Short-Term Music Instruction and Young Children's Developmental Music Aptitude

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of short-term music instruction on five-year-old children's developmental music aptitude as measured by Gordon's Primary Measures of Music Audiation (PMMA). Twenty-nine children were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The Music-I group received 12 weeks of instruction emphasizing instrumental improvisation. The Music-II group received 12 weeks of instruction consisting of singing, playing percussion instruments, and move ment. The control group received no instruction in music. Preliminary analysis indi cated no significant difference among the three groups. Further analysis revealed a significant difference between the groups receiving music instruction and the control group: the Music-I and Music-II combined mean scores on the PMMA were significantly higher. Results indicated that short-term music instruction influences five year-old children's developmental music aptitude.

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References

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