Nearly 1,250 newborns in the Ames area will get a jump start on their compact disc collections with the help of WOI Public Radio [FM 90.1 and AM 640].

WOI will be giving a copy of “Baby Needs Mozart” to every child born at Mary Greeley Medical Center during the next year, featuring classical tracks such as “The Marriage of Figaro” and “The Magic Flute.”

Don Wirth, associate general manager for Finance and Operations at WOI, said the project will be beneficial to the newborns and their families, and it will attempt to create new fans of classical music.

“Classical music is important for everyone, not just newborns, and just like with any music, the earlier an individual is exposed, the more likely they are to enjoy that music,” he said. “This project is doing a lot of people a lot of good.”

Wirth said the project is not meant to imply WOI endorses recent studies that have suggested listening to classical music can improve an individual’s intelligence.

“We are not claiming that a child listening to this music will experience a boost in IQ, but music is soothing and thereby is conducive to a restful period for the newborn,” he said.

From idea to operation, the project has taken about six weeks for WOI to coordinate, Wirth said.

“The idea was generated in January, and after the gathering of financial support, the CDs and coordinating everything with the hospital, everything came together,” he said. Wirth said the first CD was handed out Monday, and the project will continue through March 6, 2001.

Support for the project has come from Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff Ave., McFarland Clinic, 1215 Duff Ave., Explore Travel Store, 620 Lincoln Way, Delos International and ISU Community Credit Union, Lincoln Way and Grand Avenue.

Mary Greeley Medical Center spokesman Andrew Zalasky said hospital officials like giving the newborns a little bit of culture.

“This project is a great way to promote positive habits from birth,” Zalasky said. “The project goes hand in hand with the ‘Books for Babies’ project sponsored by the Ames Public Library.”

Wirth said support for the project has been overwhelming.

“We sent out [promotional material] to other public radio stations, and there has been a lot of interest and positive response,” he said.

If all goes well this year, Wirth said WOI would like to expand the “Baby Needs Mozart” program.

“We are taking the project one step at a time, but if the project is successful here, we would like to branch to hospitals in Des Moines and continue here next year,” he said.