This study explores the musical interests and talents of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted as a result of retinopathy of prematurity (RoP). The results from questionnaires completed by 37 parents were analysed using methods drawn from Ockelford et al.’s (2006) study of the musical interests and abilities of children with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD). The findings suggest that music plays a significant part in the lives of children with RoP and these children may display above typical music ability.
Bowman, R., Bowman, R. & Dutton, G. ( 2001) Disorders of Vision in Children - A Guide for Teachers and Carers. London: RNIB.
2.
Kelley, P. & Gale, G. ( 1998) Towards Excellence: Effective Education for Students with Vision Impairments. Australia: North Rocks Press.
3.
Mason, H. & Mccall, S. WITH Arter, C.,Mclinden, M. & Stone, J. (eds) (1997) Visual Impairment - Access to Education for Children and Young People. London: David Fulton.
4.
Ockelford, A. ( 1988) ‘Some Observations Concerning the Musical Education of Blind Children and Those with Additional Handicaps’, Thirty-second Conference on Research in Psychology of Music and Music Education, University of Reading School of Education, October.
5.
Ockelford, A. ( 1996) Music Matters - Factors in the Music Education of Children and Young People Who Are Visually Impaired. London: RNIB.
6.
Ockelford, A. ( 2006) ‘Music and Visually Impaired Children’, URL (consulted July 2007): http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/Visugate/public_musicvi.hcsp
7.
Ockelford, A. & Matawa, C. ( 2009) Exploring the Musicality of Children and Young People with Retinopathy of Prematurity. London: Institute of Education, University of London.
8.
Ockelford, A., Pring, L., Welch, G. & Treffert, D. ( 2006) Exploring the Musical Interests and Abilities of Blind and Partially Sighted Children and Young People with septo-Optic Dysplasia . London: Institute of Education, University of London.
9.
Robson, C. ( 2002) Real World Research. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
10.
Suzuki Xchange Forum (2006) ‘Teaching Suzuki to Blind Students’, URL (consulted August 2007): http://suzukiassociation.org/suzukiforum/viewtopic.php?p=8813&sid=5918ed2b6ee762bedfd1dbdc068bae45
11.
Treffert, D.A. & Mehnert, D. ( 2005) ‘Perfect Pitch’, URL (consulted July 2007): http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant/pitch.cfm
12.
Visionchannel (2006) ‘Retinopathy of Prematurity: Incidence and Prevalence’, URL (consulted July 2007): http://www.visionchannel.net/retinopathy/
