AIRS 3rd Annual Conference: 2011
Title: Mapping out young children's singing: Preliminary English Data
Authors: Mike Forrester (University of Kent), Jessica Baker (University of Kent), Emma
Borthwick-Hunter (University of Kent)
Presentation format: Poster
Sub-themes: 1.3
Introduction
This poster summarizes our preliminary analysis of the AIRS test battery used with young
school-aged children in England (UK). Establishing the early singing skills of young children
is a central element of the 'Development' theme in the AIRS project and the data reported
contribute towards building up a picture of such skills.
Method
104 children between the ages of 4 and 9 years were video-recorded using the AIRS test
battery profile (12 components). Children were filmed either in a classroom of staffroom
context in a relaxed and informal manner. Employing the battery took approximately 15
minutes per child and the data was collected over 3 month period.
Results
Digitization and analysis is currently ongoing and this report describes our preliminary
observations. It would seem (a) that there is a clear developmental trend in children's abilities
when producing the full vocal range - older children exhibiting a great range; (b) older children
also produce more imaginative spontaneous singing when asked; (c) there are indications of
gender differences with older age groups - with girls exhibiting more creativity than boys, and
(d) there are indications of considerable variability in the singing of the youngest children.
Discussion
The implications of our preliminary findings are considered with reference to contemporary
work on young children's singing abilities.
Bios
Jessica Borthwick is in the Bsc Social Psychology program at the University of Kent
Beaker Emma Hunter is in the Bsc Psychology degree at the University of Kent
M.A. Forrester, PhD is Lecturer and Researcher in early child development, musicality and
language at the University of Kent