In the United States, learning-disabled children have been mainstreamed into general music classes where group instruction predominates without adequate evaluation of possible learning strengths and deficits. Three separate research projects have indicated that learning-disabled readers, aged seven, eight and nine, discriminate rhythm patterns similarly to matched normal- achieving readers but are unable to perform the same patterns in a similar manner. The two reading ability groups also differ at age seven and eight in tonal discrimination. The findings suggest that learning-disabled children may not be able to learn music in a class instructional setting as easily as their age-level peers. These exceptional learners need prior evaluation of input, integration and output capacities before being placed in learning situations where they will be unsuccessful.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Atterbury, B.
(1983). A comparison of rhythm pattern perception and performance in normal and learning-disabled readers, age seven and eight. Journal of Research in Music Education, 31, 259-270.
2.
Bell, W. (1981). An investigation of the validity of the Primary Measures of Music Audiation for use with learning-disabled children. (Doctoral dissertation, Temple University, Philadelphia, 1981.)
3.
Birch, H. G.
and Belmont, L. (1964). Auditory and visual integration in normal and retarded readers. Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 34, 852-861.
4.
Colwell, R.
(1969). Music Achievement Test. Chicago: Follett Educational Corporation.
Curtis, C. R. (1981). A comparative analysis of the musical aptitude of normal children and mildly handicapped children mainstreamed into regular classrooms. (Doctoral dissertation, George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University, 1981.)
7.
Darrow, A.
(1984). A comparison of rhythmic responsiveness in normal and hearing impaired children and an investigation of rhythmic responsiveness to the suprasegmental aspects of speech perception. Journal of Music Therapy, 21 (2), 48-66.
8.
Decuir, A. A.
and Braswell, C. (1978). A musical profile for a sample of learning-disabled children and adolescents: a pilot study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 46, 1080-1082.
9.
Ellis, D. L. (1982). Differences in music achievement among gifted and talented, average, and educable mentally handicapped fifth and sixth graders. (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 1982.)
10.
Gilbert, J. P.
(1983). A comparison of the motor music skills of non-handicapped and learning- disabled children. Journal of Research in Music Education, 31, 147-155.
11.
Gordon, E.
(1965). Musical Aptitude Profile. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
12.
Gordon, E.
(1979). Primary Measures of Music Audiation. Chicago: GIA Publications.
13.
Gordon, E.
(1983). Intermediate Measures of Music Audiation. Chicago: GIA Publications.
14.
Harris, M. A. (1976). Auditory training of learning-disabled using Orff music. (Doctoral dissertation, Memphis State University, 1976.)
15.
Johnson, D. J.
(1971). Educational principles for children with learning disabilities. In: D. D. Hammill and N. R. Bartel (Eds.), Educational Perspectives in Learning Disabilities. New York: Wiley, 133-143.
16.
Johnson, D. J.
and Myklebust, H. R. (1967). Learning Disabilities, Educational Principles and Practices. New York: Grune and Stratton.
17.
Kaplan, P. R. (1977). A criterion-referenced comparison of rhythmic responsiveness in normal and educable mentally retarded children. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1977.)
18.
Korduba, O. M.
(1975). Duplicated rhythm patterns between deaf and normal hearing children. Journal of Music Therapy, 12, 136-146.
19.
Kracke, I.
(1975). Perception of rhythmic sequences by receptive aphasic and deaf children. British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 10, 43-51.
20.
Lienhard, M. K.
(1976). Factors relevant to the rhythmic perception of a group of mentally retarded children. Journal of Music Therapy, 13, 31-42.
21.
Moog, H.
(1979). On the perception of rhythmic form by physically handicapped children and those of low intelligence in comparison with non-handicapped children. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, No. 59, 73-78.
22.
Nocera, S. D. (1981). A descriptive analysis of the attainment of selected musical learnings by normal children and by educable mentally retarded children mainstreamed in music class at the second and fifth grade levels. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1981.)
23.
Roskam, K.
(1979). Music therapy as an aid for increasing auditory awareness and improving reading skill. Journal of Music Therapy, 16, 31-42.
24.
Seashore, C. E.
, Lewis, D. and Saetveit, J. G. (1960). Measures of Musical Talents. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
25.
Tallal, P.
and Piercy, M. (1973). Developmental aphasia: Impaired rate of non-verbal processing as a function of sensory modality. Neuropsychologia, 11, 389-398.
26.
Zigmond, N. K. (1966). Intrasensory and intersensory processes in normal and dyslexic children. (Doctoral dissertation, Northwestern University, Evanston, 1966.)
