Preschooler Response to Pre-Recorded Music in Three Different Situations

Abstract

This article reports on a study investigating preschool children's responses to a variety of pre-recorded music in three different situations: sitting down with eyes closed, sitting with eyes open and listening while engaged in free play. The study suggests sitting with eyes closed is restricting and that a combination of the eyes open situation and free play situation be adopted. Advantages of listening with eyes open include children observe and copy each other, resulting in children moving to the music, being attentive to the music, and using imaginary objects as a form of musical representation. Advantages of the free play situation include children freely talking about their responses to the music, as well as allowing children to use their whole bodies when exploring the music through movement.

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