AIRS 4th Annual Meeting: 2012

Title: Application of the AIRS Test Battery with Icelandic Preschool Children
Authors: Helga Rut Gudmundsdóttir (University of Iceland), Bryndis Baldvinsdottir
(University of Iceland)

Abstract

The AIRS test battery of singing was administered to 5- and 6-year-old children (N = 42) in three
Icelandic preschools. In this presentation the challenges and successes of administering the test
to children of this age will be presented. Issues concerning the adaptation of the test to young
Icelandic speaking children will be discussed. In this presentation the children’s performances
will be reported on test item 6 which included singing back musical patterns. In order to ensure
the consistency of the stimulus the musical patterns were pre-recorded using a child singer with
a stable pitch production. The performances were analyzed using a descriptive method of
classifying singing performances into categories: 1) Very secure singing, 2) Fairly good singing
and 3) Imprecise singing. The criteria for the three categories used will be explained in detail
and actual examples from recordings provided. Half of the children tested were in a preschool
with a special music teacher (n = 22) and the other half without a music teacher (n = 22).
Comparisons between the two groups on test item 6 indicated that there were equal numbers of
insecure singers in both groups. However, there were more very secure singers in the group
with a music teacher than in the group without a music teacher.