Communication disorders: Effect on children’s ability to label music characteristics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1992

Abstract

A stimulus tape consisting of four short musical excerpts was developed for use in this study. One excerpt was played “loud,” one “soft,” one “fast,” and one “slow.” Two demographic groups of students were selected for participation in this project (N = 48). Twenty-four preschool children attending a summer day camp for children with communication disorders comprised one group; the second group consisted of 24 children with normal language development attending two preschools in a large metropolitan area. These children, ages 3 to 6, were assigned to one of three treatment groups. Children in the verbal only group (n = 16) listened to the tape; for the dynamics excerpts they were asked, “Was this song loud or soft?” and for the tempo excerpts, “Was this song fast or slow?” Children in the verbal/visual group (n = 16) heard the same questions but were simultaneously shown a pictorial representation of possible responses during the question. Children in the verbal/gesture group fn = 16) again heard the same questions with the possible responses accompanied by a physical gesture. Results of a three-way ANOVA comparing the variables of group, treatment, and age indicated no significant differences due to group or age (p >.05). There was, however, a significant difference due to treatment (p <.01). A multiple comparisons test indicated that the verbal/visual and the verbal/gesture groups were not different from one another; however, both scored significantly higher than the verbal alone group (p <.05). There were no significant interactions among the variables. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was calculated using the variables of treatment and musical characteristic (dynamics and tempo). No significant difference was found due to musical characteristic (p >.05). © 1992 by the National Association for Music Therapy, Inc.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Music Therapy

First Page

113

Last Page

124

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