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Flohr, J. W. (1980). Musical improvisation behavior of young children (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois, 1980). Dissertation Abstracts International, 5355A.
| Author(s): | Flohr, John W |
| Title: | Musical improvisation behavior of young children |
| Source Type: | Dissertation |
| Source Name: | Dissertation Abstracts International |
| Year: | DAI |
| Year: | 1980 |
| Volume: | 40 |
| Catalog No.: | 5355A |
| Country Code: | USA |
| Location: | Urban-Champaign |
| Institution: | University of Illinois |
| Language: | English |
| Orff Topic Category: | Creativity/Improvisation |
| Secondary Orff Topic Category: | Teacher/Student Characteristics |
| Research Methodology I: | Qualitative |
| Research Methodology II: | Descriptive |
| Participants: | Children of ages 4, 6, 8 (n=4 for each age) |
| Purpose: | To study the behaviors of children at improvisation tasks |
| Data Type: | Verbal description |
| Abstract: | Children of ages 4, 6, and 8 were given ten fifteen-minute sessions of improvisation. The tasks included 1. Free exploration; 2. Guided exploration: two imitation and six types of improvisation activities; and 3. Improvisation over 24-measure bordun. The children's behavior at these different improvisation tasks were recorded and examined. Specifically the researcher recorded each child's initial response, sequences of behavior, and the musical structure of improvisation. |
| Results/Conclusions: | Young children of different ages showed different behaviors during improvisation tasks. 6-8 year-olds explored on one instrument longer than 4 year-olds, and they were capable of dealing with longer forms. All children were able to respond to verbal stimuli to form musical images. During free exploration, all children used stepwise motion, and employed the whole length of the alto xylophone. All eight-year-olds found the tonal centre of F and showed use of patterns while only two six-year-olds and one four-year-old did. All eight year-olds were able to explore non-stop for five minutes but not the others. In the melodic improvisation over the bordun, eight-year-olds showed more use of patterns and played for longer time whereas the younger children used up less time and more asymmetrical phrase lengths. |
| Implications for music education (continued research): | Children of different ages show developmental capabilities at musical improvisation tasks. They can all engage in some form of improvisation. Every child is unique. |
| Keywords: | Improvisation, music development, Young children |