Early stages of musical development: Relationships between sensory integration dysfunction,parental influence,and musical disposition of a three-year-old ‘maestro’

Abstract

Current literature offers only scant information on very young children who display high attention and engagement in music, but who are not drawn from normal populations. This study of three-year-old Danny, who possesses the neurological disorder Sensory Integration Dysfunction, provides a case study of the types of parent—child interactions that facilitated a high level of involvement with music from a young age. Parent journals, emails, interviews, and observations of the child at his home were analyzed to map out this young child’s musical development from age 2.5 until 3.5 years. Results document the high level of attention and support Danny received from his parents, and suggest an elongation of the period of ‘communicative musicality’ which typifies mother—child bonding in infancy.

Le développement musical de la petite enfance: relations entre le trouble d’intégration sensorielle, l’influence parentale et la prédisposition musicale d’un jeune «maestro» âgé de trois ans

La littérature recense peu d’informations concernant les très jeunes enfants ne provenant pas de populations normales et qui affichent un engagement et un intérêt soutenu pour la musique. L’étude de Danny, un enfant de trois ans qui est atteint du désordre neurologique du trouble d’intégration sensorielle, procure une étude de cas de type «interaction entre le parent et l’enfant» qui facilite une implication musicale de haut niveau dès un jeune âge. Les journaux de bord des parents, les courriels, les entretiens et les observations de l’enfant dans son milieu familial ont été analysés afin de tracer le développement musical du jeune enfant de 2,5 à 3,5 ans. Les résultats démontrent chez Danny un niveau élevé d’attention et de soutient de la part de ses parents, en plus de suggérer une élongation de la période de «communication musicale» qui caractérise le lien mère-enfant au courant de la petite enfance.

Frühe musikalische Entwicklung: Das Verhältnis von Fehlfunktionen zur sensorischen Integration, elterlichem Einfluss und musikalischer Prägung bei einem drei-jährigen’ Maestro

Die einschlägige Literatur bietet nur knappe Informationen über sehr junge Kinder, die große Aufmerksamkeit und Interesse an Musik zeigen, die aber nicht aus einer normalen Bevölkerungsgruppe stammen. Diese Studie über den drei-jährigen Danny, der an einer neurologischen Fehlfunktion der sensorischen Integration leidet, bietet ein Fallbeispiel zu Typen von Eltern-Kind-Interaktionen, die eine intensive Musikbeschäftigung bereits im jungen Alter unterstützten. Elternberichte, E-mails, Interviews und Beobachtungen des Kindes zu Hause wurden analysiert, um die musikalische Entwicklung dieses Kindes in der Zeit von 2,5 bis 3,5 Jahren zu erfassen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Danny von seinen Eltern ein hohes Maß an Beachtung und Unterstützung erfuhr, und legen eine Verlängerung der Periode ‘kommunikativer Musikalität’ nahe, welche die frühkindliche Mutter—Kind-Bindung kennzeichnet.

Niveles iniciales de desarrollo musical: Relaciones entre disfunciones de la integración sensorial, influencia paterna y disposición musical en un “maestro” de tres años de edad

La literatura actual ofrece escasa información sobre niños muy pequeños que muestran gran interés y predisposición por la música, pero que no pertenecen a la población considerada normal. Este artículo es un estudio de caso sobre Danny, un niño de tres años que tiene un desorden neurológico denominado Disfunción de la Integración Sensorial, acerca de los tipos de interacción entre sus padres y el niño que facilitaron un alto nivel de implicación con la música desde una temprana edad. Se analizaron los diarios de campo de los padres, correos electrónicos, entrevistas, y observaciones del niño en casa para estudiar su desarrollo musical desde los dos años y medio hasta los tres y medio. Los resultados ilustran el elevado nivel de atención y apoyo que Danny recibió de sus padres, sugiriendo una prolongación del periodo de “musicalidad comunicativa”, que viene a representar los vínculos del niño y la madre durante la infancia.

Keywords

communicative musicality musical development parent—child interactions sensory integration dysfunction sound sensitivity

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