video and others in the series.

So, as July 2000 quickly approached and my wife prepared to give birth to our daughter, I picked up a VHS copy of Baby Mozart and quietly put it away for 'a rainy day'.

Some months later, as our daughter became a little more aware of her surroundings, we decided to expose her to the video. Having not seen it ourselves, the three of us sat around the TV and watched as the music, colors, sights and sounds fill our screen and the air around us.

My wife and I were captivated by the variety of pleasantly arranged familiar icons that graced the screen. From hand puppets to simple children toys, to wave machines and lava lamps. The colors, coordinated nicely with the delicately played Mozart music was truly a pleasure to watch.

My daughter, on the other hand, fell asleep 5 minutes into the initial screening.

Neither my wife or I were discouraged as we were certain this video would receive more airplay over the coming months and years.

And air play it has received. Over the next few months, our daughter became more and more interested in the video. As she grew and became more aware, so did her appreciation of Baby Mozart. Now, at 13 months, she is absolutely mesmerized by this video. But more so, she interacts with it. When she sees a familiar puppet or scene, she'll gleefully point, laugh and talk at the TV.

But she's also made a definite connection with the music as well. Some of her electronic toys also play Mozart pieces, and when she activates one that plays a song that's also from the Baby Mozart video, she instantly recognizes it and starts to 'sing' and 'dance' to it.

If nothing else, her exposure to this gem of a video has increased her awareness of classical music - and that's something I very much wanted to expose my daughter to.

Having sufficiently worn out our VHS version of Baby Mozart, I have recently ordered the DVD version, along with copies of Baby Bach, Baby Shakespeare and Baby Van Gogh. I'll review each one of those separately as I become more familiar with them.

Specifics about the video
Baby Mozart runs approximately 30 minutes and is followed by a short presentation by director and founder of the Baby Einstein company Julie Aigner-Clark. Ms. Clark gives some basic 'instructions' on how best to use this video and others in her series. Of course, you'll find the best way to explore this magical world with your own child, but her suggestions are sound ones.

The DVD version of the video includes two added bonuses. First, you can play all of the music sans the video if you choose and secondly you can utilize the electronic flash cards which accompany the video and series. These flash cards, along with other 'toys' seen in this video as also available for sale in their more conventional formats.

I'm anxious to see how my daughter reacts to this new information, but if the original video is any guide, I'm certain she'll not only enjoy it, but gain something from it.

I'm not exactly an advocator of using TV to baby-sit your children, but there are some obvious benefits depending on the chosen source of entertainment. With Baby Mozart, you can be certain that your child will be exposed to information that may truly widen their appreciation for the world around them.

Thanks for reading...


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4

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