(Abstract)
This study aims to investigate the influence of interaction-based musical activities on the musical and language abilities of young children.
In order to achieve the purpose of this study, research problems set as follows:
1) What is the...
(Abstract)
This study aims to investigate the influence of interaction-based musical activities on the musical and language abilities of young children.
In order to achieve the purpose of this study, research problems set as follows:
1) What is the difference of the young children's music capability between the experimented group that implemented a musical activity based on interaction, the comparative group 1 that conducted a special computer program for young children, Rhythmy, and comparative group 2 that executed music activities focusing on an educational curriculum?
2) What is the difference of the young children's language ability between the experimental group that implemented music activities based on interaction, the comparative group 1 that conducted a special computerprogram for young children, Rhythmy, and the comparative group 2 that executed music activities focusing on an educational curriculum?
The subjects of this study consisted of 60 young children at their age of 4 from three kindergartens, located in Daegu city. By considering their age, gender and personal backgrounds, they were divided into three groups the experimental group that is homogeneous, comparative group 1, and comparative group 2.
To test the young children's ability in music and language, Gorden's PMMA test (recomposedby Shin, In-sook 1994) and another test by Jang, Youngai, which was revised and complemented afterward by Park, Youngsoo for young children from age 4 to 6, were adopted.
This research proceeded over 12 weeks. In addition, an interaction-based music activity was executed for the research group; a musical activity based on a special program for young children, Rhythmy for comparative group 1 and a musical activity focusing on educational curriculum for comparative group 2, were performed.
The procedure of this study consists of a preliminary test, a pre- test, a musical activity based on interactions between child-child and child-teacher performed once a week for 12 weeks, and a post hoc test.
As for the data processing, in order to verify the influence of the interaction-based musical activity on the music and language ability of young children, an ANCOVA test was used, making the sub-factor pretest of music and language ability between the three groups the dependent variable. In addition, in an effort to analyze the interaction-based musical activity, documentation was performed by way of taking pictures, recording and taking notes.
The results of this study are as follows:
First, the experimental group that performed the interaction-based musical activity showed a higher improvement than comparative group 1 and comparative group 2 regarding improvement in the musical ability of young children. In other words, some sub-factors of musical ability, such as senses of note and rhythm, improved.
Second, the experimental group that performed the interaction-based musical activity showed higher improvement than comparative group 1 and comparative group 2 regarding improvement in language ability of young children. In addition, some sub-factors of language ability, such as vocabulary, language understanding and language expression, improved. By experiencing interactions and problem solving processes while expressing their opinions in an active way, young children were able to improve their language ability.
The results of this study revealed that musical activity through interactions is effective in improving young children's abilities in music and language. Moreover,through interactions between child-teacher and child-child, the abilities in music and language were found to improve. Therefore, this research suggests that aninteraction-based musical activity can be utilized as an activity for improving the musical and language abilities of young children.